Madam clerk, no. In accordance with the open public meetings act of the state of New Jersey, adequate notice of this work session, regular meeting of the Franklin Township Council was made as required, indicating that this meeting will take place at the municipal building at 700 p.m. on
Tuesday, February 24th, 2026. we could all stand and uh for the pledge of allegiance and remain standing for Councilwoman Shipa Udin's invocation. 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. If there is to be peace in the world, there must be peace in the nations. If there's to be peace in the nations,
>> there must be peace in the cities. If there's to be peace in the cities, there must be peace between the neighbors. If there's to be peace between neighbors, there must be peace in the home. If there's to be peace in the home, there
must be peace in the heart. Amen. Amen. >> Madam clerk, please call the role. >> Councilman embarrass >> here. >> Councilwoman Francois. >> Deputy Mayor Karazzi >> present. >> Mayor Kramer >> here. >> Councilman Oni Jaka >> here. >> Councilman Singh, >> yes.
>> Councilwoman Udin >> here. >> Councilman Vasanella >> here. >> Councilman Wright. >> And uh I'd like to move to excuse Kimberly Francois for this meeting. Second that motion. >> Moved and seconded. All in favor say I.
>> Oppos say nay. >> Motion is carried. This it was unavoidable for her not >> for her to be here for for her to miss the meeting. >> Um commendations and proclamations. Uh I'm just informed by Mr. Wright. We're going
to delay the uh commendation. Um next on the agenda is council discussion item. I I I think I mis g I the instructions I gave you were not clear. >> Okay. >> So I want to move the council discussion
item to after the public discussion. >> Okay. >> So in fact after council comments. So uh I'm making a motion to move to discussion item number six to
um nine and a half. >> 10 and a half. Sorry. >> Do we have a second? >> Seconded. >> All in favor say I. I. >> Oppos say nay. >> The uh agenda is so adjusted. Um so I
ask for unanimous consent to open to the public. Without objection, we are open to the public. Anyone wishing to speak on any items to do with government may do so. That five minutes, no um yielding of time may only come up once. Please state
your name and address. >> Well, it's not on. Deborah, let me get it for you. >> No, it's tricky. You got to hold the button down. >> Hello. Okay. >> Yep. >> Thank you. >> You're good. Deborah Enman, 67 Roberts
Road. Um, first I want to say thank you for being attentive to my email and my phone call yesterday. But that doesn't negate the fact that the your contractors, your
snowplow contractors, you need to rethink your contract with them in the next cycle for contracts. They pushed about six feet of snow up onto my property. I live on a corner and on the opposite corner. The opposite
corner from my house is a bus stop. How are the kids supposed to stand on the corner and wait for the bus in the middle of the street? And then if I don't remove my snow according to the ordinance,
I'm subject to a fine. I cannot pay someone to move that amount of snow from my property. Fortunate enough, my pictures and my emails went answered. The township did come today to
remove the snow, but again, that doesn't negate the fact that this is an ongoing issue. Every time there's there's a significant amount of snow that falls, you need to rethink who which who plows where. you need to have those
contractors go to the other side of Franklin Boulevard and send the township plows to my neighborhood because they plow better and more thorough and they're more attentive. If we had a council person in our ward who cared about his own property, maybe
he would care about his constituents in the fourth ward. This cannot keep going on every time there's a significant amount of snow. Something has to be done. I'm tired of always calling and calling
and placing complaints. And an officer showed up at my door today for the complaint for the complaint that I submitted to the township manager, the
the mayor, and the deputy mayor. But again, I thank you for not letting my my issue go unanswered. But still, that doesn't negate the fact that it's a continual issue and something needs to be done. You need to rethink who your
contractors are. They're destroying our property. And not even that, the last time it snowed, he went down the middle of the of the street and there was no salt. It was a ice skating ring. Hamilton Park was clearer than my street.
You know, I don't know how you're going to address it, but it needs to be addressed because the way you're spending tax dollar taxpayers dollars on these contractors and no one's outgoing surveying what they're doing.
It's like, so what? It's like a so what in my in my neighborhood. My neighborhood is always neglected. That side of town is always neglected. It's an afterthought. And I'm tired of being an afterthought. I've been there for 17 years now
at this particular residence. I grew up here in Somerset. I have roots here in Somerset. So, I know what the politics are. And the politics are y'all need to step your game up. You need to be more proactive in your
neighborhoods where you represent. You need to be more present knocking on doors. see what your constituents concerns are because every election cycle the same
people are elected but what are you doing? There's no progress. At least there's no progress in my ward. None at all. >> Uh Mr. Mayor, before you speak, I wanted to clarify something. >> So, Mr. Wright, as you know, we answer
questions afterwards. Well, no. I >> Yes, that's what we do. >> Would you allow me that that >> Okay. >> My name is Carl Wright and I'm the fourport councilman in Franklin Township and I represent your area. So, now let's
do a couple things right quick. When they shoveled plow that snow up on your property in front of my house in front of my mailbox, they did the same damn thing. and I had to shovel out so the
postman could get to my mailbox. So, I'm on your same program, but even though I'm a councilman, they threw it up on my yard. So, first of all, back that off. Now, as far as going around and finding
out who goes where >> your ma'am manager and ma'am, you can't speak. I'm not talking to her. >> You can't you can't speak. >> He cannot talk to me like that. >> I'M NOT TALKING TO YOU like that.
>> Ma'am, you cannot speak. >> I want you to >> That may be true, but he cannot speak. You cannot speak. >> Mr. [ __ ] >> Ma'am, please either stop answering or leave.
>> Mr. Wright, is that enough? think you've gotten your point across. Let's continue public. >> I I I thought I I might have heard something, but >> Yeah, you heard it. >> I I >> Excuse me. Ex ma'am, you're being disruptive. >> I I don't think that I heard.
>> Mr. Wright, let's continue with public comment. >> So, no, >> Mr. Wright. >> No, no, please. Please, >> Mr. Wright. >> No, no, please. >> I didn't understand that. And
Racial disparity has no place at any time and at any place because when you sink yourself down that hole and the mayor he didn't understand
it way back in the day and I used to say go down the rabbit hole. Okay, don't bring me into this, Mr. >> Was because of Alice in Wonderland because we all if you read that, you know, they all went down the rabbit hole. >> Okay, we're getting far a field.
>> So, when you do something like that, you degrade yourself in the process of trying to degrade someone else. And that is very ugly and nasty. And I want
anyone, not you, anyone to understand that you might want to call someone X, Y, and Z. That's your prerogative. You can do that. God knows you can do that. The
supreme creator gave you a mouth, gave you a brain, so you can do it. But the person on the other end really doesn't care because words will
never hurt that individual. It's only the physical aspect that the supreme creator says listen words won't kill you. Sticks and stones might but words will never kill you.
>> All right. So with that in mind, with that in mind, I call the township manager and say, "Hey, Mr. Born Locker, I have cars out here on the street that >> Mr. Wright, can we excuse me?"
>> No, Mr. Wright, we have rules. We have rules. >> Please, I beg you, please. >> No, I'm begging you. We have, >> Mr. Wright, you are being disruptive. >> I understand, >> Mr. Right. No, wait. Wait till the time.
This is public session. You went on at length. I thought I was giving you a minute. We're We're like to continue the public session. Anyone else wishing to speak? >> Thank you. >> Anyone else wishing to speak?
Seeing no one else come forward, I call for unanimous consent to close public session. Without objection, public session is closed. Well, now we are to the point where we answer the public's comments. So, Mr.
Wright, you can now continue. See, just follow the rules. >> I talked to Mr. Vaughn Locker. And did I not, >> Mr. Vaughn Locker? >> You did. >> About the cars parked on the street and whether or not we were giving out
tickets. And were we not giving out tickets? We were >> was it double the amount that we gave out before? >> More than double. >> And I said that we ought to look at our situation
and say we could do better. No. Can we do worse? Yes. Uh, and and I say that because a lot of times with all the snow that we were putting down, it went somewhere and
sure enough, it went on that person's property. I'm more than sure if we took a a poll as to how many properties the snow was piled up on, be a hell of a lot of them. And I'll raise my hand because
it was on my property and I'm a councilman. Um, I'm more I'm more than sure the cloud guy didn't care because he threw it up there. Um,
but if you say if people say that people just knock on the doors for an election and they really don't care about people, I kind of again don't flow with that. But in your
opinion or anyone else's opinion, um, if that's what you believe, that's what you want to believe, there's nothing I can do. Not a dog on thing I can do. um except say
my telephone number is listed, my email address is listed, but yet I I hate it when people come and they scream on you, but yet they never tell you anything.
It's always come here and light into you, but they never called you. They never sent an email to you. Never said, "Hey, dummy, something's going over here. Take a peek." Nothing. I hear when
speeding comes and, "Hey, Carl, there's speeding over here. You got to do something." And I do my best to try to do something from speed humps to put a fake uh uh uh um sign up there or do
something, put a cop car with nobody in it, but then that cost us money and there goes your tax dollars. Um, so I'm at a loss. I'm at a loss because only the supreme
creator has a solution for everything and I am not that person entity I should say. So unless you or anybody else steps up right there and
says, "Call right, you need to fix this problem." Then I will never know a problem exists. So write it in the paper. You heard it here first.
call right says email if you got a problem like I always do and everyone up here on the council except for the new ones will always hear me say why would you leave after public comment
when you know we have to comment and when you know we're going to spend your hard-earned tax dollars but yet you never stay to hear anything see what we're spending it on but yet come in and scream on you and then leave.
Now I'm going to shut up, but our redevelopment agency meeting yesterday was cancelled. I haven't had any other meeting. >> This is not council comments, Mr. Right. >> Mr. Wright, this is not council comments. This is response to
>> get another bite. I'm done. I'm done. >> So, a general comment about snow plowing. When there's a lot of snow, you have two choices. You can either plow narrow, again, not going near the curb, and then
the problem is your street is narrow, or you plow wide, and then you're pushing the snow up onto people's driveways and sidewalks. And I heard complaints, actually, not very many complaints considering the amount of snow, but I heard complaints in both directions
uh with this. Most people were kind. He called me and we went out of our way to help the situation as we apparently we helped the situation here. But it's just it's a matter of physics. You got to put the snow somewhere. So either you're going to have a narrow street or you're
going to have snow in places you don't want it. >> I I Mr. Mayor, I have a I have a comment also and this is actually a question for our township manager. So what I heard from uh Deborah she was uh asking
whether or not there's a supervision. In other words, the contractors that we have is anybody from uh public work department for example driving around see how things going and the other thing that I heard was she was uh commenting whether or not there's some sort of a training beforehand so they know how to
do it. Can you please comment? >> So so the answer is this is a competitive bid councilman. So, we put out plow routes to bid and a a licensed contractor in the state of New Jersey bids for this work and we are obligated
to award the low bid for the work and it is the contractor's responsibility to ensure that the personnel is trained in how to plow snow. I mean, I can I can go into great detail about this particular circumstance. I'm not going to I'll give
a cursory review of my report. However, um they're supervised. Uh the crews of contractors uh alongside township employees are assigned to a foreman that works for the township and the foreman
ensures that the routes get accomplished. Every plow operator, whether they're a township plow operator or a contractor, their vehicles are equipped with GPS tracking devices that allow us to to to see where they are and
what streets they've plowed. So, we know that, you know, we don't miss a street. But, nonetheless, the supervision falls on the public works department foreman who's responsible for that area. And contractors are not isolated to any one particular area of the town. Contractors
supplement township um plow operators. So working for a foreman. So the town is divided up by the number of foremen that we have and each foreman has a crew comprised of contractors and township employees and they work in their various
locations throughout the township. So, there are contractors in Kingston, there are contractors in the Fourth Ward, there are contractors out near Davidson Avenue, there are contractors all around town, just like there are township plow operators all around town. >> Thank you.
>> Anyone else? >> Yeah, I I think I'm sorry. Yeah. So I think uh to address uh the issue that was raised here um could we perhaps identify some common locations like the
bus stop the children's pickup point and inform the contractors not to pile up the snow there. >> Councilman, there's about 2,000 bus stops in town. All right. So that that's not practical. All right. Um, to be perfectly honest with you, um, it even I
can tell you that even our plow operators wouldn't know that the area directly across the street from Miss Inman's house is a bus stop. There are bus stops throughout the entire neighborhood, throughout the entire township. So, it's not like there's a sign that says this is a bus stop. All
right? And there are bus stops in front of people's homes because there's no other place for them to get picked up. that I mean so that's that's just not practical given the 10,000 plus students that get bust by the board of education
every day. Um the the reality is is that we had 18 ines of snow and I'll forego my report at this point. We had 18 in of snow. That snow as the mayor said needs to go somewhere and we are not going to be trucking out snow from the 48 square
miles that comprises Franklin Township. We have 240 miles of roadway that have to get plowed. There are probably given the fact that there's there's about 28,000 properties in town. There's probably somewhere near between 20 and
25,000 driveways. Um when you look at the number of intersections, we have over a thousand streets. And in in Missman's particular circumstance, she lives on what I would call a wishbone. All right? There's the stem of the wishbone and then there are the two legs
of the wishbone. And her house is situated where the two streets come together on curves. It more or less creates a de facto culde-sac in the amount of size that exists in that area where those two streets come together
into one. And given the fact that it's like a culde-sac with driveways off of it, the snow has to go somewhere. So, it has to go onto people's yards. I mean, I live on a culde-sac. I live on the bulb of a culdesac. Right now, in front of my
house is literally a 10 foot high pile of snow that is approximately 40 ft wide and sticks out into the bulb by about 15 to 20 feet. All right. So, and I know the fact that that's going to be the case because I've owned my house since
1989 and every major snowstorm ex results in the same thing. Half of that snow pile was the remnants of the last snowstorm. Luckily, for the most part, the snow melted in this town along the roadways. Otherwise, we would really be
in a mess. But it's it's not something that is a it's not a question of whether or not the plow operator knew how to plow the snow. They cleared the intersection, which is the responsibility of the plow operator. The fact that snow got pushed
onto someone's lawn is a as a as a result of 18 inches of snow and not six inches of snow. It's very easy to move it along a curb line when it's six. Not so easy when it's 18. >> Council, I've done a ride along with the
snow plows. It is an education. It is a rough ride. It's hard. person's trying to get near the curb and that plow is over there near the curb and you're way up here. >> It's you you you need to do a ride along
and you you'll learn a lot. There's just limits to what can be done and uh most people who talk who I talked to understood that that their choice is a narrow street or snow in the yard or on
their porch. Um, so all right, I think we've >> beaten the snow to death. Um, we're on to council comments. Let's start down here with Councilman Singh. >> Actually, I just want to say something
about the plow for a second because >> you can. It's your report now. Uh we did get a lot of calls from the first ward on a similar issue uh because of the snow pileup and in most of the conversations that I had with the
residents was similar to what the mayor just described. This is not about driver negligence. This is not about driver negligence. This is about operational physics. Now, do we have a couple of tools that we can
look at like snowgates, like sidewalk plow attachments? Yes. But I will give the answer because in the research that I did over the last 72 hours, it means a lot more many drivers.
It means a lot more passes. It means slower operations and it means a lot more money. Something that we cannot afford right now. Are we going to drop all of those
alternatives and not consider them? No, we will. But I think we need to be pragmatic in terms of the options that are available to us. Um, to Deborah's point, I'm glad you got the response when you called. It didn't
solve your problem, but at least someone responded to, uh, note, and I'm sure um, uh, Councilman Wright responded as well. Um, this is not just your issue. I don't think it is limited to your word. I don't think it's limited to the
township. I continue to hear in the last week or so, especially in this storm, uh an issue that's existed with several of our uh uh state residents. >> Thank you. >> Um Mr. Manager, what was our our um
director of DPW doing this past snowstorm? >> Actually, so yesterday I tried to reach him at around 1:00 yesterday afternoon and he answered me from a plow out. um in Levit off of Winston Drive because there was a need for additional plow
operators. So rather than man in a desk in the public works department, he was out plowing snow and he was out plowing snow until about 8:00 last night. And he had been in the office from about um noon time yesterday, the day before, so
about 30 hours. And he was in his office at 7 this morning to answer this particular complaint from me. So hiring more people is >> not simply done. >> Well, no. And and you know, we've talked about this on on a number of occasions
during my time as manager that um labor is is the most expensive recurring cost in in public works operations. You can buy a truck for $250,000. That truck will last 20 years. We have
some of them are out on the road for 20 years now. the big plow trucks um at at $250,000 um with benefits and pension payments and all the like. That's that's a laborer for two years.
And then in year three, it's more than $250,000. And that's just one. and and and so and you know with the larger plow trucks and with the equipment that the councilman was talking about requires a commercial driver's license. Then that gets into
truck driver level positions in the public works department. Um you know it the labor costs alone would be staggering. >> Thank you. So well said M uh Councilman Singh. >> Yes I agree completely.
>> Comments. Thank you very much, Councilwoman Shea Uden. >> Thank you. Um I had similar questions that um Councilman Barson already answered around the school routes and bus stops. I think um we would have way too many signage. That's not something
that we would work because I' I've personally seen where buses stop almost at every house dropping and picking up kids. So, it's something that wouldn't work. But um I think we had a storm that we're all trying to >> get the snow out um as quickly as possible. And I have been on the corners
um of the streets with the kids um because again I I get it. I I understand that safety is a concern and um the corners are pretty with the snow. It's it's pretty stacked up high where the kids are in the streets. Um so I would add if we can maybe have a little bit of
added security services or cops be driving around just >> public safety directors in the back of the room listening. >> I see him. I didn't want to address him directly. I think I think he's hearing everything that's going on right here. >> Yeah. So, um if we can just add additional just until we can get this uh
snow situation um melted away. Um but definitely is a concern and um I I can see that. So, the other thing I had a question on is um I I had a couple residents reach out to me and I had very similar feedback as Councilman Singh said where was very positive. You know,
it's never going to be perfect, but I think um the town has done a great job on getting the roads paved. I was out on the roads yesterday just to check things out and it seemed like war two at least had decent roads. Um didn't have any
major concerns reported again it was more positive. They were very happy with how things got done. Um I had a question around if if our plows damage mailboxes is that something that they would have
to report back to the township website? They just need to contact the public works department. If it's on a township street, if it's on a county street, they need to contact the county. It's on a state highway, they need to contact the the state department of transportation. But for municipal streets,
>> um if a one of our plows damages a mailbox, we replace it. >> Okay. >> They just need to contact the public works department during regular business hours. >> That's what I wanted to know. So, I just So, it will be replaced um by us or the county, I guess, in that sense. >> Yeah, we I I can't speak for the county.
We replace, as a courtesy, we replace the mailboxes. In some towns, um, and I'm familiar with a number of them, they they do not replace the mailboxes, and they the the homeowner needs to report it to their homeowner's insurance. It's
damage done to their property that's accidental, and homeowners insurance covers accidental damage. We do it as a courtesy. >> So, we we take care of ours. We do. >> Okay. That's that's great information. Um, and so I know we have a couple things down that we're going to address
on immigration XR, so I'll keep that. We didn't have a public works meeting because our public works team is hard at work. Um, so our 26 road paving schedule is still to be determined um at this time. Um, but we will have more information as we meet um on the next
round. Um, one of the things I wanted to say is I just was informed that one of our council members got uh selected to receive the greater Somerset County YMCA living with our call spirit award and uh
congratulations Mr. Embarasan for that award. Um it will be issued to him on April 8th of this year and um he does a lot of great you do a lot of great work councilman on the Y and along with Councilman Karazzi as well. So congratulations on that award. And um
lastly, I just want to wish everyone that's been celebrating Ramadan, Linds, and Luna New Year. Um you know, a lot of holidays that came up. So hope everyone was able to celebrate at least at the snow days that they were in. And I did shovel a lot. We don't get no um
courtesy or or anything um being council members. We still have to shovel. And I shoveled a lot. And I'm telling you, my back is really in pain. But I hear I look I think we're all in this. We're going to get out of it. It's just another couple days of sun hopefully
that hits the snow and melted away. So thank you. That's all I had. >> Thank you the aforementioned Councilman Embarrass. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh thank you um for the kind words. Uh yeah, we um um do a
lot of work for the YMCA, future YMCA of Franklin. Uh very actively involved in trying to u make the dream happen. So um every time I get a chance, I do a shout out to the entire town. We got to come
together and build the YMCA. Um anyway, u regarding the snow, um where do I begin? Uh three second part. You're done. >> Yeah. Well, we had we had a couple of instances. Um I think I contacted u the
township manager. I think one of them is a knockdown um mailbox uh at a street on a in a house. Uh I think uh he's in touch with you. Uh Bob >> public. >> Public horse. Yes. Um uh again, you know, I live in an adult community 55
plus. So we pay a monthly maintenance fee which uh covers instances of uh snow plowing and uh walkway clearing and so on so forth. So unlike my colleagues here, I'm happy to report that I did not
have to get out of the house to to shower the snow or salt that walkway. I'm um happy to do that. But I did get a complaint um about uh snow uh not getting cleared on the sidewalks
in within our community. So I'm working with Bob to uh get to the bottom of the ordinance and what it means and so forth. Um it's a common issue I hear in other 55 plus communities. Um so uh we
will resolve that uh eventually. Uh but in the meantime, I believe the uh township is issuing summons uh to them uh to to wherever the snow is not cleared on the uh on the sidewalks. Um other than that, um planning board uh
meeting took place last week. It's probably the shortest planning board meeting I have been to. Um not couple of resolutions uh got approved. uh there was uh no other business and Mark Healey
kind of told us this year is going to be light on the planning board agendas and not a lot of activities which concerns me that shows that uh um there's a lot of development uh planned in town. Um so
um so apart from that uh we're going to uh discuss a planning board priority the u master plan re-examination priorities the following week which is a public meeting. Uh and then we also had a quick um community foundation meeting where um
scholarships are awarded uh to two or three uh graduating seniors from Franklin High School. Uh last year we awarded three contract uh three grants or three scholarships for $5,000 each uh from the community foundation and we
will do that two or three uh more gr scholarships this year as well. Um and then there was a great event uh at the board of education facilities uh Franklin Township uh warrior education
fund fundraiser. uh first year they did that and they raised on the spot uh they raised about $4,500. Great event again that is going to scholarship to students is a great cause and if you hear about
it uh please uh donate to that good cause to take care of our children on at school. That's all I got. Mayor, >> thank you Councilman Vasinella. >> Thank you mayor. So in the last few weeks I had uh meetings.
Okay. Central Jersey Housing Resource Center, which I'm on the board of. They handle most of our uh a lot of our towns and other towns in the area's affordable housing administration administering the units. Um bottom line, we did our annual report, annual audit, had our auditor in
and um the agency is doing well uh as they always have as long as I've been involved. and they um continue to handle any of Franklin or the rest of the areas uh administering of affordable housing applications as they are contracted to
do going forward, but financially they're in great shape and uh also a review of their accomplishments show that they have uh continue to do incredible things in a way of assisting um townships in affordable housing, including Franklin. Um it was mentioned
we had public safety meeting tonight. Uh really uh we went over a lot of things including the snow uh current recent snowstorm. Not uh anything specific to report out to the public right now. Uh some comments that already reflect some
of the things discussed. Um apologize, lost my space. In general, I don't want to repeat what's but said about the snow, but I'm going to just throw a few comments out there. First of all, we've been lucky the last five or six years. We really haven't had snow. nothing that was would cause issues like
a lot of the issues we're dealing with personally and as a town. Um, you can't fight mother nature. You shouldn't try to. You try to manage it as best as possible. Really, I think what a lot of this comes down to hearing the comments tonight and our my colleagues and a lot of the communication I've gotten
recently in the other storm and then in the last couple days, to me, I kind of break it down to two things. is it kind of comes down to your expectations and your personal circumstance. Um, I know we all think our house in our area and our street is the most
important and you better do it right and and I admire and respect that approach because you should be protective of that and conscious of it and bring your concerns when you don't feel standards have been met. Um, but to put it into more practical situation, a couple comments were already made. We got a lot
of roadways. This is 18 in of snow. we should be ready and we should go out there and kick butt in removing it, but there's a lot of aspects at play. Some were mentioned here. Uh what I would like to do, and I think uh Councilman Singh was moving in that direction, look
at the things that can be considered down the road. Um I don't need to get the answer now, but I'm curious if a contractor is evaluated. First of all, I think we should do a critical evaluation of all the subcontractors. we have limited, like the manager said, ability.
Um, you have to follow the state statutes and hiring. But if somebody is subpar upon a a, you know, a written review that can show that they're performing subpar, I hope and we should find a way not to have to uh or want to rehire them. So, I'm curious to look at
that aspect of it. Uh, I commend the police on uh this year, especially with the higher snow, doing a much better job of getting people, not like they were doing a bad job, but getting people to obey, get your car off the road. A lot of the issues are, especially in these
smaller streets and the war, a lot of areas of my ward are cars are on the road. Whatever you can do legally and safely, put it on your front lawn, bring it to a friend's house in another town or someone you know in Franklin that has a bigger driveway. I would like to see a
little bit more, we do it. But I'd like to see a little bit more of the good oldfashioned loudspeaker going around 24/7. We do do it and it's helped, but I'd like to see more of that. So, that's something we could look into. Um bottom line is there's our hands are tied to a
degree, but we can look at what we can actually do to possibly improve it. The school bus situation, the school stops, there's just other than spending a a fortune, there's really no way to make that a seamless situation. Um I I don't
want to get into it now. I think there's ways to communicate with the school, the district, and perhaps if nothing else, educate parents. Uh because at the end of the day, missing a class or getting to school late is nothing in comparison to an injury or an accident. So, I think
there's things we could do, but it's limited. But I would like to make sure whatever power we have to hire the best contractors possible, we do. And one last thing I'll throw out. Um, I had a handful of concerns and complaints and
actually a couple letters that I think our ordinance is 12 hours. In 12 hours, you must have your sidewalk cleared. Quite frankly, I I think with a snowstorm like that, that's too high of an expectation. I think we should allow at least 24 hours. Uh, people have to
have the ability to maintain their home, their sidewalk in situations like this. But we have to look reasonably when you have something like this. I wouldn't want to be going out and giving any anybody tickets 12 hours after. I'm not saying we do, but we can look at those
aspects because a 6-in snowstorm is a lot different than a 16-in snowstorm. And although I'm hoping it doesn't come this year, we need to be prepared. We could have 2 feet of snow in the beginning of April. I mean, that's just a reality of mother nature. So, I don't want to keep going on and on, but those are some of my thoughts. There's We can
hopefully do something. Thank you, >> Councilman Only Jaka. >> Yes, mayor. I'm still on a snow issue. >> Okay, we all know that uh this particular snow
is completely out of proportion. It has never happened before and although our the township was well prepared for it but is just the way the snow just came down in my area. It was
difficult for us to move. They could not come out and plow till 12 noon. Nobody could go out. I didn't go anywhere. I was at home till 12:00 noon and they came out and they cleaned up everything. though they did a good job but for the
fact that this particular one is out of proportion we have to excuse them for the time delay. Okay. And and another problem with uh my area is uh West Minister. West Minister is a road that runs across three
development. Actually they don't know who owns and what part each development owns. So because of it they only pluged one one side of the road. The other side of the road is still unplugged till now
cuz that's what I have about the snow. Um the HRC meeting is coming up tomorrow and uh by 7:00 we all will be there though they said another snow will come tomorrow but I know it's going to be minor.
Mayor that is what I have. >> Thank you Mr. Wright. redevelopment meeting was cancelled uh yesterday because of snow. Uh they gave report of the U um public safety committee. Um the housing went through
the housing authority I should say. Um I talked to the chairman, Miss Mr. I gagosi about what was going to be on the menu for that day and u u no one showed up. So um that went by the wayside.
Um one last thing to my fellow colleagues I apologize without question. I apologize. I let my temper get the best of me. I apologize. Um, shouldn't have done that.
Totally ugly. To the 12,000 residents of residents of Franklin Township 44, I apologize. I should have never done that. Uh, you elected me to take care of your business and I apologize for what
display that I just did. Um, accept my sincere apology to looking dead at that camera so you can see my face. I apologize. No question.
And that is that, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you, Deputy Mayor Kurasi. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And good evening, everyone. Uh, first of all, I want to thank public work members as well as the safety crew and the police department
for doing a great job. I don't at least I didn't hear that we had any safety incident and that's it's a blessing. Thank you so much. Um I had attended a few uh events and um first of all I
attended a grand opening of a new business in town. Uh it's called Taco B. It's a great Mexican restaurant located on Route 27 and we wish them the best. Food is great and the prices are really
reasonable and the nice atmosphere as well. So, please visit them and support our local businesses. And uh because of the the Black History Months, I had the opportunity to participate in couple of events. I went
to the middle school. They had a great event titled Revolution to Rhythm and it was really done well. And then I I was also invited to go to a church event which I did. And I was I spoke about the great contribution of African-Americans
throughout our nation's history and also read the proclamation that we had during the last council meeting. Uh there was a county um leadership class. I represented the our council members and there were several municipal
mayors and council members along about 30 community members from the county and um we talked about the form of government in each municipality, how decisions are made and what made us to run for an office and answer their
questions. Um, also I I participated along with a couple of other my colleagues in the Franken Township Warrior Foundation uh fundraising and that was a really great event as well. Finally, we had the
trail committee meeting and we discussed project for the year and uh we had a group of visitors from Franklin Astronomy Club and we discussed ways we can collaborate with them when the weather is uh warm up and our trails are
available for walking. Hopefully, hikers can use their facility uh to look at the stars and uh galaxies. So, that's what I have. Mr. Maris, >> thank you uh for my comments. The next
Franklin 250 event is on the 28th, February 28th. It's at Samson G. Smith School, um the middle school on Amwell. It is uh The Crossing. It's a play. It's
a new play that's eventually headed to Broadway. You can see it now or at least fragments of it now. uh for $10 on the 28th at 7:00. Better come early because the tickets are going to go fast. There's only 300 tickets available. But
um Terry Sio's kind of well has her hand in it. Uh we saw a taste of it at the Salute to America uh last month and it was great and I think for 10 bucks you can get a piece of a Broadway show. Um
and then uh the other thing is the council meeting on March 10th will start at 7:30. Um it normally starts of course at 7. Sunset is at 7. It's Ramadan. I thought
I'd give people a break and give them an extra half hour uh to get here. Um and those are my comments. Mr. Manager, >> I'll stay true to my word, Mr. Mr. Mayor, and say that I'm not going to talk about snow anymore. I think I did
enough earlier during council questions and comments. So, I have nothing else to report. Thank you. >> Terrific. >> Uh, so now we are on to the council discussion item and there's a um
resolution uh barring federal government from using township property for federal civil immigration enforcement. Um, council may have had some questions about it. The title of the resolution is
26-112, the township of Franklin County assembed and township controlled land, property spaces, uh, facilities, equipment, and resources for federal civil immigration enforcement.
Um, does anyone have any comments on it or questions for our attorney? >> I have a comment. Go ahead. >> So, immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility.
Um, our responsibility as a township is to ensure our public spaces remain safe. The public spaces
should be welcoming and they should be governed by clear rules. The intent and the idea is not to obstruct lawful federal activity, but we can ensure
we can ensure township resources not be used beyond what the law requires. and our policies and our resolutions should support that neutrally and
transparently. And I support this because this is a step in that direction. >> Thank you, >> mayor. Just to I just have a question. So, I I you're right. Um I in support of
this but this resolution is in line with how the state is also >> it mirrors what the the executive order of the governor. >> Thank you. >> If I may. >> Yes.
>> It's executive order uh 12 if you want to actually. >> So it does mirror very closely uh the governor's executive order number 12 if you want to um go for further research. Uh, >> thank you.
>> So, let me let me read some of the guts of it. Um, except as authorized by a judicial warrant or judicial order or as authorized under paragraph 5 of this resolution. Township departments and agencies shall not permit or consent to
federal immigration officers entering, accessing, or using non-public areas of township property for the purposes of facilitating federal enforcement of civil immigration laws. And then except as authorized by a judicial warrant or
judicial order, they can't use township property as a staging area. Nothing in this resolution shall be construed to restrict, prohibit, or in any way prevent a township or department or energy and a agency from facilitating
the enforcement of criminal laws of the state of on the township property um or complying with valid judicial warrants. So, if ICE shows up, we've got the public safety director here to correct me if I'm wrong. If I shows up and
they've got a warrant for someone who has done just for something evil, something unlawful, a a violent crime, and they want help from our off police officers, they would, I think I'm speak
fairly, they would help them. might even might even uh be good advice to ICE that whenever they do that they involve our police force. I'm not trying to tell them what to do or how to do that. And people will
get used to well if they see our police force around then this is a warrant. This is something that's a law has been broken. They don't see our police around then maybe something else is going on.
Um, so I invite ICE to ask us to help them for judicial warrants. Um, any anything anyone else? >> Mayor, I have a couple of comments. I think this is a good resolution. Uh we
should uh definitely show our uh township residents that we care and and we would um support uh legal um warrants uh that that are um executed um not
frivolous uh actions by uh federal agents. Uh so we support that. I just noticed a few uh formatting issues and that's uh so one section one should have only A through E. I think it got B and
C. Uh C should not be there. It should be moved on. So that's only five bullets. >> No. A B C D E F. >> Yeah. But C is in a wrong C should not be a paragraph. I a section by itself. It's a continuation of the sentence from the previous paragraph. Oh, I see what you Yeah.
>> Okay. Similarly, section five uh also should not have D as a section. That's a continuation of a sentence. So, that should have only A through E, not F. >> Well, I'm not sure you're right there because there's a semicolon at the end
of C. >> Oh, okay. Yeah, you're right. Um, yeah. So that you can leave that as it is. And I think on point uh one B um the last sentence last section of
the sentence says um instrumentally or agency over which the mayor exercises executive authority and I think that might want to read mayors and council >> exercise. >> Good catch. >> Executive authority.
>> Good catch. Is there a motion to make those changes then mayor? Just to make official >> we aren't on to the where this is the discussion part. We'll following Robert's rules when we get to the resolution itself. >> Okay.
>> He can uh rename that. Um the other thing I wanted to add is how this wound up on the agenda. It it wound up on the agenda this morning. It was just published this morning. I'm usually loathed to doing such a thing, but I felt some urgency to do this. I also
felt since this came out as an executive order, there was no public session involved with it, no time for comment. It didn't go before the legislature, and it came out as an executive order from the mayor of New Brunswick. Uh so again,
um there was no public hearing, time for public comment. Uh, I did as soon as I knew that it was going to be on the agenda inform the local papers, the Franklin reporter and the and tap into. Um, and I did make sure this was not
just hidden in the consent agenda. Uh, initially was going to be voted on separately and then I said, "No, let's move it to council discussion." So, it's out in front and uh due to inact or imprecise directions that I gave the
clerk, it wound up before public comment. Um, and I had it moved to after public comment in case someone wanted a compliment on it. So, I regret that the notice that it didn't have much
notice, but I did feel an urgency to do it. And this is completely lawful. We could have introduced it here at the council meeting. It didn't need any like unlike an ordinance which you need to uh give notice to. Um so unless there are
other comments here, we can move on to the resolution. um the township of Franklin County of Somerset barring the federal government from using township owned and township controlled land, properties, spaces,
facilities, equipment, and resources of the federal immigration enforcement. Do we have a motion on the resolution? >> So moved. >> Seconded and seconded. You want to move your corrections? >> Yes. Um, I'm I'm not going to repeat my
corrections as narrated earlier. >> I propose those comments. >> That's what I was hoping you said. >> Do we have a second? >> Seconded. >> So, voting on the uh amendments. Madame clerk.
>> Councilman embarrass. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Francois. >> Deputy Mayor Karazzi. >> Yes. >> Mayor Kramer. >> Yes. Councilman Oni Jaka, >> yes. >> Councilman Singh, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Udin, >> yes. >> Councilman Vasanella, yes. >> Councilman Wright, >> yes. >> Are there any other comments or
discussions? >> So, we have a motion and a second on the uh resolution. Uh, no further discussion. Madame Clerk. >> Councilman Aaron Barrist. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Francois. >> Deputy Mayor Karazzi.
>> Yes. Mayor Kramer, >> yes. >> Councilman Oni Jaka, >> yes. >> Councilman Singh, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Udin, >> yes. >> Councilman Vasanella, >> yes. >> Councilman Wright, >> yes. >> Okay. >> Uh, >> Mr. Mayor. >> Yes, sir.
>> So, I I in in my haste to move the meeting along, I did omit one announcement that I wanted to make. And ironically, you've referred to the gentleman in the back of the room as our public safety director on on more than one occasion. And as you know, um, Mr.
Frederick's is our acting public safety director. And my announcement is that tomorrow I will be appointing him as the permanent public safety director for the Township of Franklin. And I think that yes, that's appropriate. Um, I I I have the utmost confidence in
um Lloyd to continue the the the great progress our police department has made over the last several years. Um he's stepped into big shoes to fill um in the departure of Quella Mayweather. I think that he's done more than fill them. I
think he's now gone out beyond those shoes. Um, and he is just doing a fantastic job and it's one of the the great pleasures that I have as a township manager to be able to appoint such qualified, intelligent, capable
people like um Lloyd. So, I wanted to let everyone know that. >> Thank you. So, but for tonight, he's still acting. >> For tonight, he's still acting. He is. And he's acting like a public safety director right now, and he's doing a fantastic job of it. Congratulations, >> Mr. Frederick. Would you like to say a
word? >> No. Got to come to the mic or the TV won't pick it up. >> Let the TV people hear it. >> Got to get into the PR part now. >> Okay. I would like to thank all the members of the council who trusted in me. Township manager Vorn Locker. I came
to Franklin in 2005 after working for five years, six years actually in in East Orange. So, um I learned a town. I basically uh had the entire part of my police career here. Um and working underneath Kell Mayweather, I was able
to see the operation and I 100% believe I continue to do that and more for the town. Um I got one advantage, I was here longer, so I know a lot longer. I know a lot of the uh kids that grew up in town who are now parents now. So it's easy
for me to mitigate and talk to people and um diffuse things. So, thank you again and I look forward to serving all of the uh members of our community. >> Congratulations. >> And Mr. Vorn Locker, so people don't think we just picked someone out of the
crew, could you please tell us what you went through to >> So, I we did a national search. I reviewed all of the applicants. Um I I received over 30 uh applicants from across the country for that position. Um, and uh, as a result of my review of
all of the candidates who expressed interest in this position, it became apparent to me that we already had the best candidate here in Franklin Township, someone who uh, who stepped up when he was needed most and has
continued to uh, to do all of the things and then some that we would ask of someone in his position. So I went to council and said this is who I think should be in that position and I got agreement from all of council and uh so it's always nice to have the support of
your bosses when you make a big important appointment like this. So um I got that and that's why we're here today and the last councilman actually that I had a discussion with was this evening prior to the council meeting. So >> excellent.
Um okay on to number 11, approval of the minutes. There are none. Number 12, approval of the warrants. Time to pay the bills in the amount of 29,71,546.65 cents on February 24th, 2026 are presented to the township council for payment to have a motion on the
warrants. >> Seconded. >> Moved and seconded. Anyone want to pull a warrant, question a warrant? >> Madame clerk. >> Councilman Barrison. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Francois. Deputy Mayor Karazzi. Yes. >> Mayor Kramer. >> Yes.
>> Councilman Oniaka. >> Yes. >> Councilman Singh. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Udin. Yes. >> Councilman Vasanella. >> Yes. >> Councilman Wright. >> The next is the Hamilton Street Special Improvement District and Assessment Role. Resolution 26-101.
Read the calendar year 2026. Hamilton special improvement district budget by title. Um, do we have a motion to read by title? >> So moved. Second. >> Moved and seconded. Uh, any discussion?
Seeing none, Madame Clerk. >> Councilman Barrison. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Francois. Deputy Mayor Karazzi. >> Yes. >> Mayor Kramer. >> Yes. >> Councilman Oni Jaka. >> Yes. >> Councilman Singh. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Udin. >> Yes. >> Councilman Vasanella. >> Yes. >> Councilman Wright? >> Yes.
>> Public hearing is in order. So I ask for unanimous consent to open to the public on this item only. Without objection, we are open to the public on the Hamilton Street Special Improvement District assessment.
Seeing no one come forward, I ask for unanimous consent to close public discussion. Without objection, public discussion is closed. So we um did I assume is Miss Ken, is
this why you're here? Yes, just in case I needed to field any questions. Um, in the Mr. Dominic is the current executive. Um, uh, but I will be taking over him as of
March 2nd. So, thought it would be prudent to be here. >> Congratulations. >> I have a question. Is there a job around here you don't do? >> I am not the township manager. that was that was the wisest answer that
Miss Ken could give >> given the fact that I've appointed her to every position that she holds. Um but yeah, so that just and and for those of you on council who um have not been conscious for the last month, um uh Mr.
Dominic has um just a select few days left uh before he starts his retirement on uh March 1st and that's why uh several of his positions are being filled by other staff members. Um I
guess that means and I know he's listening right now that it took more than one person to do all of the jobs that he did for me. That's probably some level of truth to that. Um, but Safy, who's been on the Hamilton Street Advisory Board as the special projects
manager since she's been special projects manager, is not unfamiliar with the issues related to the Hamilton Street Advisory Board. So, she was a natural choice to take over as the executive director. >> Thank you. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you.
>> Congratulations. Okay. >> So, resolution 26102 adopt calendar year 2026 Hamilton Street special improvement district budget as introduced is presented to township
council for adoption. Do have a motion on the resolution. >> So move seconded. >> Move and seconded. Any discussion? >> Madame clerk. >> Councilman embarison. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Francois. Deputy Mayor Karazzi. Yes.
>> Mayor Kramer. >> Yes. >> Councilman Oni Jaka. >> Yes. >> Councilman Singh. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Udin. >> Councilman Vasanella. Yes. >> Councilman Wright. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, Mr. Manager,
>> I've only been on council uh 16 years. I'm confused. The next thing is public hearing on the Hamilton Street SID role. >> That's correct. >> I was explain that difference between the budget and the role. >> Well, there's the So, there's the budget
and then there's those who pay the SID. So the assessment role is those properties that are assessed as property owners that are uh businesses within the special improvement district and that role has to be um adopted as well as the
budget. >> Okay, great. So public hearing on calendar year 2026 Hamilton Street Sid assessment role. Uh public hearing is appropriate. Um, I ask for unanimous consent to open to the public.
Without objection, we are open to the public. Same rules as before. Anyone wishing to speak on this item, >> please state your name and address. >> Sure. It's Renee McInness and that's 93 Oakland Avenue, Somerset. Just a quick question and I could be in the wrong
aspect of it so you can just correct me. Um, I didn't see an update of the special assessments that are going on with the Hamilton Hamilton Hamilton Street. I saw something that was older. So, could it be updated for the public
so that we know? and some of the things that are being developed on that street don't seem in line with what the policy was before. So, if you can just explain that in detail. >> I I I guess my question is no, don't
walk away because I'm going to ask you exactly what you mean because the Hamilton Street Advisory Board sits as an advisory uh committee to council. The council is actually the district management corporation that that manages this the special improvement district
and they have done so since 2015 um uh when they took it back from the district management corporation. So I I don't know exactly what you mean by it doesn't see the development doesn't seem in line. In fact, there was a a the a
funded Hamilton Street um planning study that was done subsequent to the township council taking back control of the district management corporation and that was issued in 2017 and the development
along Hamilton Street has been in line with that adopted planning study. >> Okay. So from my understanding as a lay person just coming into it >> um what I read for the businesses for
the walkability purposes for shopping for family availability for usage for Hamilton Street. So if I'm wrong please correct me. >> I I you didn't say anything what you you just said you don't understand it. What what don't you understand?
>> So based on what I've read >> read what where did you read this? on on the website. >> Okay. >> Okay. On for the township, >> the Hamilton special project is development for businesses for walkability purposes,
>> for family environment to for shopping ability, for easy access. >> That's what I read. Mhm. So what I'm saying is I didn't see anything updated on the website as to any new um investments businesses updated from I
don't even remember the year. It seems very outdated at least five >> okay >> five years. So I was asking one will it be updated? So you unfortunately she just walked out because the new executive director would have been the person to address that with and what I
can tell you is if you give me a chance to look at my email here I believe I have it up >> March 2nd we also March >> meeting yes March 2nd at 7 o'clock >> March 2nd here is the next Hamilton Street Advisory Board meeting. Okay. >> Yeah. I couldn't I had to bring up my
calendar real quick. Um, I it would be fantastic for you to come and and and engage the people who are on that advisory board because the types of questions and the things that you're asking about are exactly the types of things that we would want to see the public get involved in.
>> Um, yeah, I it really it and I don't I don't dismiss what you just said. I I think to some level it's true. M >> um what's happened is that the staff and and the the town have have taken it as far as we can and the input from the
public is what that committee needs the most. >> So we you should definitely make an effort to be it's in this room um uh at on at 7:00 on the 2nd of March. >> Okay. So with that, thank you so much. I feel that's so important, right, for the
public to be connected. Um were you going to say something? I didn't know if anyone else had a response, but I'm going to go a step further. >> Uh there's three or four openings. I knew he was one of which is >> and I don't know where you live is for a resident that lives within the district.
Another one is >> they can live anywhere. It's called an atlarge seat. >> Okay. >> And um whether you want to if you're interested, you go on our site, you just submit a very simple community service application. Okay? It's not guaranteeing
you a spot, but then that puts you in the running. And I know myself and I think my colleagues that serve on that board would would uh greatly consider an any application, especially one of someone interested enough to come and respectfully share your ideas. And um
I'm not sure if this was referring to, but these are the type of decisions that the board gets involved with. You mentioned following the plan. I'm going to throw out one example, not naming the property. Occasionally variances have been given for different things, >> right? >> I.e.
the bottom floor was supposed to be commercial. >> Mhm. >> I don't know, but I believe a couple variances where they were able to forgo that. So, I'm not sure if that's what you meant, but there's little nuances. I'm not saying they're right or wrong. I don't like variances in general like
that, but you know, they're all dealt with separately. I encourage you to get involved and put in an application because I believe we have a good board. We need more energy and to re-evaluate and maybe update formally update our
mission and our plan going forward. Thank you for coming tonight. >> I appreciate that and I thank you for those opportunities. I will ask um I do work in New York so on certain occasions uh if they're online connection I know you do that with some other aspects um I
know with the east avenue >> your executive director is >> yeah she just came back cuz she heard us talking about it about her she's got that you know you know that that sense of >> but where did where did you say you lived >> so I'm at 93 Oakland Avenue
>> Oakland Avenue so you're not within the special improvement district but you could be an at large member. So, she's here and you should talk to her now. >> I will. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. >> Sure. >> Anyone else wishing to speak on this item?
>> Seeing no one else come forward, I ask unanimous consent to close public session. Without objection, public session is closed. Um, so we're now to resolution 26103, adoption of the Hamilton Street Special
Improvement District Assessment Role. Do we have a motion? >> Move. >> Seconded. >> Then seconded. Any discussion? Madame Clerk, >> Councilman Barrison, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Francois, Deputy Mayor Karazzi,
>> yes. >> Mayor Kramer, >> yes. >> Councilman Oni Jaka, >> yes. Councilman Singh, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Udin, >> yes. >> Councilman Vasanella, >> yes. >> Councilman Wright, >> yes. >> Item number 14, public hearing and adoption of ordinances on second
reading. First reading is when we announce to the world that we're considering an ordinance. Second reading is when we vote yes or no on the ordinance. And for the second reading, there's a public portion so that the
public may comment. Ordinance number 4494-26 ordinance amending the municipal code of the council for Franklin County of Summers state of New Jersey more particularly chapter 180 fees article miscellaneous fees is presented for
public and final adoption and public hearing has been noticed um to I ask unanimous consent that this be open to the public. that guy. >> Without objection, we're open to the public. Same rules as before.
>> Seeing no one coming forward, ask for unanimous consent to close to the public. Without objection, we're public hearing is closed. Do we have a motion to adopt? So move. Second. >> Moved and seconded. Any discussion?
>> Madame clerk. >> Councilman Barrison. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Francois. Deputy Mayor Karazzi. >> Yes. >> Mayor Kramer. >> Yes. >> Councilman Oni Jaka. >> Yes. >> Councilman Singh. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Udin. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Vasanella. I'm sorry. Councilman Vasanella. Yes. And
Councilman Wright. >> Yes. >> It passes. Ordinance 4495-26. Ordinance granting surface utility uh easement and temporary surface ease uh easement for the approval for sorry for
the approved major disposal diversion of 0.14 acres of green acres encumbered parkland at block 383 lot 43.01 01 Castleton Park, 816 Eastern Avenue,
Somerset, New Jersey, is presented for public hearing and final adoption. Public hearing has been noticed as required. I ask unanimous consent to open to the public on this item. And without objection, we are open for public hearing. Same rules.
Seeing no one come forward, I ask for you. >> Mayor, someone she had her hand up. >> Oh, okay. Great. >> Have to go up. I don't mean to be rude. I just misunders I'm not sure I clearly understood what this is about. And if
we're talking about the pipeline um in that park area is that what >> pipeline counc >> making improvements to the valve and they need the easement to this tiny piece of land. >> All right. So I do have a question on
how that valve protection is set up to protect the in the environment overall for the community that lives in that area, plays in that area, our water drinkability, just everything like is this valve going to
cause an issue for us or is it something that is going to protect us? That's my main question. In in my opinion, it's going to protect help protect because right now people would have to park on one side of East Nav, get across Eastern A and get
there and manually turn it off should there be a gas leak or something. This is a remote valve and they as soon as they realize there's a problem, the people who would give the order to go close the valve can close the valve. >> IT department look into it. I don't Okay, >> mayor. I just want to add to that that
it also sat sits now in a a flood plane right near the canal that often is underwater and there's a benefit to having it at an area that very unlikely to ever be flooded. >> So So perhaps I can answer it since I'm
the one that worked with so for the longest time on this project. Sure. So, the pipeline which was built in the 1940s >> to transport petroleum fuel um as a as a result of World War II, there was a plan
to do this. That's how old the pipeline valves are. Um and they were due for replacement. The people who exercise the valves have to run across Eastn Avenue and jump over the guard rail on the other side from the park to get to the
valves. and they're manually operated and not remote activated as the mayor said. So, the safety concerns are the reason why all of this is happening. >> All right. They're replacing the valves with modern valves that can be remotely actuated that will automatically shut
down the pipeline if it senses a leak. Um, and it's they're not only replacing the valves here, they're replacing the valves as part of a major project across the length of the pipeline. >> Perfect. So, >> thank you.
>> Anyone else? Seeing no one else come forward, ask for unanimous consent to close public portion. Without objection, public portion is closed. Uh, do we have a motion to adopt? >> Second.
>> Moved and seconded. Any discussion, >> Madame Clerk? >> Councilman Barrison? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Francois. Deputy Mayor Karazzi. >> Yes. Mayor Kramer, yes. >> Councilman Oni Jaka, yes. >> Councilman Singh, yes. >> Councilwoman Udin, >> yes. Councilman Vasanella, Councilman
Wright, >> Ordinance 4497-26, an ordinance repeal and replace chapter 81 of municipal code of the township of Franklin to address the requirements of fair share uh fair housing act and the
uniform housing affordability controls regarding compliance with the Franklin's affordable housing obligations and to make related amendments to the municipal code is presented for public hearing and final adoption. The public hearing has been noticed as required. I ask
unanimous consent that we open to the public. Without objection, we are open to the public on this item only. >> Javon Javon Walker, 15 [ __ ] Street. Um, is there a summary as to what the what what the actions within this ordinance is? Um,
I I've seen like part of the ordinance on the agenda site, but I just wanted to know is there a summarized or like a or um a consolidated summary of what this is for? That's it. >> There's just the ordinance. >> Sorry, >> we have a copy.
>> Anyone else wishing to speak? this one here. >> Should have sat in the front row. >> I know. >> I'm gonna read read up more on my notes. Um just a quick question about um this
housing ordinance just to make it clear for somebody who has not read completely on it. Um we're talking about affordable housing, low, moderate. Um we're looking at all avenues. um
for families, seniors. Um are we looking at new um development for houses particularly or just in rental lease uh agreements? >> There's
there's no single family housing in this >> not in this round of affordable housing. This this goes back to what what's referred to as Mount Laurel housing. All right? If you're familiar with this, this goes back to the to the late 70s, early 80s. Um there was some uh Supreme
Court cases out of Burlington County um that dealt with affordable housing. And this is the fourth round. um the different the time period between the third round and the fourth round unfortunately due to to um a whole lot
of legal wrangling and lawsuits was about 15 years and there's 10-year um rounds for affordable housing obligations. Up to this point, the township's um first three rounds of
affordable housing obligations were in the neighborhood of about 3,000 um affordable housing units. And we've met, unlike most towns in the state of New Jersey, Franklin has met their obligations for the first three rounds.
This is the fourth round. This is where um the the um COA, which is the um coalition of on affordable housing, um was um disbanded under Governor Christie
and then um kind of we were in Never Neverland there for a while. The state legislature adopted new statutes related to affordable housing in 2025. Um, as a result of those 2025 statutes,
we were obligated to uh develop an affordable housing plan to meet our um fourth round obligation, which I'm looking down here. I think the total is about 650 give or take for our our fourth round obligation for affordable
housing. This ordinance simply repeals all of those ordinances that related to our third round obligations and creates the new ordinance that will govern our fourth round obligations. Okay. >> All right. So that's but our fourth round obligation, our affordable housing
plan can certainly be found on the website, but it involves um I believe now five separate sites. One of them is a redevelopment area, an area in need of redevelopment that the the township would be the the impetus behind that
redevelopment and that would be 100% affordable. And then the other four are um are developers um either through conversion of existing property or the complete uh the construction of new property. Some of
which are 100% affordable and some of which are not. some of them which are are in one case 80% market and 20% affordable. And the types of affordability from very low all the way up to moderate um varies depending on
the the the development. But those affordable that affordable housing plan went through what's called the program. That's that's what the the the the law refers to it as. and a judge ruled on
the um the appropriateness of our plan and our plan was adopted. So that's what we're moving forward with and that's why the need to change our ordinance that that we operate under in this now current
round of affordable housing obligations as set forth by the state. >> Okay. So thank you for explaining that. Um and and shout out to Franklin who has it's been known it's been stated on the work that's been done with the affordable housing in comparison to the
rest of the counties and townships. Um I do have a question with connection to the county because um Somerset County um you is strongest here for the affordable housing but not throughout the county. So, I don't know if the county has any
hand in your moving of the ordinance or if it's solely the forward here. That makes sense. >> The state oversees the affordable housing obligations for each municipality and the county really has no say as far as affordable housing is
concerned. >> Okay. Thank you. And my last question, when you in considering in considering the ordinance that is established and set up, and I'll read it later, are you also taking into account um how you're
foreseeing Somerset in the future? So, what is that? >> When you say Somerset, do you mean Somerset the portion of Franklin that's called Somerset or Somerset as in Somerset County? >> Um talking about Somerset, Franklin portion of Franklin. So, so our affordable housing planning incorporates
affordable housing throughout the township, not just the Somerset section of Franklin. Okay. >> Um, and so, um, and and remember that Somerset stretches from New Brunswick to, uh, you know, southbound Brook and the and the Ron River and and all the
way down to Amwell Road and but that we have a significant number of affordable housing units in the Franklin Park section of the township. Um, they tend to be high density housing. So that means they need to have areas of the town that have sewer and water. Um, and
that's predominantly north of Claremont Road as opposed to south of Claremont Road. Although there is some affordable units south of of Claremont as well in Franklin Park. But this this current affordable round includes um a property
on Elizabeth Avenue near Campus Drive, a property on David, two properties on Davidson Avenue, a property on Franklin Boulevard, and a property on Route 27 south of Bennett's Lane. >> Okay, that's great. Okay, I just have one more. And the last
one is um when I'm talking about the future, um I know there's some areas where we have house um businesses that have been abandoned >> and they're probably still owned by the business owner and I don't know, they've
been marked um I don't know if they're >> the one on Franklin Boulevard in particular, that's part of our re that's a part of our area in need of redevelopment. Okay. So that >> that is the area that was identified as an area in need of redevelopment and that is intended to be developed 100% um
affordable senior affordable. >> I love that. I love that because also the senior development >> probably >> has big X's on it stands out. That's one of the properties that's been identified. >> Okay. Well that that thank you so much. I think it's clear for um everybody else. And my final question, I know I
keep pushing it out, but the one is, are we also looking at um the connection of shopping opportunities, opportunities for the children for play in comparison to our housing um uh low, moderate, whatever. um looking at the number of
people that are coming in and what we can offer as far as um a viability of a lifestyle that gives them creativity and exposure to opportunities, shopping, work. Um >> there there there's several members of
council who have pushed towards uh you know, diversified uses within the redevelopment areas and within the affordable housing areas. Um I mean, I think Councilman Wright is probably best to speak of that as well as green spaces. Um I you you are still the chairman are you not? Um he is the
chairman of the redevelopment agency which incorporates most of the redevelopment areas along Route 27 north and south of Franklin Boulevard. And there's the effort in that particular area of course to incorporate both uh retail office and residential and also
recreation spaces. So, Councilman, >> you basically you basically told >> I I basically told your story and patted you on the back for it. There you go. >> As I said, our meeting yesterday was cancelled because of snow. Um but
through our executive director and seven commissioners um we have at this present time two developers and one where we was supposed to interview last night to finish up a
project off of 20 Route 27. >> So we have a variety of things going on as our township manager said. One of the things that we're looking is commercial because we need that um affordable housing, but temper
affordable housing with market rate um housing because as we you may not know, but as we know, um everybody wants to build to make money. And what we do is according to the law,
you have to have 20%, you have to have this, you have to have that. And accordingly, that's how we arrive at our number. Uh 650 was our number down from seven and some change. Um so we were able to convince the state that what you
were looking at was actually wetlands. What you were looking at was actually open space. land that was already encumbered by a development. So, we were able to cut it down and in doing so, as our township manager mentioned, uh we
have some apartments going up, developments going up and they have affordable housing inside of those apartment buildings. >> But again, it's a percentage. The one that we're looking at on Franklin
Boulevard is 100% affordable. Seniors, no kiddies, seniors and veterans. Of course, we have to fill in the veterans. But some of those projects are just what we're looking at to make up our number.
And as the township manager said, we have been diligent in making our numbers. Some townships are fighting their number and just Google them and you'll see that they're in court fighting that. But we look at it as not
an obligation but making Franklin Township better and wholesome for everybody else to come down and hang out with us. So, >> well, thank you. I appreciate it. Seeing no one else come forward, I ask unanimous consent to close the public
session. Without objection, public portion is closed. We have a motion to adopt. >> So moved. >> Moved and seconded. Any discussion? Madame clerk? >> Councilman Barrison.
>> Yes. >> Councilwoman Francois. >> Deputy Mayor Karazzi. >> Yes. >> Mayor Kramer. >> Yes. >> Councilman Oniaka. >> Yes. Councilman Singh, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Udin, >> yes. >> Council member Vasanella, >> yes. >> Councilman Wright, >> yes.
>> Now on to ordinances on introduction and first reading. There's no public portions for these. There will be when they're um put in for second reading. Uh ordinance 4498-26, an ordinance amending the municipal code
of the township of Franklin County and Somerset State of New Jersey. More particularly chapter 284 recycling section 284-9 fees and charges for admission of material waiver section 284-10
materials for which no admission fee is charged in section 284- 10.1 uh materials not allowed. The foregoing ordinances present township council for adoption on first reading, posting and publication in accordance with law and
public hearing and final adoption under meeting of the township council to be held on Tuesday, March 10th, 2026 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers. >> And that's going to be 7:30 p.m. right in there. >> Oh, right. That's correct. Thank you. It'll be at 7:30 p.m.
>> in the council chambers. Um, so this is an ordinance about the convenience center. uh changing some of the things that material that was free, changing the price for uh admission for some things and also changing some of
the materials that are not no longer allowed. Uh do we have a motion on the ordinance? >> So second >> moved and seconded. Any discussion? >> Mayor, I just want to point out the main
uh change here to be transparent. Um we haven't upon uh being it it was reviewed by our uh director of public works and our manager and to simplify it. We have brush branches that
type of thing that we would be taking for free has been the policy for uh uh decades uh because we do encumber uh quite a cost more than we used to to dispose of it. it was an area that was a
concern um that it was costing more than we were getting to sustain it through the fees of of people bringing the other things. So we although management had wanted noticeably higher amount we upon uh real vetting of it decided it is
appropriate to put a small fee because we still want people to bring that stuff but we want to make it as affordable as possible. There's a couple other minor changes, but that was a main uh that was the main issue to be transparent. So, there will be a small fee for that, but
um a lot less than was originally suggested and um we still want people to take advantage of that as that's the best place to unless you have another way to bring your your branches. >> Mr. Mayor, I just had one comments about the fees. I looked at it and looks like
we're going to be increasing fees uh few of them and my only concern was that if we increase potentially uh we may have some more illegal dumping because people may not end up paying the
the increase fee and dump illegally in different places. So that's that's the only concern that I have with this increase. I know the cost has gone up and somehow we have to pay it. Uh but there's a a concern about the potential
um you know illegal dumping or people putting things in the trash that they're not supposed to. >> So would you like me to address that, Mr. Mayor? >> Yes. >> So So what I would say is that those who are inclined to dump are going to dump whether we charge $5 or $50. I think
that it's naive to think that people who are have the proclivity to do that care about what our fees are at the convenience center. The reality is is that just before I became the township manager, we nearly shut down the convenience center permanently because it was losing so much money that the the
township could no longer afford to support it. And over the course of my time as the township manager, I think that we've raised the fees for the convenience center once. This will be the second time. and I've been here for 14 years. Um I our costs are
skyrocketing. Tipping fees for trash. Um now we'll have to pay it's anticipated that we may pay somewhere in the neighborhood of $50 to $75,000 this year for the disposal of brush which I mean this is these are
numbers that the budget just simply can't absorb. And you know it it's a service that is not free. um and we can't provide it for free and this service comes at a cost like many services that we provide and these are
the costs that I think are appropriate. >> So with these increase in fees would we break even Bob >> I I certainly I hope that we'll break even. I I will tell you we won't be making a profit. Um I hope that we'll break even. >> Yeah. No. Um yeah we shouldn't make a
profit. What I'm saying is I hope that we don't lose money um for, you know, the second year in a row, but right now our disposal costs and you'll see at budget hearing time uh when when we talk about disposal costs for the convenience center, you'll see that the costs are
significant. >> And just for deputy mayor's um information, as you know, because we work on the committees and up to four, so we don't have a majority. I believe it was a unanimous recommendation after really what was a very long uh uh conversation.
>> Three meetings. >> What's that? >> You had three meetings on this. >> Yeah. Well, I didn't want to get into all the but we we really vetted it. And the bottom line is I I think we were all 100% in agreement even if we have to absorb some of the cost. We need to get some back. So, we're doing it now. We'll
reevaluate in a year or two and see. But we hope to keep it as low as possible. Um but it was a unanimous um uh recommendation to move forward. Just so you know where the four um members uh sit with with this ordinance
>> and and just to add on to that, Councilman, that this all came up because of the D regulation, right? Well, it no it came it came up with the fact that we're we're our accumulation of wood chips and leaf mulch exceeds what we were giving out free to
residents on an annual basis and we can no longer stockpile it because uh we have no space to do so and any places where we could um we run the risk of of uh violating >> state code.
>> Yeah. And I and I to your point it's it's affordable. We haven't raised prices. >> It was like I said I mean we'll continue to pick up leaves. >> Yeah. >> At no cost to the residents. Um but as far as the disposal of brush it's
something that we can no longer handle. >> Any other discussion? >> Madame clerk. >> Councilman embarrass. >> Yes. Councilwoman Francois, Deputy Mayor Karazzi, >> yes. >> Mayor Kramer, >> yes. >> Councilman Oni Jaka, Councilman Singh,
>> yes. >> Councilwoman Udin, >> yes. >> Councilman Vasanella, Councilman Wright, >> yes. Ordinance 4499-26, ordinance uh amending the municipal code of the township of Franklin County of Somerset, state of New Jersey, more
particularly chapter 115, dogs and other animals, section uh 115-9, late licensing fees, foregoing ordinances presented to township council for adoption, first reading and posting and publication in accordance with law and public hearing and final adoption at a
meeting of the township council to be held on Tuesday, March 10th, 2020. 26 at 7:30 in the council chambers. Um, so this is my fault. Um,
a woman called me um complaining very nicely uh that she was charged a late fee uh of $5 for um being just five days late on
paying her license fees. Interesting enough, I paid the late fee the same day. Um, and she asked that there for in the future, not not trying to get out of what she already had to pay in the
future that there be a 10day um uh len lenency grace period. Uh, so sounded like a good idea to me. So I put this in. So that's all this does is the uh fees that are actually due on January
1st >> uh are now would now be have a grace period until February 10th. >> Do we have a motion on the item? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. Any other discussion? >> Madame clerk.
>> Councilman embarrass. Yes. >> Councilwoman Francois. Deputy Mayor Karazzi. Mayor Kramer. >> Yes. Councilman Oni Jaka. >> Yes. >> Councilman Singh. >> Yes. >> Counciloman Udin. >> Yes. >> Councilman Vasanella. >> Yes. >> Councilman Wright. >> Yes.
>> Ordinance 4526. Like a milestone. An ordinance amending the municipal code of the township of Franklin County of Somerset State of New Jersey. More particularly chapter 180 fees section 190-9 weddings and civil unions. Foregoing artist presents the
township council for adoption. First reading and posting and publication in accordance with law and public hearing and final adoption at a meeting of the township council to be held on Tuesday, March 10th, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. in the
council chambers. Um this is uh basically the current ordinance says that the mayor and deputy mayor could perform weddings. Now other council members are helping me with that. Uh so council members that are ordained can
also uh perform weddings and the clerk can also perform weddings. Um do we have a motion on the ordinance? >> So that was kind of moving in a seconding. So moved and seconded. Any discussion?
>> Madame clerk. >> Councilman Barrison. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Francois. Deputy Mayor Karazzi. Yes. Mayor Kramer, >> yes. >> Councilman Oni Jaka, >> yes. >> Councilman Singh, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Uden, >> yes. >> Councilman Vasinella, >> yes. >> Councilman Wright,
>> it is introduced. Consent agenda. Items A through H is listed on the consent agenda portion of this meeting and presented it to the township council for adoption. Uh, do we have a motion on the consent agenda? >> It's a move. >> Second. >> We've been seconded. Anyone like to pull
an item or question an item? Madame clerk. >> Councilman Embarrison. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Francois. >> Deputy Mayor Karazzi. >> Yes. >> Mayor Kramer. >> Yes. >> Councilman Oni Jaka. >> Yes. >> Councilman Singh. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Udin. >> Yes.
>> Council member Councilman Vasanella. >> Yes. >> Councilman Wright. >> Resolutions to be voted on separately. There are none. Old business. 2026 boards, committees, and commission vacancies. Does anyone have a nomination?
>> I have one. Uh, mayor, >> go ahead. I'd >> like to re nominate the Lolita money to HRC. >> HRC. Okay. >> Yes, they're both three-year terms, so you don't have to specify which. Um,
any other nominations for the same position? Any other nominations at all? We can do this by acclamation. All in favor say I. I. >> Oppos say nay. Motion is carried. Congratulations.
Um we are now on to item number 19 executive session. Uh resolution 26-113 authorized executive session potential acquisition of open space properties. Skilman's Lane Route 27 uh in Little
Rocky Hill is presented to the township council for adoption to have a motion to uh to enter executive session. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. Any discussion? Madame clerk.
>> Councilman Embarrison. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Francois. Deputy Mayor Karazzi. Yes. >> Mayor Kramer. >> Yes. >> Councilman Oniaka. >> Yes. >> Councilman Singh. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Uden. Councilman Vasanella. >> Yes. >> Councilman Wright, >> yes. >> So, we're now going into executive session. When we come out of executive
session, no business will be performed other than to come out of executive session and to adjourn the meeting. So, taping will stop at this time. We are adjourned. Be well, Franklin.