Franklin Township Council Regular Meeting — October 13, 2026

The Franklin Township Council met at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at the municipal building. The Council presented four proclamations and a Food Bank donation, heard extensive public comment on the Sentinel Data Center air permit, the Flock license-plate reader program, and a proposed 142-unit affordable housing project on Davidson Avenue, then adopted two ordinances on second reading, approved a $5,400,358.06 warrant list, and adopted a 23-item consent agenda.

Commendations & Proclamations

• Councilman Singh presented a proclamation honoring Karma Junction, Inc., a Franklin Park nonprofit serving the township since 2015 that recently distributed 100 backpacks at the Ready Set School event; a Karma Junction youth volunteer accepted the proclamation and thanked the Council.
• Councilman Singh also proclaimed October 2026 as Hindu Heritage Month, noting the festival season of Navratri, Durga Puja, and Dasara leading into Diwali.
• Deputy Mayor Kharazi presented proclamations declaring October 2026 as Fire Prevention Month, using the NFPA Fire Prevention Week theme 'Charge Into Fire Safety: Safe Charging is a Superpower,' and as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
• Councilman Anbarasan presented a $1,700 donation to the Franklin Food Bank raised from the Diwali 2026 Day celebration; 11 restaurants donated food and Paradise Fusion received a certificate of appreciation. A Food Bank board member said the organization serves over 4,000 families per month and that 1 in 7 Franklin households are food insecure.

Public Comments & Testimony

• A Sierra Club representative and Rupali Chakravarti (South Brunswick) urged the Council to file comments by the November 9, 2026 DEP deadline on the Sentinel Data Center air permit. They argued the facility was misclassified as a minor source, that 12 diesel generators (20 in the original plan) could emit 360 tons of NOx across all operating scenarios, and that cleaner backup power such as solar should be required.
• Linda Powell (Ward 3) distributed two sample letters (one on the NESI compressor station for Governor Sherrill, one on the Sentinel permit) and reminded residents that October 13 was the last day to register to vote.
• Carla Visser and Terry Thorson opposed placing affordable housing on Davidson Avenue citing truck traffic, diesel emissions, health risks, lack of nearby grocery stores and pharmacies, and limited public transit; both shared personal cancer histories. Another resident asked whether the township considered partnering with a nonprofit housing expert.
• Peter Mate (Bennington Parkway) said his July stormwater complaint about a blocked pipe along the Nine Mile Run tributary was never acknowledged and requested a maintenance schedule; the Mayor said he would follow up Thursday with Mr. Auck.
• Several speakers criticized the Flock camera program, alleging misleading presentations (a claimed 30-day retention period versus New Jersey's 3-year requirement), a denied 750-signature petition, and 311,000 hot list hits. Some demanded the contract be cancelled; one speaker defended the Council, while another raised concerns about domestic-violence survivors being tracked.
• Martin Sabatar raised Easton Avenue traffic deaths and a 25-year-old right-turn sign on Cedar Grove Lane; the Township Manager said he sent the sign issue to the county engineer.
• A speaker questioned the 40-year PILOT term for the Davidson Avenue project, asked why no PILOT revenue is directed to the school district, and asked where PILOT funds are deposited.

Discussion Items

• Councilman Singh, responding to direct questions, said he was not on the Council when the Flock cameras were approved but now supports a full public review of the cameras and a new vote on how to proceed.
• Councilman Wright said the township's 650-unit affordable housing obligation forces repurposing of existing buildings, discussed Habitat for Humanity lots in the Fourth Ward, and outlined plans for speed humps that require 70% resident support per block.
• The Township Attorney explained that the 142 units at 260 Davidson Avenue represent 100% affordable housing (about 20% of the overall obligation), with $3.5 million over 10 years from the affordable housing trust fund; if removed, the units would shift to a site across from Canal Walk. He said the plan was negotiated with the Fair Share Housing Center and reviewed by the court.
• The Township Manager said the site is under a mile from a ShopRite and a CVS and that the Davidson Avenue corridor has shuttle service connecting to train stations.
• Mayor Kramer explained that PILOT agreements reduce a property's tax payment and the shortfall is spread across all taxpayers, with the school district's budget still fully funded; he agreed New Jersey's school-funding system needs a constitutional amendment.
• Council reports included a 36% asphalt price increase (from $530 to $723 per ton), the search for missing resident Belinda Prentice (missing since October 5), a life-expectancy gap of nearly 8 years between Ward 4 and Ward 1, and upcoming events: a Garden State Solar overview on October 14, a youth center Halloween party on October 24, and a trunk-or-treat on October 31.
• Mayor Kramer acknowledged receiving 34 MB of PDF documents about Flock on the day of the meeting, said concerns raised on their merits will be considered, and asked that residents treat council members and staff with respect.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the September 22, 2026 Work Session/Regular Meeting minutes.
• Approved warrants totaling $5,400,358.06.
• Adopted consent agenda resolutions #26-418 through #26-440 covering tax/water lien redemptions, refunds, water-charge adjustments, escrow releases, a $32,080 LOSAP contribution, a $6,000 budget insertion, LastPass and Security Scorecard renewals, $350,000 in SCADA software maintenance, a $276,930 Bartha Woods planting contract, an online auction with GovDeals, stormwater maintenance agreements, Palace at Somerset Park fireworks, cannabis establishment licenses, special event permits, a $12,017 downpayment assistance grant, an engineering-services agreement assignment, Central Jersey Joint Insurance Fund membership renewal, and the Millstone shared municipal court agreement. Councilman Wright confirmed the cannabis resolution was routine yearly licensing.

Public Hearings & Ordinance Adoptions

• Ordinance No. 4517-26 (cluster subdivision amendments to Chapter 112, Land Development): public hearing held with no comment; adopted unanimously on second reading. The ordinance allows clustering homes on large lots to preserve open space.
• Ordinance No. 4520-26 (financial agreement and tax exemption/PILOT for CWP-ASR Somerset I & II LLC): public hearing held with no comment; adopted unanimously on second reading. A Council member noted the project's proximity to jobs in the Mount Laurel tradition.

Key Outcomes

• Both ordinances adopted unanimously.
• Minutes, warrants, and all 23 consent agenda resolutions approved unanimously.
• One Planning Board vacancy filled by acclamation; no other nominations offered.
• Resolution #26-441 authorized an executive session for FMBA 88 contract negotiations; the public meeting effectively concluded as the Council entered executive session.
• Councilman Singh committed to advocating for a transparent public review and new vote on the Flock camera program.