OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Franklin Township Council Meeting - August 11, 2026

Township Council — Tuesday, August 11, 2026
BodyFranklin Township, New Jersey
SessionTownship Council
DateTuesday, August 11, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:03:06

Transcript — Verbatim
0:19

This work session regular meeting of the Township Council is called to order.

0:23

Madam Clerk.

0:24

In accordance with the open public meeting act of the state of New Jersey, adequate notice of this work session, a regular meeting of the Franklin Township Council was made as required, indicating that this meeting would take place at the municipal building at 7 p.m.

0:37

on Tuesday, August 11th, 2026.

0:42

We could all stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and then remain standing for the invocation by Councilman Charles Onijaka.

0:50

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

1:57

Councilman Embarrison.

1:59

Here councilwoman Francois.

2:01

Here Deputy Mayor Carrazi.

2:03

Here Mayor Kramer.

2:04

Here Councilman Onichaka.

2:07

Councilman Singh?

2:08

Yes.

2:08

Councilwoman Udin.

2:10

Here.

2:10

Councilman Vasanella.

2:13

Councilman Wright.

2:14

Yes.

2:15

Next item is item number five on the agenda.

2:17

The agenda can be found up near the clerk.

2:21

Commendations and proclamations.

2:25

The uh 36th anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act.

2:31

Councilman Singh will be reading that.

2:35

Is there anyone here to receive that?

3:04

Hello, everyone.

3:05

I'm going to be doing a proclamation for the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

3:12

Whereas on July 26, 1990, President Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act ADA into law, establishing a comprehensive national mandate to eliminate discrimination against individuals with disabilities.

3:29

And whereas the ADA has expanded opportunities for Americans with disabilities by reducing barriers, changing perceptions, and increasing full participation in community life.

3:40

And whereas July 26, 2026 marks the 36th anniversary of the signing of the ADA, an occasion for celebration and continued commitment.

3:51

And whereas the full promise of the ADA will be realized only through sustained efforts towards complete ADA compliance and inclusion.

4:01

And whereas the Township of Franklin joins with communities across the nation in reaffirming the principles of equality, accessibility, and inclusion for all residents.

4:12

And now therefore be it proclaimed that the Township Council of the Township of Franklin does hereby recognize July 26, 2026 as the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act in the Township of Franklin and calls upon all residents to recommit to the principles of equality and inclusion embodied in the ADA.

4:37

And this is on behalf of the mayor and the council.

4:50

Oh, please coming.

5:11

By all means.

5:13

I just wanted to say short girl problems.

5:20

I just want to say on behalf of someone living with disabilities, the uh Americans with Disabilities Act gives us the ability to fully participate in you know civic life, in employment, in education.

5:37

Um, and it's it's just an incredible uh piece of legislation, and it it's great to see that the township of Franklin recognizes that this is an important anniversary and important legislation for the people in our town.

5:51

Thank you.

6:01

And the next is the 80th anniversary of independence of India proclamation by Councilman Embarrassing.

6:15

That's no one looking for you.

6:31

Welcome everyone.

6:33

I see a sea of people to celebrate the India's independence.

6:38

We want we warmly welcome you all to the council meeting today.

6:42

We are going to do a proclamation uh for 80th anniversary of India's independence day.

6:48

Uh let me give you a quick uh maybe a one to two minute history of uh India's uh independence.

6:56

Uh, India was uh ruled by colonists just like the US was uh they came in in the uh mid-seventeenth century uh after the Mughals' uh reign in the 16th century, they uh also were in India, conquered many kingdoms.

7:13

Indian India was uh small regions of uh kings, um totally fragmented uh in in the country.

7:24

So um just like uh our politicians uh they fought each other, they didn't support each other, and so British uh came to trade in India, they divided and conquered the nation.

7:39

Uh so fast forward, uh World War II happened, that uh the uh British was weakened, the um Indians had a lot of uh uh movement within the country uh led by leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Vallabhai Patel and a few others.

8:02

Uh it's all based on non-violent nonviolent movements and um uh Satya Graha, which is just sit down, squat in places and refuse to move.

8:16

Uh so what happened was uh the um the British kingdom eventually came to the realization that uh they cannot sustain in the 1940s, um the indigenous uh movement straw got stronger and stronger.

8:34

Eventually a decision was made by the British to uh leave the country, and uh there was a governor general in India at that time, Lord Mountbatten.

8:46

Um he engineered the whole declaration of independence in 1947 in August, and they chose August 15th day uh to sign the declaration of independence of the undivided India.

9:05

Uh so at that time India was one country secular in nature with Pakistan and Bangladesh were not there before at the time, so it was one big India, but um British divided the country into two, one for predominantly uh Muslims uh uh engineered by leaders like Jinnah at that time.

9:29

So Pakistan uh and India were split in 1947, August 15th.

9:35

Uh Pakistan actually celebrated that uh their independence on August 14th, because Mount Batten wanted to be in both the uh signing ceremony in in Pakistan, August 14th, midnight, and then in August 15th uh is Indian.

9:52

So that's the history behind it.

10:00

The significance of August 15th uh was that two years prior to that Japan surrendered uh after the World War II.

10:06

So to commemorate that date, uh British decided they are surrendering to India on August 15th.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety█████████████████████████████████33%
Technology and Innovation██████████████████████████████30%
Procedural██████████████████18%
Public Engagement█████5%
Disability Rights██2%
Cannabis Regulation██2%
Personnel Matters██2%
Pending Litigation██2%
Racial Equity█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Franklin Township Council Meeting - August 11, 2026

This regularly scheduled work session and regular meeting of the Franklin Township Council was called to order at 7:00 PM on August 11, 2026. The meeting included proclamations, a presentation on the Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) system by Flock Safety, extensive public comment (primarily on the ALPR system), adoption of several ordinances, and approval of a consent agenda. The meeting concluded with a vote to enter executive session.

Proclamations

  • 36th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Councilman Singh read the proclamation, and a resident living with disabilities expressed gratitude for the ADA's role in enabling full civic participation.
  • 80th Anniversary of the Independence of India: Councilman Anbarasan read the proclamation, providing historical context. Approximately 15 copies were distributed. A resident noted that Indian civilization spans over 5,000 years.

Presentation

  • Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) System: Public Safety Director Lloyd Fredericks and Flock Safety representative Carl Bach presented the system. The ALPR cameras capture rear license plates, vehicle make/model/color, and are solar-powered. Data is retained for 30 days by default but for 3 years per New Jersey Attorney General guidelines. The system is funded by a $339,000 state grant. 22 cameras are installed at entry/exit points. The director emphasized that the system is used for criminal investigations only, has no facial recognition, and is subject to quarterly and random monthly audits (beyond the state-required annual audit). Access is restricted to sergeants and above. The council had no role in camera placement.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • ALPR System (majority of speakers): Numerous residents expressed concerns about privacy, civil liberties (First, Fourth, Fifth, Fourteenth Amendments), data security, potential for mission creep, false positives, and misuse by officers. Specific concerns included: the recent change in Flock's contract terms (removing 'no sale' language), the ability to track movements via point-in-time snapshots, the lack of prior public notice about the camera installation, and the concentration of cameras in predominantly Black and brown neighborhoods (though the director denied this). Several speakers cited examples of false positives leading to armed stops and mistaken arrests across the country. One speaker asked about the indemnification of the township if a false positive causes a lawsuit. A resident with a background in IT/cybersecurity urged multi-factor authentication and external audits. Another speaker noted that the ACLU gave New Jersey a 2/7 score on license plate reader policy. One speaker raised the issue of Flock CEO's comments about privacy advocates.
  • Councilman Wright's Residency: Javon Walker and Charlie Cradoville questioned Councilman Wright's residency, citing his previous evasive statements. They requested a simple yes/no as to whether 139 Fuller Street is his current and ordinary residence. Councilman Wright later responded, stating his address is 139 Fuller Street, Somerset, NJ, and invited anyone to visit.
  • Other Comments: A speaker from SativaCross.org requested attention to medical cannabis patients, wheelchair access, and removal of Zoom access for meetings. Another speaker asked about the 'Don't Tread on Me' flag at the municipal complex (the mayor explained it was part of a Revolutionary War flag kit).

Discussion Items

  • Council Discussion on ALPR: After public comment, the director and Flock rep answered questions. They clarified that the township owns the data, Flock does not sell it, and the system cannot be used for civil immigration enforcement or reproductive health monitoring. The director stated there have been no false positives in Franklin Township. The township attorney stated he could not answer the indemnification question without reviewing the contract. The council discussed the possibility of future costs after the grant expires.
  • Councilman Wright's Response: Councilman Wright forcefully reiterated his address (139 Fuller Street) and stated he would not answer further questions on the matter.
  • Short-Term Rental Ordinance (No. 4516-26): A resident requested the council table adoption to add a secondary residence provision and protections for existing compliant operators. The township attorney recommended adoption, noting that Airbnb's objections regarding registration requirements could be addressed later. The ordinance was adopted.

Key Outcomes

  • Ordinance No. 4515A-26 (Cannabis Code Repeal/Replace): Adopted on second reading. Unanimous (8-0).
  • Ordinance No. 4516-26 (Short-Term Rentals): Adopted on second reading. Unanimous (8-0).
  • Ordinance No. 4517-26 (Cluster Subdivision Updates): Introduced on first reading. Unanimous (8-0).
  • Ordinance No. 4518-26 (Land Sale to Habitat for Humanity): Introduced on first reading. Unanimous (8-0). Public hearing set for September 8, 2026.
  • Consent Agenda (Items A-AD): Adopted as a block. Unanimous (8-0). Included resolutions for tax/water lien redemptions, bid awards (guiderail repair, snow plowing, road resurfacing, water meters, body cameras, tasers, etc.), contract extensions, and special event permits.
  • Resolution No. 26-354 (East Millstone Water Main Installation): Adopted. Unanimous (8-0). Not to exceed $1,064,962.
  • Resolution No. 26-353 (Executive Session): Authorized executive session for litigation regarding Warehouse & Williams Transco. Unanimous (8-0).
  • Meeting Timeline: The meeting began at 7:00 PM and adjourned after approximately 3 hours, with executive session to follow.

Meeting Transcript

This work session regular meeting of the Township Council is called to order. Madam Clerk. In accordance with the open public meeting act of the state of New Jersey, adequate notice of this work session, a regular meeting of the Franklin Township Council was made as required, indicating that this meeting would take place at the municipal building at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11th, 2026. We could all stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and then remain standing for the invocation by Councilman Charles Onijaka. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Councilman Embarrison. Here councilwoman Francois. Here Deputy Mayor Carrazi. Here Mayor Kramer. Here Councilman Onichaka. Councilman Singh? Yes. Councilwoman Udin. Here. Councilman Vasanella. Councilman Wright. Yes. Next item is item number five on the agenda. The agenda can be found up near the clerk. Commendations and proclamations. The uh 36th anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act. Councilman Singh will be reading that. Is there anyone here to receive that? Hello, everyone. I'm going to be doing a proclamation for the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Whereas on July 26, 1990, President Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act ADA into law, establishing a comprehensive national mandate to eliminate discrimination against individuals with disabilities. And whereas the ADA has expanded opportunities for Americans with disabilities by reducing barriers, changing perceptions, and increasing full participation in community life. And whereas July 26, 2026 marks the 36th anniversary of the signing of the ADA, an occasion for celebration and continued commitment. And whereas the full promise of the ADA will be realized only through sustained efforts towards complete ADA compliance and inclusion. And whereas the Township of Franklin joins with communities across the nation in reaffirming the principles of equality, accessibility, and inclusion for all residents. And now therefore be it proclaimed that the Township Council of the Township of Franklin does hereby recognize July 26, 2026 as the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act in the Township of Franklin and calls upon all residents to recommit to the principles of equality and inclusion embodied in the ADA. And this is on behalf of the mayor and the council. Oh, please coming. By all means. I just wanted to say short girl problems. I just want to say on behalf of someone living with disabilities, the uh Americans with Disabilities Act gives us the ability to fully participate in you know civic life, in employment, in education. Um, and it's it's just an incredible uh piece of legislation, and it it's great to see that the township of Franklin recognizes that this is an important anniversary and important legislation for the people in our town. Thank you. And the next is the 80th anniversary of independence of India proclamation by Councilman Embarrassing. That's no one looking for you. Welcome everyone. I see a sea of people to celebrate the India's independence. We want we warmly welcome you all to the council meeting today. We are going to do a proclamation uh for 80th anniversary of India's independence day. Uh let me give you a quick uh maybe a one to two minute history of uh India's uh independence. Uh, India was uh ruled by colonists just like the US was uh they came in in the uh mid-seventeenth century uh after the Mughals' uh reign in the 16th century, they uh also were in India, conquered many kingdoms. Indian India was uh small regions of uh kings, um totally fragmented uh in in the country. So um just like uh our politicians uh they fought each other, they didn't support each other, and so British uh came to trade in India, they divided and conquered the nation. Uh so fast forward, uh World War II happened, that uh the uh British was weakened, the um Indians had a lot of uh uh movement within the country uh led by leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Vallabhai Patel and a few others.

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