the Open Public Meeting 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 would take place at the municipal building at 700 p.m. on Tuesday, August 12th, 2025.
>> Thank you. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and remain standing for the invocation by Dr. Kurazzi. 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. >> Good evening everyone. Let us take the next few moments of silence to each seek in our own way whatever sources of
inspiration will grant us the strength and power in our thoughts and decisions to be for the benefit of all people at all times. Amen. >> Madame clerk, please call the role. >> Councilman Embarrison
>> here. Councilwoman Francois, Councilman Karazzi >> here, >> Mayor Kramer >> here, >> Councilman Oni Jaka >> here. >> Council member Bataznik >> present. >> Deputy Mayor Udin >> here. >> Councilman Vasinella >> here. >> Councilman Wright. >> We're at item number five on the agenda.
Copies of the agenda are there near the clerk. Uh that's the uh commendations and proclamations. We have none. We're on to number six, public discussion. Do I have unanimous consent for to open to the public.
Seeing no one uh objecting, we're open to the public. Uh you anyone is allowed to speak about anything related to government. You are limited to five minutes. No yielding of time. Um may only come up once and please state your
name and address. Good evening. I'm Diane Harris for King Road. >> Excuse me. I can't hear the microphone. >> I think it's not on. >> Is it on? >> Mhm. >> You got to go closer. >> Okay.
>> It's not the greatest microphone. Maybe just go a little closer. Want to hear what you have to say. Thank you. >> Okay. Um I'm Diane Harris of Fort King Road, Somerset, New Jersey. and I'm representing the Parkside Senior Citizens Club. And with me, you can see
I have some of my members, not all. We have a club of 135 senior citizens throughout the township of Franklin. And um when they're here though to show you that we represent all of you, we're
all of your constituents. And we've been trying for the last d through my tenure three years to have some improvements made to the senior center and we keep getting promises it'll be done this. So I'm not going to take you back to 2022 when we
started. I'm just going to go back to the last email that I received in June when I asked what is going on and curb cutouts um near the accessible spaces. Do you understand that you have handicap parking spaces throughout this complex
and the curb cutouts are not by the handicap spaces? The curb cutouts push you into the street to walk to further go up to a doorway. We would like to have curb cutouts by the handicap
parking. And since you haven't done anything by the senior center about curb cutouts, I see you've done here. We hope you will think about that before they're just placed in. Um, we asked for a power washing of the building and we were told
that the township um does not power wash these buildings. Um, it's too excessive and too much. Well, then I would say could someone please from the Department of Public Works come down and wash that one window that everyone walks by that
is full of dirt and bug. Dimmitri and things of that sort. And I invite you all to come to the center if you haven't been there recently and to walk through it and to just see it. Um paint exterior building sign letters
there. They will be painted in two weeks. My memo was dated June. It hasn't been painted. Uh meeting room, kitchen floor, and cabinet renovations. uh flooring was included in 2024
and 2025 capital budgets. It's currently being scheduled. The kitchen will be done first and the meeting room will be done during winter holidays when no senior meetings are scheduled. I bring that up only to say that I don't know
when no senior me meetings are scheduled. You have Martin Luther King Day. That's a Monday. We won't be there. and you have President's Day. So, I find this to be a little bit of gaslighting because the center is open for seniors
all the time. It is not closed. Um, landscaping in front of the building. The building >> speak into the mic, please. I can hear you. >> Okay. The building is um really very pedestrian looking. It's not exciting.
It's not inviting. We made a suggestion for some landscaping that was going to be supported by a national organization and we were told that um the department of uh public works um didn't have the manpower to maintain it. Well, the
gazebo over here is maintained some sort of way and we can plant flowers. Um many members of our groups are also members of the Franklin Women's um group. we can get the people to plant um perennials to
put a tree you give trees away every year. Could a tree be put out there? Um the next thing is kind of a pet peeve that I've had. It's G Brasso Grove. When we first started, when I first
started there, it was all covered over. I have to acknowledge you did cut back um some of the overgrown weeds and make it look more inviting, but we've been waiting for benches that we could sit on. And in uh I think it was in 2022,
the then director told us the benches were on order and they were ADA compliant and we would have them. We still don't have them. This email says, "Depublic works is working on order to 10 ADA picnic tables and
planning on starting the cleanup and restoration of pathways next week." Again, this was a memo written in June. Uh lobby lighting the when you first walk in, there are no lights and they've
been broken for a while. I could go on. I can tell you that and I'm running out of time that the door that for the handicap access does not work. You push the button, it opens this much and you
and you have to pull and push to get in. I implore you to stop ignoring us to come out and see and and do something. you know, um I'm not asking you to do things
that um are out of budget, but if you can, appreciate it. >> Can can I ask a follow-up question just to clarify? >> You mean surely Diane? >> Yes. >> You mean the senior center here in this complex, right?
>> Okay. Just wanted to make that clear. Alex Clark, 396 Hamilton Street. Good evening, Mayor and Council. I want to address the comments made by Mr. Rob Peterson at the last council meeting on July 8th regarding rank choice voting.
Just to refresh everyone, rank choice is an election process by which voters rank candidates in order of preference. It is still one person, one vote, but candidates with the fewest votes are eliminated and their votes are transferred until there is a majority winner. First, Mr. Peterson described rank
choice as rank choice roulette. There is no element of chance or gambling involved in rank choice voting. Candidates require majority support in order to win, and they must put in the work to earn that support. No one is waking up one day to find out that they
won an election by accident. By requiring majority support, rank choice voting ensures that the winning candidates are the ones who best represent the people and ensures that elected officials are beholden to the people. That is not roulette. That is a fair election. Secondly, there was a suggestion that
the mayoral race in New York City was quote pretty crazy end quote. uh in the chance that that was referring to the winner of the primary because it wasn't clear. Keep in mind that Mumani won in the final round 56% of the vote
and it may come as a surprise to some people, but New York City is a very liberal city. The voters in the Democratic primary are getting the representation that they want. Without majority support, Madani's opponents might have tried to claim that most voters do not agree with his ideas.
In New Jersey, Mikey Cheryl won the Democratic primary with 34% of the vote. Her opponents may likewise try to argue that with only 34% support. Most New Jerseyians may disagree with her message when that may not actually be the case. The concept of rank choice voting is
nonpartisan. Keep in mind also that in conservative districts, rank choice will ensure that those voters will get the conservative leadership that they want. Third, there was a claim that exhausted ballots are thrown away, which
is false. The ballots are counted. If all the candidates you rank are eliminated, then your ballot becomes inactive. But that's because you didn't like any of the other candidates. And we know that from surveys, from actual elections. People rank the candidates they like. They don't rank the
candidates that they don't like. We don't suggest that voters should be forced to rank candidates they don't like. Furthermore, we already see wasted votes in plurality elections today, especially when there are several candidates running. By the final round of the New York City
mayoral primary, only 5% of the ballots were exhausted. And that is a typical exhaustion rate for rank choice elections. In other words, 95% of the votes in the final round were still in play for either Mumani or Cuomo.
95% of voters still had their voices heard. Meanwhile, in the New Jersey gubinatorial primary, 34% voted Cheryl, 21% voted Baraka, and 45% of the vote was essentially out of play. Basically
meaningless. That's only 5% of out ofplay votes in a rank choice election versus 45% out of play essentially in a plurality election. Rank choice voting ensures that your vote is your vote is far more
likely to matter because you have the opportunity to rank multiple candidates instead of just voting for one. There was also a claim that rank choice voting is expensive which is ironic because one of the benefits of rank choice is that it helps reduce expenses by avoiding costly low
turnout runoff elections. The ballot machines in New Jersey already have the capability to handle rank choice voting. So that helps to reduce the costs. Typically it's a software update that is required in most cases. According to National Conference
of State Legislators, the median cost for local election jurisdictions to implement rank choice is $17,000 or 43 cents per voter. We have an item in the consent agenda tonight, a resolution number 25-337,
which awards $17,000 for gazebo lighting. But my point is that $17,000 is not a lot of money for a township like Franklin or other towns in New Jersey. Lastly, it was argued that rank choice voting is opaque and hard to verify. One of the main goals of rank
choice voting is to ensure fair representation and to ensure that we elect leaders who best represent us. Of course, it is critical that we have confidence and transparency in the process through which those leaders are elected. In rank choice voting, best practices propose that vote records are
made publicly available online with instructions so that anyone can verify and audit the election results using independent software or manual procedures. And you can do it manually without a computer. We can and should follow similar practices in our elections. And lastly, I just want to
mention that since the last council meeting, a couple organizations have signed our letter of support. That's the Veterans of All Voters and the College Democrats of New Jersey. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak? Good evening all.
My name is Agnes Kulubana and I'm the Franklin Township member and also a member of the senior center. >> Address, please. 165 Columbus Drive, Franklin Park, New Jersey 088723.
Franklin Senior Center has been just addressed, but I want to readress it again. Oh, what a shame to the township of Franklin. The center looks as old as Bethusula. Unre unreadable building sign that's
supposed to be red. Unpainted outer and inner walls. Craving and watermark ceilings. Bug infest infested rooms on unusable kitchen. Entrance dogs creeks
and takes ages to open. Even my old bones don't sound like that. Lawns are dry and dusty with hard shrubs they call flowers. Vicinity looks like a Halloween graveyard scene.
What a shame when dignitaries enter the facility. Remember we the seniors are your number one voters. We you make promises you don't keep. With all the smoke shops in the township, the proceeds can be used to
upgrade our center. When are you going to stop making promises that you don't carry, you don't take, you don't keep? Remember, renovation is needed now. How long can we wait? Since 2023, we have been
waiting. 2022, we have been waiting. We, the recycle teams of Franklin Township, need you now to help us. We don't have to look old as the building. Please. Thank you.
>> Amen. Hello, my name is Karen Newman, 56 Bryan Court. My husband, Jonathan, was the person who collapsed and died on March 14th of this year in our canal walk. I'm gonna wait till he finishes talking.
>> Can you pause it, please, Chris? I'm sorry. I just want to start because you were talking about that. Okay. Karen Newman, 56 Brine Court. My husband Jonathan was the person who collapsed and died on March 14th of this year in our canalwalk clubhouse.
Jonathan was my second chance at love. I lost my first crush, first love, first husband nearly 16 years ago to a brain tumor. Jeff was a neuroanesthesiologist. I was there when he was studying at Johns Hopkins Medical School and beyond.
I saw him study for basic life support, advanced cardiac life support, and as he taught the ACLS classes to other medical professionals. I picked up on what should be done during a cardiac emergency to give the best chances of survival.
I watched the recording from the clubhouse camera showing Jonathan exiting the fitness room until the EMTs took him to the hospital. I watched the body cams of the two police officers who responded to the emergency. I received the hospital report that
include the notes from the EMTs and the doctors who tried to save him. There were positive actions that day, but there are also a great many failures. My reason for collecting all that information that I did and the reason I
am here is that just maybe someone else um we can make improvements so someone else if someone else collapses those tasked with responding will do better first response times. The first police
officer arrived 5 minutes after the 911 call but it was only one police officer. The question for you is, how many police officers are normally dispatched for a cardiac arrest? Soon after that first police officer arrived, she appeared to be calling for
additional help. It took 10 more minutes for a second police officer to arrive. Performing CPR is physically demanding. One police officer can't realistically do CPR alone. It takes two people to
keep CPR going until the EMTs arrive. Next, the first police officer should have attached the E AED immediately, even before oxygen. Jonathan was in ventricular fibrillation, VIB. When someone is in
VIB, immediate defibrillation is crucial. The goal is to deliver that first shock as quickly as possible as each minute of delay significantly decreases the chances of successful defibrillation and survival. While
there's no set time frame for how long it should take for someone to get um out of vib, the longer the delay in defibrillation, the less likely of a positive outcome. In cases of witnessed out of hospital cardiac arrest with VIB
as the initial rhythm, over 93% of shocks successfully terminated VIB when delivered within six minutes. That first police officer on scene took six minutes to attach the AED. Once the AED is attached, it needs another minute
to charge before it can deliver the shark to the heart. This is in addition to the five minutes that it took for the police officer to arrive on scene. The body cam of the first police officer is deceiving. It does not adequately show how much time was wasted by
standing around instead of attending to Jonathan. The clubhouse camera does a better job to show the wasted time. I showed the video to my brother-in-law who's a family doctor in practice for 42 years. He commented on that very point.
There was just too much time standing around. CPR has to be done properly in order for it to do any good. The first police officer was not kneeling while performing CPR. The proper position is crucial to deliver the kind of
compressions that will do any good. It was clear this was her first time involved in a cardiac arrest because you could hear on the body cam that there was the first time she was using the AD and saw the shock being delivered. The second police officer did a much
better job performing CPR, but it came too late. The CPR wasn't done until 17 minutes after that 911 call was placed. In summary, we need more than one police officer to be dispatched for a cardiac
arrest, and we need them to be properly trained. We owe it to Jonathan's memory to do better. This is a picture of Jonathan that was taken just under five weeks before he died.
I would be happy to meet with any of you privately to share that uh video from our clubhouse camera and to give you a better idea of what transpired that day. And I also have the timeline from what happened. So I'll be happy to give that
to you later. Thank you. Good evening. Um, my name is Jan Brandt and I live in Canal Walk. I'm a neighbor of Karen's and a friend. I'm a nurse. I also have a master degree in health science. I have studied CPR efficacy and I consider myself an expert in the
field. >> Address, please. >> I'm so at 22 Bryant Court. >> Thank you. I have spoken to the township council in the past about CPR response in Franklin Township in relation to Jonathan Newman. I have questions and a recommendation for the council in
reference to emergency response. Franklin Township has many senior living communities with thousands of residents. Franklin Township is comprised of tw 28% of the population or 60 and over. As we see here, a good representation.
What happened to Jonathan is a tragedy. Sometimes it takes a tragedy to change things. For example, 11-year-old cheerleader named Janet in Warren Jun in Warren, New Jersey suffered a cardiac arrest on an athletic field. Her parents
didn't want the same thing to happen to anyone else. The family the family lobbied for legislation requiring defibrillators on school grounds and Janet's law was born. Every public and private school in New Jersey must have an automated external defibrillator on
campus. Nursing homes are required to have a certain amount of people CPR certified staff. After reviewing Karen shared the tape with me after reviewing the collapse of Jonathan which was right outside the canal walk gym. Um the
message that the tape delivered to me is that people in our community had to be CPR and AED trained. He might still be around if our staff was trained. Like Karen said, he was in ventricular fibrillation, which is a shockable
arrhythmia that can he can survive if it's responded to within minutes. I have asked our HOA board to request the management staff to be certified and as of now, I don't know if that will happen. In my opinion, I think some
person personnel might not know that there are good Samaritan laws that will protect them if they did respond to an emergency. people don't want to take the risk. We do have trainings in our community for residents and I want to give a big thank you to the Millstone volunteer squad because they come out
and they do trainings whenever we request them to come out. But I believe there should be regulations requirements for ADC CPR certifications and emergency plans in communities with seniors and that's something that the township
council can consider. I understand that staff in some cases may only be present Monday through Friday business hours. However, something is better than nothing. If the staff were trained at Canal Walk, the outcome may have been different for this emergency because it
occurred in the clubhouse right outside the gym during staffed hours with an AED that was less than 5t away. The staff did call 911 immediately. Unfortunately, the staff were not trained and they waited until the officer arrived. The
officer did arrive 5 minutes after the 911 call, but the time to hook up the AED and start CPR is best during the first five minutes that a person collapses. We have a few ads in our in our uh
clubhouse located in different places. In conclusion, I'm asking the council to think about asking staff at communities that have seniors in their population that there must be people that are
trained in AED and CPR. How about starting off with an ordinance called Jonathan's Law requiring AD AED, CPR certifications, and emergency plans in all senior communities. We do it for nursing homes and why not try it for a
senior community as well. The next person we save may be your friend, relative or neighbor. Thank you. >> Good evening. Uh my name is Joyce Lee, 36 Timber Hill Drive, Franklin.
I don't want to reiterate what was said by uh Diane and Agnes, but one thing I've noticed, I've only been in Franklin a couple of years. One thing I noticed about the Franklin Senior program versus other from where I come from is that you pay for everything. Yoga classes, Zumba
classes, any exercise class you take, we have to pay for it. And then you come into the facilities, you got the problem from the ceiling to the floor. You can't use the kitchen because of of its condition. You can't
use the grove because you can't. The benches are raggedy. And for three years, I have also heard about the bid process. Whoever intends to respond to the club, I ask you do one thing. Do not
tell us about the bid process. tell us when the jobs will be complete. That's all we care about at this point. We've heard all the stories. We heard about 4A and the state contract and everything else.
We've got nothing. Please give us a direct response as to when the job will be complete. And also, we don't have lunches. every senior center around gets lunches.
Can someone respond as to why that doesn't happen in Franklin? No. Okay. So, so I ask that you also respond to that. Let us know why Franklin is one of the only towns around that does not get senior lunches.
That's my comment. uh Benjamin Guy 35 patent drive on um just for this announcement. This will probably be done by either Miss Francois or Mr. Right. Uh just to steal their th a little bit more. But um just for a happy note, August 16th um in Nam
Williams Park, 42 40 42 Matilda Avenue, Somerset, New Jersey. Uh 2 2 to 5:00 p.m. will be the Week of the People Festival. So anybody could come out, tell a friend to tell a friend to actually come out January 16th. Um so it'll be this Saturday. So anybody that needs book bags or doing Oh, August. So
sorry about that. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for keeping me out, keeping me a breath. That's all. So I can't read sometime so I apologize but uh free activities for the families kids and everybody else book bags will be given away um I guess based on the uh PVA um
actually uh in the police department actually arranging that during the time frame with uh Somerset community action program. All right so that's one thing uh second portion uh just to comment on things that were reiterated before and I guess this will be brought up in a um
before. So I asked this question almost three years ago. Never got a really report but uh just want to ask it again. So classification and u Mr. Voner is not here but classification we had a uh we had a surplus 22 years uh in 2022 right
based on budgets it was about $22 million that was actually reported and then we had co relief money that we actually had which is about 6.3 to 7.3 million which is roughly $30 million outside of our municipal budget at all. So my question is for that portion, what
have we done with that money to reinvest in programming or tax rebates that actually can be done with the the actual community itself? Because as Ram and the mayor hosting next week, we're raising property taxes and property taxes went up dramatically because of because of things that are going on. So I'm asking
the question over the spendown that we actually did over the last from 20 2022 to 2025, what did we do with that money at all? Because it's not municipal raise money that we had to do for taxes. What did we do with that money? Because it was a surplus. So, I'm asking that that specific question that y'all can answer later on.
>> I'm sorry, Mr. Guy. What? Just >> You could pause. You could pause my time. What is your actual question? >> Pause my time. Go ahead. >> I couldn't get What was your actual question? >> I asked my asked my question. What did you do with the money >> spent? What money? >> Yeah. So, you can go back to your budget. You can go back. I can send you
the film and you can ask you can ask your council people what I'm talking about. >> So, so again, you can start my time again. So y'all can talk about it later. So again, economic uh for economic spending or or together that's there. So
again, there was another question that came up during the time frame, I think when I was in a zoning board meeting. So we had uh and Mr. Diamond can talk to this later on and Mr. Healey can talk to this later on. So there's a big uprising about the number of cannabis stores that was actually in the um cannabis units
that actually were actually in our area. Permitting wise, when we opened it up, it was pretty pretty much around 40 40 permitted applications that came through in the beginning. We knocked it down to 18 or 22 21 roughly that's going to be permitted out. I'm asking the question and this is from business portion from
an economic standpoint. Did we refund those people that out of the other 20 or did we keep their money for applications? Just a question because as a business owner, if I apply to application and you deny me, I would like my money back. And I'm just saying that just in fairness because that's a
that's a cap that's a cap portion that they did not get into because of state parameters that was going on for the CRC because they filed the guidelines. They did what they wanted to do. Now, if the township took that money, I feel like as a business owner, advocate for small business people when I sit on the Hamilton Street Board that you should
give that money back. I don't think you should keep the money. That that's me personally. So, that's about it. So, y'all can go back and forth and have that conversation behind the scenes. again to talk directly to the senior thing. I'll leave my other comment alone because I'll I'll leave this one alone. But because this came up for the senior
thing, I specifically know that uh Boh the parks direct director had promised them to actually do stuff before and with the gardens and other things that are there. Bo's not here no more. So I'm not sure if Steve doll or somebody else is picking up the slack, but again that portion needs to be handed off. It needs
to be handed off, not emailed, handed off to Steve to let him know the behind the scenes on what's going on so he can pick up the slack and e and expedite that process. Because again, to be fair to Stephen, he's new. Bo just left. And again, to be fair to somebody that's
coming in to try to make a new new way and start up a new a new on new foot on the ground. Somebody needs to walk him through that process of what happened in the past, where it's at, and actually answer these people question so that it doesn't start back over. And again for work for a workforce portion and I'm
gonna throw this back to Ram and Kimberly if you need help you just train people through a workforce grant and you got RVCC RVC this can be a volunteer effort for them to get credits for for all job training stuff that the town council can do because there is money allocated for both sides of that you
guys can work with the workforce board to actually do that and work with the seniors to actually get that done. So again, just ideas so that we can move forward rather than rather than bickering and going back and forth and adding solutions to the table. Thank you. >> Good evening. Uh Danielle Rice, 78
Tumble Falls Road, Stockton, New Jersey. I am not a resident of Franklin Township, but I am here to address the ordinance number 4471-25, the feeding ban that's being considered. Um, I am a subject matter expert. And
I'm also speaking on behalf of a resident in Franklin Township who is afraid to speak out for fear of retaliation against herself and the cats she cares for. I work at Tabby's Place, a cat sanctuary in Ringo, New Jersey, and I have 23 years of experience in
animal welfare. I understand that you have taken up this ordinance due to complaints regarding sloppy feeding practices. Residents absolutely have the right not to have their properties littered. This is a concern for residents, for cats, and for trapneuter
return programs or TNR programs. On the surface, this ordinance appears well-intentioned. I appreciate you taking your constituents concerns seriously and making an effort to support cats in your community. However, in my opinion, this ordinance does
nothing to address these concerns. This will be punishing to cats in your community and to the people who care for them. A feeding ban will create fear for caring individuals who care for cats in your community.
Hungry cats don't just disappear. The abrupt removal of food sources create desperate hungry cats who attempt to feed from dumpsters, beg for food, and try to enter people's homes. thus
increasing nuisance behaviors and human cat interaction which can be a public health hazard. Feeding bans discourage TNR which have been a proven method of controlling community cat populations
and saving towns money. Through TNR, nonprofits and Good Samaritans do work for free for the township, fixing and caring for cats that the town would otherwise have to pay for and need to take responsibility for. I understand
that TNR has been controversial in this community. However, when TNR is applied properly, it provides the best outcomes for community members and cats by reducing community cat populations and
encouraging the proper care of cats. Proper TNR, if executed properly, cats should not be seen in the community. They should be out of sight, out of mind for community members. As elected officials, you have been selected to serve the people and animals
of your community. This ordinance does neither of those things. Do not pass this ordinance. Instead, support more TNR efforts in your community following best practices for TNR. Taby's Place and myself would be happy to support you in
doing this by offering proper training on trapping and proper care of community cats. Thank you. My name is Laur Lorie Stagnito. Is this on? >> Hello. Okay, gotcha. My name is Lorie
Stagnito. I am also here for the uh community cat ordinance. I am a well-known animal advocate in mostly in Hunter Bucks, but we work Daniel and I are colleagues in different different organizations, but we work together
throughout New Jersey and beyond um in animal welfare. I'm also a certified New Jersey animal control officer and a certified New Jersey cruelty investigator. Um, I too ask you to table this ordinance
and talk to experts about best practices for feeding outdoor community cats. Um, it's understandable that feeding unowned free roaming cats might result in a legitimate nuisance complaint. Um, especially if the cats are not fixed,
vaccinated, and managed properly. But these issues can be addressed with guidance from trap new to return TNR groups as well as your animal control officer um as we have in some Hunterton County towns who will work with
community members to help with TNR and share best practices for caring for colonies as we do in Hunter County. Not allowing residents to feed unowned cats might seem like a logical approach to reducing such nuisance issues. However,
enforcement of such policies is extremely difficult, especially with a population of over 68,000 people. Um, and it will likely impede sterilization efforts, there thereby exacperbating the
very situation these policies are intended to address. All national animal welfare organizations, including the top one for outdoor community cats, which is called Alycat Allies, oppose feeding bans for community cats. Feeding bans
are cruel and do not achieve their goal of removing cats from the community. feeding banan laws, ordinances, and policies are mis are misgu misguided policies and are ineffective both for the overpopulation of cats as well as
the fact that it's not scientifically supported. Feeding bands encourage cats to roam further to find food, making them more visible, which can actually increase calls to animal control. managing a colony with a program that includes tap
trapneuter return and consistent organized feeding discouraging is roaming because neutered males are no longer searching for mates and there is a decreased competition for dominance. Cats who are fed on a regular schedule tend to stay in close proximity to their
feeding stations. Feeders can also exercise control over behavior of cats by gradually moving their feeding stations into less traffic areas. uh feeding bans discourage the practice of TNR, the only effective course of action
for stabilizing the community cat overpopulation. Uh and it does, as Danielle said, punish the very people who are working to improve conditions for cats and for the community. They're very difficult to enforce.
um you will actually have neighbors um complaining about neighbors and fights and lawsuits and it can get very ugly. We've seen it happen. Um, feeding bans are punitive and tend to direct
resources towards administrative tasks like enforcement and away from incentivebased programs that in that encourage spayneuter and they ineffective ordinances like feeding bans are a waste of taxpayers money.
Um, I ask that you table this ordinance until you speak with experts on community cats like myself. Danielle, I believe our colleague at the Animal Protection League of New Jersey has sent you an email and she specializes in
outdoor community cats. And um, we Danielle and I also teach seminars to the public on trapping and the gold standard for community cat colonies. and we we'd gladly hold seminars in Franklin
Tel Township to help uh your residents with their community cats. Um I also wanted to say I noted in your ordinance uh definition, one of your definitions was wildlife should mean all
animals that are not domesticated, including but not limited to feral cats. Feral cats. And we don't, by the way, we don't call them feral cats. We call them community cats because the word feral is very scary. Um, cats are domestic
animals. They would never be included in the word wildlife. So, um, I thank you for listening and I hope that somehow we can all work together to figure out what's best for Franklin Township, the community, and the animals within your township as
well. Thank you. My name is Yang Zo. I'm living in uh 128 Selby Court. And last week I received the uh property tax bill. I was shocked by the amount
how much is increased and last year I got the the property tax is the total four bill is a 6,529 for the property tax and this year and I
got $8,19 which is total will increase 22 8%. I'm shocked. I want to know that why they increase so much. I know that there's inflation
but the inflation don't increase 22%. And my job I got to this year's pay the increase is only 3%. And then how they come this high
increase rate. I I want to know if it can be uh changed. If it cannot then I ask to consider when you increase the
property tax you need to think about is the burden bring all this the residents. Yeah I I I I accept 10% increase but 22%
22.8% I'm not accepted. Okay, that's my complaint. >> Excuse me. What was your address again? >> Uh 128 Selby Court >> 28elby. >> Shelby
Shelby >> Shelby Selby S E Y >> Shelby >> Shelby S Y Shelby Court. It's right in Qu Only my house have this increase. If you
check the others around surrounding always about 20% increase. >> Thank you. Javon Walker, 15 Street. Um, few things that I want to speak on. The first thing is,
uh, the property taxes. Yeah, I got my bill. I I I didn't do the math, but I'm sure it's going to be like 10, 15, 20%. It's It's pretty wild that we live in a state where uh people pay 8,000, 7,000, 12,000. They look at us and they say, "Oh, that's not that bad.
I pay like 15,000 in taxes. It's pretty wild." But, um, is I wanted to know from the council, is there a way that we can challenge the city or the township? I just want to know like some I know in some some townships like they can go back and say, "Well, I don't
think my assessment should be this high and blah blah blah." I just want to be on the record and just say um just want to question the council if that's possible. >> Um, >> okay. Perfect. Uh second thing is the Councilman Rom I believe you have an
upcoming like seminar on the tax rate is is when when is the date of that? >> The 21st. Okay. And is there going to be a discussion on the resolution about the clerk sending like a the two separate things? Okay,
that's fine. I cuz I was looking at the agenda. I saw that there was a resolution about um sending a letter to state legislators regarding property tax based funding reform. Um is that going to be brought up at your seminar on the 21st or is
that something just for this council? >> Yeah, so that's a good >> Okay. All right, that's fine. Um next thing is on the committee website for Franklin Township, I saw that there were three certain committees that I had applied for maybe about a month or two
ago. Um they were the youth services council advisory let me see advisory recreation council cultural arts council and youth services commission/alliance against drug abuse uh I submitted applications for these three committees because I think I can make a difference and especially since
there is a vacancy at them I think a at at least some kind of applicant could be you know could be in the council and try to help uh the community as best as possible. So, um, just reinventing the wheel on that. Again, I submitted my application about a month or a month month or two ago and and I haven't heard
anything back. So, hopefully um some kind of action be taking place on it. The second thing is um also sent one email, a very large detailed email to the council about my World Cup idea. Um, in the the detailed
email, I basically covered as much as I could. Attendance, pricing, venue, cost, um, merchandising, work with outside groups, um, maybe the Chamber of Commerce, outside businesses, nonprofits, so forth. Um, but I tried to give as detailed of an email as possible
about possible venues that we could use, how much things could cost, whether you charge, whether you price, um, and so forth. But I haven't heard anything back. I know in comparison to many of the things that people have brought up, this is at the lowest priority, but uh just want to reinvent the wheel on that
as well. Um, thank you >> Mr. Walker. Your address again. I'm sorry. >> 15 15 C Street, Somerset. >> How do you spell that? >> K U Hen. >> Oh, okay.
>> Hi. Good evening, Council El McKenzie, 167 Alorn Street. Um, a lot of you were present at Franklin High School for the sendoff ceremony for the uh 42nd RSG. I want to thank you for that. I had the honor
Sunday of uh meeting the uh chaplain who's who's deploying with them, Chaplain Schwarz. They're going to Iraq for 9 months for those who don't know. And um got a chance to talk to him. It was the first time I met him and we had a a lot in common. Um, and uh the uh
growing up here, all I knew about the the National Guard Armory >> was the uh the tank that was right there. Like every day driving the school bus, we would just drive by by the tank. But never knew they had a presence in the township. Never knew what they did. Just knew they had a tank and I was
like, "All right, that's a pretty cool tank." But uh now that I I serve as a chaplain candidate with the guard, um I I see the importance of of working with the service members and working with them. that's as important members of the township. And so with that, to echo my
brother brother who was talking about being part of the local councils and the local committees, I also put in for the Hamilton Street advisory board and I'm here to echo that. But then um you know but also that the the armory is off of Hamilton Street and uh in the nine
months that Chaplain Schwarz is is going to be overseas uh the least I could do is to make sure that the the the company that he's responsible for they're they're taken care of and they're they're valued in the township. And so that's all I have to say. All right. Thank you. Hello, Rob Johnson, 15 Line. Uh, I just
want to thank I just want to thank the board for uh quickly coming back to the possible reintroduction of the ordinance cons over the wildlife feeding as well as the uh uh cat colony. Uh it's very appreciated. Uh the one thing that the activists don't seem to consider is the
cost to people who are not involved in this. uh you know, breezeways and condo buildings end up costing money to clean up. Uh there's no uh cons there's no consideration of that. In addition to when they leave the food out, uh it also
in last fall, I'm not exaggerating, attracted like 15 buzzards, you know. So, it's uh it's a whole thing that's not being considered. I mean, the the people mean well, but uh it's just not uh it's just not sustainable and uh right to people uh who are not who don't
choose to be involved. But uh thanks for everything. I appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Hello, Valerie Martelli, 41 Crab Apple Lane, Franklin Park. And again, as Rob mentioned, I would like to thank the council for considering all the
information regarding the ordinance on feeding of wildlife and the cat colonies. I think that the additions to the ordinance that were made were very helpful and I think they're very fair to both people who have concerns about the
cats and also people who have concerns about everything from wildlife, the health of their pets, the health of the humans in the community, the cost to individual property owners and the cost to say community uh associations. So, I
thank you very much for considering this information. Um, I understand more about trap, neuter, and release than I did several years ago when people in my community tried to introduce it. And it
it is well-intentioned, but as I've said before, it doesn't always work in all circumstances. And it's very difficult to get organizations such as the one who offered to assist in this to really take
care of this situation for everyone in every particular situation. So, I thank you very much for your consideration and for the adjustments that you made. Thank you. My name is Suzanne Apel and I live at Fort Edward Drive in Franklin Park. I'm
here in support for Franklin Township considering rank choice voting if enabling legislation passes joining other forwardthinking New Jersey towns. Rank choice voting is an upgrade to the way we currently vote, allowing voters to rank their choices in order of true
preference instead of being forced into a single choice that may actually work against their preferences. This way, you avoid the effects of spoiler candidates and get true majority support. It can also increase representation of independent
candidates, women, and people of color in politics while it can discourage negative attacks as candidates compete for second or third choice vote. In short, I believe it is a fairer system and using it at the local level could eventually lead to adoption for
state elections. Thank you. Good evening, Bill Connell, 25 Spring Street. Um, sorry for your loss. Um, so I'm reading this ordinance. I think it does not take into account human nature. This morning when I was
riding my bike at the intersection of Deont and Eastn Avenue, when a traffic light changes, as a matter of survival, I take a couple beats even after the lights change to make sure everybody's through the thing. But still, almost on the third beat, somebody ran a light. On
the way here, um the 7-Eleven has a right-hand turn lane on Hamilton Street. Okay. Somebody was taking a lefthand turn onto Hamilton Street. Okay. As I'm going on. So like they're doing, you know, my house is my intersection is
right there. It doesn't take into consideration human nature and the laws. So when I saw the thing about leave your food out for one hour, okay, I can't believe it. Okay, I think most people are going to um put it out and leave it
out. And the reason this is important is I personally spent 2,000 plus getting a raccoon out of my attic. My neighbor spent $2,000 getting a raccoon out of their attic. And I was uh I had poker at
my house one night and I'm out at midnight in my backyard and uh a raccoon, I swear, came up to a chair, stood up and he could have said, "Pardon me, do you have any grape pond?" He was that close. Okay, I have video of this
if you would like to see it. So, even though it sounds nice on paper, I think in reality, um I think Mr. Johnson kind of stole my thunder on this one. It attracts other things and creates other problems and other messes. Um so, for
that reason, I can't support the ordinance. I said no feeding any animals, period. End of story. And I think that's how the original ordinance was. Um, and you will notice that the people who came from out of town, made the remarks, left, and did not stay to listen to your response. Thank you.
>> Anyone else? >> M Obama, you've already come up. >> You've already spoken. No. Jane Jezawick, 142 Bennettington Parkway, and I'm here about the cats. Franklin Township needs TNR to cut back
on the population. The cats are out there, no fault of their own, because people dropped them off. I've seen it many times myself. I belong to an organization that finds homes for cats and I've taken many cats
out and gotten them fixed. Call my vet. He's shocked when I keep coming in with cats. We should be able to feed stray cats and then take the food away. It's inhumane. It's heartbreaking and it's cruel to see
these cats walking around shopping centers looking for a little water, a little food. Yeah, I put food out. Somebody comes a mean person and he dumps it. Not his property, nothing to do with him. He doesn't like me and he
doesn't like the cats. We need TNR to get control and we should be able to feed these cats. As I said, it's no fault of their own that they're out there. I've taken many cats out. As I said, I belong to animal rescue force.
We find homes for homeless animals. I have a lot of cats myself. I donate to the township. Katie knows me very well and my family. So, it's again inhumane not to be able
to feed these stray cats. As I said, no fault of their own. Spray uh TNR will cut back on that. And that's it. Anyone else? >> Good evening. Uh my name is Ray Qubec
representing uh East Franklin Fire Department. I'm an assistant chief there. Um address say 121 Pine Grove Avenue. Um on behalf of uh Dan Kushinsky, our chief, I just wanted to read a letter on him. He's away on vacation. Um
sorry, his phone is active up. Recently, we learned that the uh vacated property at 179 Gerard Avenue, formerly home to the Franklin Somerset First Aid Squad, has come under the township's control. This building is sat vacant and become an isore for residents. We
believe this property could serve a broader and more impactful purpose. East Franklin uh Fire Department would like to pursue a grant funding to revenate the existing structure into living quarters for volunteer
firefighters. East Franklin has a strong history of recruiting Ruckers University students who are firefighters in their own hometowns. On average, these students volunteers with us for four years while completing their studies. Most of them also tend to stay around as
well. Providing safe, secure, and comfortable accommodations for them while on on call would directly benefit the township by enhancing volunteer recruitment and retention. Improving emergency response times as firefighters living on site could respond more
quickly to calls and maximizing use of an otherwise vacant municipal property, turning it into an asset that serves the community daily. We respectfully ask that the township considers alter alternatives to use this property solely for storage or another
purpose that wouldn't make use of the existing structure and explore this opportunity to strengthen the volunteer firefighting service. I welcome the chance to discuss this proposal in greater detail with you and the council of you and the council. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Chief Dan
Kinsky, East Franklin Fire Department. I just wanted to add to that. Um right now currently we have about like minimum of three to five firemen, fire women uh spending the night at our firehouse and there's more that are eager to stay and respond adequately. Um we're just
running out of room and it's impossible for everybody to stay there. Um so if you guys would you know really consider us getting the building you know obviously chief would like to discuss that with you all. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Anyone
ask anyone else wish to speak? I ask for unanimous consent to close the public portion. Hearing no objection, public portion is closed. Um Dr. Karazzi, you asked to speak about
the senior. >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. Thank you very much. uh Miss Harris and everybody else, we thank you for coming and really appreciate the comments that you made as a senior myself and also the council liaison to
the senior advisory committee. Um earlier this year we had asked the seniors to give us the list of things that they like to be accomplished and they gave us seven items and I brought it up with the township manager and Mr.
uh Steven Dah which is the director of park and recreation and um they looked into it and I like to read those list to you and also I wanted to know whether or not over with the past few years the township has spent
any money to make any improvements. So I'd like to give you a few of them that they have done. So at least you will have a good idea that the township really has spent quite a bit money in improving the senior center. Okay. So let me first go over the the list
please. And the first one was the curb cutout near the accessible spaces and according to Mr. Dah this will be done as part of the next concrete project to be completed over this summer. So
hopefully before the end of the summer it will be done and the power washing of the Syria as you mentioned and I talked to Bob myself the township manager I sat in his office I said you know is it possible to do it and he explained to me because of the material that they you
have used it is not practical and it's very costly and it really doesn't buy much. So that was his comments and um painting of exterior building sign letters will be painted in the next two weeks by the uh department of public
work. I don't know whether or not it has been done honestly I have been okay so I will definitely will follow up that okay let me just finish it. I definitely will follow up on that. So I appreciate I was out a couple of weeks but I
definitely will follow up on that. uh meeting room, kitchen floor and cabinet renovation. I know this is something that we have talked during the the advisory board meeting, senior advisory meeting and it says flooring was
included in 2024 and 2025 capital budget and has been scheduled. Kitchen will be done first and meeting rooms will be done during winter holidays when no senior meetings are scheduled. So hopefully we'll be done before the end
of the year. Uh again these are the notes I'm reading from him. So we're going to keep him responsible for these notes so he can deliver it. Right. So landscaping it says landscaping was trimmed. We do not have manpower for
decoration flowers and planting. And the next one was landscaping bench placement in uh Groso Grove. And again he says that they had they're working on ordering 10 of them and uh it will be
done and it says that they starting the cleanup and restoration of pathway next week. So again I don't know if whether or not it has been done. I will look into it again myself. I will talk to Mr. D. We'll walk through it and in the next
meeting definitely we'll give an update. The last one was the lobby lighting update and it says new bulbs have been ordered for all lights out in the lobby project to replace or lobby lighting will will have to be included in 2026
capital budget. Now, as I mentioned, I asked also to give us some idea on some of the improvements that they have made. And so, he sent me a list of it, and I want to just take a couple of minutes to read it. All air conditioning and handler
units, it cost $400,000. Entire roof, $250,000. Old carpeting, $60,000. Resurface stage for 20,000. Handicapped card access door to meeting
room 15,000. All new exterior doors 50,000. New stove oven 10,000. New refrigerator 5,000. All new LED light bulbs throughout
building 2500. New exterior light in 4500. All new boilers 400,000. backup generator 80,000 and new window blinds 30,000. So as you can see the
township have spent quite a bit money. I don't think you can ask question. I'm sorry but we can talk it you know outside >> and I'm sorry you're not hearing me. >> I'd like folks to hear that there's two parts to the sewer center. One is direct
department and all the things that you carpeting and new things that was done because they had a on that side has not received all that. >> Okay. I can't >> Okay. So I I'm just telling you based on what he has written to me. He said that
these are the replacement upgrades in the senior community center. That's what what what he says. But regardless, as I said, I share your frustration. I've been there. I've I've heard all of you and and myself that I've seen the
progress is not be made as we would like to be made and we will continue pushing. I thank you for coming. I thank you everybody. You need to come and speak up and we will continue pushing and hopefully before the end of the year you will see some good results. I don't know
why we get in that one but uh but thank you so much again but we'll talk definitely I will I will make sure that I will also talk to Mr. Steven Dah. Okay. >> Okay. Ma'am ma'am ma'am ma'am you I I let you speak once I and I shouldn't
have >> I will talk to you outside as well. >> Okay. >> Thank you Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you. Um the ambulance situation. So I have a a little story. Uh first of
all uh I'm sorry for your loss. Um I have a little story must have been 10 years ago. Um my wife had excruciating pain called the ambulance.
I was at JFK hospital um at the time. I made it before the ambulance here the to my home. that normally takes me 33 minutes in the driving. I'm sure I did it in well under that, but um I was a
gasast about that and changes were made. I I am a physician, but clearly your ex your emergency response expertise outweighs mine. Uh I haven't been to an ER in five years, but um
you raised some good points. I don't have answers right now, but we will get answers and I I appreciate you coming in. Um I don't know, council. Should I discuss the cats now or wait till the cat
ordinance? >> I think we should wait till the cat ordinance. Mayor, we all might have commentary for that. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> Um Mr. guy. I couldn't understand all that you were saying, but when you talked
about the budget and the um rescue money, the you you talked about the surplus, a lot of people don't understand the surplus. The sur they think of it as the way the federal government uses the word surplus. It
that not that we've had one in a long time, but it's the amount of money left over that year. We try to not say the word surplus. It is it is a word that's used for that uh account. We try to say
fund balance. What it's best way that I can put it is it's our bank account. So it's still there. The 20 million is still there. When it got up to 26 million, we spent it down. We bought um
equipment, etc. But we keep the 20 million there just in case. So like when COVID was here and the state said you can delay um the your property tax payment from August to September, a lot
of towns were were fidgety and and restless and they didn't know what to do because they didn't have money. They took out bridging loans to cover that. We didn't blink. we said yes, that money also gets us uh better
ratings when we go out to bond. Um it keeps us uh so that when there's uh funds we need one year, we can carry it over and use that money uh there uh in in ways to save us from getting bridging
loans. Um, in in short, council has decided to have that money available. Um, and the financial oversight committee came up with the $20 million
um idea. The the accountant that we use said, "You should absolutely not go below 10 million. You'd be in danger." Uh, we he feels safer with 20 million. So, that money is still there and will
stay there hopefully um uh as long as we can keep it. We use that money to help reduce taxes every year. The amount that it goes over 20 million, we use that to reduce taxes. I'll get to taxes in a little bit. Um so, that that's why that
money is there. Um I'll jump to the fire department. Tonight, council, we're voting on the acquisition of the um first aid squad that has been abandoned. We're not
deciding on what what to do with it. Um that so we have time to consider what the gentleman was speaking about. Um all right, let me jump to taxes. Mr. Walker.
Um, I I I want to break protocol first. I want So everything about your how much your tax was and how much your assessment was is public domain. But that's public domain as in
if someone comes and asks for it, they can see it or you can see it. It'd be different if I talked about it in a council meeting publicly. I want your permission to do that to take up the specifics of your taxes.
>> No, I mean I mean discuss discuss what your assessment was. Okay. And you can come to the mic now so we can discuss it. If if you'd like, we can do that. >> Well, I want to I want to discuss
I want to discuss the the taxes. If you want to do it that way, would you like to come up? >> So, I'm I'm I'm taking leeway here. If council doesn't want me to do it this way, I won't. >> That's fine. >> Mr. Walker doesn't want his address. So,
if this guy is okay with that, let him do it. >> No, it's okay. She doesn't need >> No, no, no, no, >> Mr. Guy. Let me run the meeting. Thank you. >> So, I'm sorry. Tell me your address again.
>> 128. 128 Selby Court >> S E LB Y >> S E L B E Y >> and just to confirm, you're okay if the mayor shows your house and the details of your taxes last year to this year publicly here and for the video cameras
to 70,000 residents. >> Yeah, no problem. Okay. Can you give me the screen and send me that number again, please? Um, >> 128. >> No, no. >> All right. So, I I hope you can see this
up on the screen, but I >> Sorry, I cannot >> go closer. >> I have a You can bring that take that mic with you if you want. But I have a tool that I created. It's essentially a
Excel spreadsheet, but it's available on the internet and I'll give the URL for it in in a bit. Um, but your assessment last year was 30 365,200. Your assessment this year was 4
uh 34,700. So that's an increase of $69,000 uh dollars or 19%. So your tax assessment went up 19%.
Mr. um uh I have questions for how you count that money. I count from year last year I got the bill there was this four the payment I added four
>> No we're talking about something different you're talking about your tax payment he's talking about your tax assessment >> I'm talking about your assessment >> okay >> the assessment >> the assessment of your property value the value of your property went up >> okay
>> Mr. Mr. Dominic, how much did >> so? >> Okay, I'll try to >> So the it was assessed this year at 434,700. I'll try to zoom in, but then I'm going
to have to be scrolling around. >> You could take your mic with you and and go over there. You can see it. I know it's a little small, but you can take the mic with you. You can take the mic with you. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So you can see it when he's zooming in. >> A rock star. >> Okay. So your assessment went up by
almost $70,000, but the assessment is 434. According to realators.com, um, yeah, realators.com, the assessment was 49 or their their estimate of the value of your house is
490,000. So, your house is may be worth even more than the assessor said. The assessment assessments are not >> I know that. I know that. >> Assessments are not a appraisal. There's
a difference between the two of them. an assessment is supposed to be within 15% of the actual value and the my assessor assures me that he hits that uh every year um with an overwhelming majority of
the houses. Um so your assessment went up 19% that's highlighted there. your property tax went from six um point 6,600 to 7,500
$920 increase or 13.9%. Yes, that's that's a lot. Uh, and I understand you being shocked, but let's look at you've come to this body to talk about the tax and someone said, "Why are
you raising taxes so much?" By you, I assume you meant council. But let's look at what council did. Last year, council was 14% of your total tax bill. That's what this column over here is saying.
This year it was 13.5% of your total tax bill. What that means is the amount our taxes went up in town. There's no doubt about it. I'm not trying to say they didn't, but that means that all the other taxes went up more. Maybe not all
the other taxes, but the the average of all the other taxes went up more than the township tax went up because our percentage of the tax bite went down by half a percent. your uh as I said your tax
uh I'm not as I've said I'm sorry the council portion or the township portion of your bill was $93231 last year this year it's a 2017 so there
is school money you paid to the schools money you paid to the county That's to the town. What you paid to the town. >> And when I say municipal tax, >> hold on. Hold on. >> When I when I say municipal tax, I am
not including open space or library or fire. Township council has no control of those. The um the library is set by the state. The open space tax was set by voter referendum. Fire is by its own
election. If if the fire district if people vote down the budget, then council gets involved. But unless they vote down the budget, council doesn't can't get involved. So the council portion or the local municipal portion
in 2024 was $931. This year it was a uh $1,17. That's an in an increase of $85.94. $86. So if you look at that though, your
assessment went up and the um and we increased the levy. We increased the amount that we were Uh I don't understand how you calculate this based on each year. I'm accounting
based on the bill the last bill for payments added 6,520. Now you are counting to from the January to the December the whole year
>> but your payment increase >> bill is from the August >> every August you give a full payment bill I'm counting from that timeline >> I'm not counting from
>> sir so sir the the pay the payment that you sent to the before you go. You're missing his point. He's still lumping all the taxes together, not >> that's how I pay money.
>> I understand how I understand how much increase >> for that payment. >> So, I'm going to I'm sorry. I'm I'm just the attorney. So, I just want to see maybe if I can >> put this in a little bit more of a context. I understand what your tax bill is. You're exactly right. You add up the
four quarters and you get a total number and it's more than it was last year. We we understand that. I think what the point that the mayor is trying to show you here is that it's not you've come here to the council and you've said I get a bill from you township. Why did you raise my taxes? I think what we're
trying to show you is your taxes the part of your taxes that that these folks are responsible for is about 13.5% just a little less than 14%. Most of your taxes are get so all the rest of your taxes get paid to the board
of education, to the county, to the fire districts. There's uh open space taxes that the people voted on. There's library taxes. So when you come here and you say, "What are you going to do about lowering my taxes?" The part of your tax bill that's controlled by this council
is only 14% of it. And the the lion share of the increase that you saw from year to year is not from the council. And I think that's the point that the mayor is trying to demonstrate to you by showing you these figures and how it is that it breaks down. So, um, we're not telling you your taxes didn't go up.
What we're telling you is that you're you're here, but there is maybe you should be at the board of education or maybe you should be at the county asking them why it is that they raise your taxes because there must be they're a bigger chunk of your tax bill. The unfortunate part of the way taxes are
structured in New Jersey and it's unfortunate for council is that you know um in Florida there's a county tax collector. You get your bill from the county. You live in Kier County to Kier County tax collector sends you a bill. You never get a bill from the city of
Naples for whatever they do. In New Jersey it's reversed. The municipalities all send out the tax bills and we send you a tax bill that you get one number, but it's made up of five or six different taxing entities that aren't
controlled by the council. We can't tell the county what to do. We can't tell the board of education what to do. We the fire districts, as the mayor said, if their budget gets defeated, which rarely happens, it comes back to us. So, there's not a whole lot we can do about it. So, that's all we're trying to say. We just This is justformational.
Nobody's arguing with you. We understand. I you know the the great part about this day of of of uh information is while you were talking I pulled up your your tax history on the township's uh uh site. It's right there. >> Okay.
>> I click on your address. I can tell you what what you paid and I can tell you what you paid every year. I I also know by the way that over the course of the last five years your taxes your total taxes actually went up and down a few years. There were some years where now so so that's a function of it. The other
part about this which is the and I hate to make it more complicated and I think the mayor was trying to explain to you is the amount of the budgets that get set by all of these districts is only one part of what you get taxed. If your
property goes up in value more than other properties in the town, you're going to share you're going to shoulder a larger part of the tax burden. It is a function of the way New Jersey taxes people. It's an awful system that's part
of our constitution and there's a resolution on later tonight kind of imploring the legislature to do something about it. But it is the way it works. The other part about it is if if folks don't mind me saying there's actually help on the way. There's a
program called stay stayj that next next year will actually I believe that it will cut senior citizens taxes by 50% up to $6500. So it's a program that is funded um and
it's it was you know sponsored a number of years ago um and is now been funded and it'll go into effect for 2026. So the real tax relief, that's where that's where it comes from. And I and and I think that what you'll see in the resolution that's here is part of the
argument for decreasing the property tax burden is to try to share it over essentially, you know, there's a state sales tax and the state income tax, but the property tax is very regressive because no much no matter how much money you make, you pay your property tax on the value of your property. The income
tax at least is targeted is indexed to how much money you actually make. So it's a percentage of your income. So, I think that that's the tax fairness part of it. But, mayor, I don't know if I if I overstepped my bounds here. >> No, you you were very clear. Okay. And
that's that is the point I'm trying to make is that we're responsible for I'll go to the punchline here. >> $2450 of your increase. You're you're here talking about I know
you had a $920 increase, but of what we are responsible for, what we had the power to do, if we did 0% in increase, we could control $24.51
of your tax bill. Now, you you'll see your your your tax your municipal tax actually went up $95. $85.94, but $61 of that was due to the
assessment going up. Unfortunately, residential assessments went up more than uh commercial assessments. There have been years that that's been reversed and your taxes have been held down for it, but it's residential assessments are residential prices,
property values have skyrocketed. I I should have started with the way I usually start this discussion. Property taxes is a stupid way to tax people, especially a stupid way to tax our schools uh or to get collect money for
our schools. It should be that if you have more money available, if you have the means to pay more, you should pay more. But if you don't have the means to pay more, you shouldn't. Unfortunately, you could be land rich and cash poor and
you're going to get a tax the way they do it now. So, as the um as the uh attorney said, there's a resolution on this uh agenda to ask the uh legis state legislature to change the way we do
taxes to change get to abolish the property tax and go to a meansbased tax. because you well because it's just not fair the way they do it now. Uh but in defense of
council, what we did, our actions increased your tax bill by $24.51. The other problem that happened besides the increase in um assessments
that I've mentioned is our schools and I I I put that over here. Our schools were told that where they normally are limited to 2% increase, they were allowed to increase by 11% because
they're they were underfunded by sticking to the 2% for a decade. So in one fell swoop they go up 10.7% and they are 61% of your taxes. So 10%
of 61% make is a huge increase. So, in someone who's paying a total of a $900 increase, $429 of it went to the schools, uh, specifically to the schools due to
their levy increase. So, I I'm I'm just, as the attorney said, we are responsible for 2.6% increase, excuse me, a 2.6% 6% increase. $24.51
is all we could had control. So I I I guess I've said it enough times, but there are things out of our hands, but people, and certainly you will hear it this year, there will be a group of
people trying to make it seem like all $920 is due to council. In your case, $24.51 was due to console. Now, people, if people want to look at this uh setup,
you can go to tiny URL. Let's see. I'll zoom in more on that. >> Do that again. >> I'm gonna I'm going to say it. There you go. >> You can see it here up in blue at the top of the spreadsheet.
tinyurl.comfranklin tax 20225 E as in Edward Z is in zebra 2 easy2 and at the top of that you all you have to do is put in the address you want to look up
and it will come up with this breakdown of taxes. Um just beware when you're doing it on the web it's very slow. You'll click on the address bar and it will take several seconds before it seems like you clicked on it. If you
download it to an Excel spreadsheet, it's virtually instantaneous. But I I I hope I I feel for you for the amount that you're increasing in taxes, but unfortunately you're you're coming to a body, a a taxing entity that really has
very little control of the taxes that you pay. Um there are forces that are beyond us, the school board being one of them that um that we just have no control of. And mayor, if I could just ask, you
mentioned that this past increase in the municipal budget was 2.6% which is under inflation. In the last four years, have we kept our spending under inflation or what was it been relative to inflation? So in the last four years,
our cumulative our cumulative uh increase in our in what we are uh uh our levy, the amount that we collect in taxes is up 11%. That's over the last four years starting
from a baseline of 2021. It went up 1% 1% last year was 6% and this year is 2.6%. That works out to 11%. The inflation over that time was 8% 12.4%
15.8% I'm sorry those are the cumulives >> start again they were 8% 4.1% 3% and this year so far it's 2.1%. That's a total of 18.2%. So we've gone up the amount that we're
collecting in tax is 11%. That's not on the spreadsheet. Don't be looking up there. I this is a separate thing I've done. So, we've gone up 11% and inflation has gone up 18.2%. Since I took office, we've gone as
mayor, we've gone up 13.5% and inflation has gone up 35%, less than half of inflation. So, we're doing our job here. We're keeping the amount of money that we're asking from
you down. But the stupid way that New Jersey does taxes is um is biting you. Um where you don't want to be bit. Uh and and I I feel for you. It uh you
people are hurting with this inflation situation we're in, but we have no control of it. And anyone who in this election year makes it seem like we do is trying to pull one over on you. >> And mayor, just one more thing. We don't
have control over the tax assessor, >> right? >> No. >> He answers to the county. >> And if I may, >> I just want to clarify that because that we get asked that question. >> Yes. He answers to the county tax board >> completely independent. Yes. >> Correct. He and he and you want it to be that way because if I like you but I
don't like you then I could tell the assessor what to do and he has buffered from us so that we can't tell him what to do or how to do it. I if you ask him you can ask him what I've said to him about it. The only thing I've ever said
to him is make sure he's fair. Um, another myth that's out there is we increase the assessments so that we can get more money. Well, first of all, we don't get more money. We get the amount of money that when we
raise taxes, when we raise the levy, the amount to be collected by uh from the taxpayers that we get that amount of money, the tax rate is adjusted in such a way that it takes into account the assessments so that we get the amount of
money we ask for. If you're thinking of the greedy politician who's trying to get more money, well, the greedy politician doesn't want more money. The greedy politician wants to get reelected. And the way he gets reelected
is by or she is by keeping the taxes down and providing more services. So just getting more money so you can provide more services doesn't get you anywhere. It's trying to keep taxes down and provide more services. And that's
part of the issue with the senior center. We're trying to keep taxes down, but you want more services. And I I don't blame you. Um that's your job. Our job is to try to do find the balance and um hopefully we can. So sir, I hope that
explains to you why your taxes went on. I I I understand your explanation, >> but uh I'm still not satisfied is the >> I I don't blame you. And and that's why at one of the last things we're voting on today is to send a letter to our
state legislators cease and copying our governor that this has got to stop. They've got to change the way they tax and um and that way people who can afford it because if you do it by means then if you retire or you lose your job
then you don't have to pay as much and that's the way it should be. >> Yeah. I'm just I'm just saying that it's the this increase that actually it's my my house value is
increased but I did I I don't sell my house >> right it's it's an unrealized gain >> it's it's just increase that it's >> it's like having to pay money on your if you have stocks your stock goes up but you don't have that money in your pocket
and you have to pay on it so That's an unrealized gain and it's wrong and that's why we're asking for it to be changed. >> Okay. Thank you very much for your experience. >> No, thank you. >> Thank you for letting us, >> Mr. Mayor. >> It may be a a good time to also mention
that we have a town hall meeting on the 21st and the assessor will be there as well and somebody from the tax department will be there. So please come and bring your questions and also there will be more information given on that
day on the 21st of August at 7 o'clock here. >> Uh no that not board of ed you need to go to their board and then you know their meetings and bring it up that way they can hear everybody's uh
basically they are there and they can hear your story. But this is a good educational and we call it tax talk 101. So please come. >> So so just because you asked that question I would just want to say on the board of uh education hearing to uh on
their budget approval that 11% mayor was alluding to um from the council. Deputy mayor Odin and myself went and spoke against raising taxes that much. Uh but
I'm not in the board. The board voted the budget approval. So >> you have any oversight on? >> No. No, we don't have the out of the the there are seven line items on the taxes. Only one of them which is a municipal
tax we have jurisdiction. The other six we have zero control. >> When do they meet? >> They meet on the I believe it's the fourth Thursday of the month. >> Correct. What I think you should do is everyone
there is figure out what on that screen figure out exactly where you are on your taxes so that when you come in you know what your tax is. You know what you done you know how to figure it out so that
when he starts writing on the board you're not in the dark. You know exactly where each line is. That way you everyone else can waste their time, but you're gonna know exactly what's going on. So again, if you don't come in like
that, you're going to waste your time because you're going to be lost. >> Okay. All right. Um I think we've beat that to death. >> Um that's all I had to comment on. Um
>> Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mr. Walker, if I Mr. Mayor, Mr. Walker talked about his letter and thank you very much. We received your letter, Mr. Walker. We haven't forgotten. We are having some discussion. At least some of us have seen it. We have some ideas that we
share among us and uh rest assured that we will get back to you on that. >> One second. One second. >> Now, every time we come to a council meeting, >> I say one thing. Why does anybody get up and leave?
>> Because we're about to spend your money. We're about to make an ordinance and you're going to say, "Well, I didn't know about that." >> So, you're going to get up and leave. And the next time taxes roll around, they're going to come see me and say, "Well, Carl, why my taxes go up?" Or,
"Carl, why did they get a cat ordinance?" If you don't stay, you're going to miss it. I'm not telling you to come every single watch us on TV, but we're spending your money here and y'all
got to around. That's all. And I do it almost every meeting. People get up and go. >> That's all. I'm sorry to break up with you. I'm sorry. M >> M Mr. Mayor, two quick things from the the public comment. Uh Mr. guy, the
municipality, this township does not have an local application for cannabis. So, there's nothing to give back. And the council made that decision because of the extraordinary costs that the state charges, the CRC charges, and they didn't want to further burden anyone who
was coming here. So, there's nothing to give back. The other thing, Bill, wake up. Making sure you're okay. The next time you want to get rid of a raccoon, I'll save you $2,000. You just call me, okay? But you are free to leave if you want to.
>> I think Carl would like you to stay. >> He wants to be liked like all of us. But you don't have to if you have somewhere to be or the bathroom or dinner or your family. >> He calls me on the phone. He called me on the phone. >> Vince the raccoon slayer. Okay. Um
I think that I think we've responded. Did uh you have any more responses, Mr. Dominic? >> No. Okay. Um, and now we have council comments. Um, I'll let Mr. Wright go first.
>> Um, real quick, did somebody talk about that garden over there? >> What? >> Is your mic on? Put your mic on. >> I got a problem with the garden at Parkside. And this is how it goes.
If you've been there for 10 years, 20 years, or 30 years, it it it goes like this. And you can ask Johnny Tips this because he was here. Um RPM, who runs the building, put in the
parks, put in the put in the garden. Now, every year we go out and we see, and I know for a fact because I put the flyers, as you walk out the building, on that right hand side, you'll see a
flower uh a flyer about that community garden. No one said anything. I even went down to the um housing authority and the chairman is Ike Agadoi. I said, "Ike, anybody talk about
something?" um anybody has a gripe sometimes nobody shows up so it's just the administration that shows up and by the way our administrator is only part-time because when we were there I said why are we paying for a full-time when we can go part-time and that's
exactly what we did uh so I'm saying if you're talking about that garden yeah we brought somebody else in to do that garden >> oh building for that garden. We're talking about the grove.
>> Okay. Okay. I I was like, "Wait a minute. Wait a minute. I know all about this little puppy." Cuz I was there. But in the future, I'm letting you know, brought in a whole new team because the garden was sitting there. It went to
waste. They came in and actually did something better. That's all it was. >> Okay. So, I I just figured, you know, throw that out there. Um ma'am ma'am ma'am ma'am we can't
>> can't talk. Thank you very >> um >> for the redevelopment agency of which I'm chairman. We haven't had a meeting because we're waiting for RPM to come back with a couple plans and those plans will include affordable housing uh
market rate housing and voucher housing. So, we're waiting for that mix to come back so we can move ahead. Um, land use uh four of us on land use here. Um, haven't had them in because we haven't
done anything because people haven't come back with the plans. Now, we do have one little piece of of property and one of the things Oh, hell go through the whole thing. We got a whole bunch of places that we want to put affordable housing all over the place. But the one
thing that I did was I didn't want more kids in my neighborhood. Why? Because it happens that every time we do housing or affordable housing, it seems that we get all the kids and
that's not fair. So, in movement with that affordable housing, I said, "We're going to put it all over town. We're not just going to put it in my backyard." Okay. So, we're looking for one parcel, but it has senior citizens
and veterans. Okay? So, that's what we're going to do in part so that children will be over on this side, this side, that side. But I didn't want them in my backyard because we have enough kids. And everyone will
start screaming, "Why do we have all the kids? Why do we have all the affordable housing in the fourth ward?" Okay, y'all be the first one to fire me up about that. Now, another little thing that that uh bothered me and I went through
it and uh did anybody ever go out and vote for that fire district? Because the mayor mentioned it about that fire district and I don't see no hands going up.
And the reason why I say that, that's part of your taxes. But nobody blew it. Y'all blew off the fire district. The mayor only went 30 seconds with it. Our township attorney went 5 seconds with it.
So again, some of that stuff you need to be aware of. Some of y'all didn't go to the board of education meeting when they went up and ratcheted up your taxes. You gotta go. You gotta look. You got to see.
So, that being said, uh I'm going to get off my soap box and um leave it to Ed. >> Council member Patasnik. >> Thank you. Um, the next school board uh meeting for the board of education is
August 28th. It's at 6:30 p.m. at the Board Administrative Complex over on Route 27, otherwise formerly known as Consulatada Missions. Um, and I strongly encourage folks to go there and and speak with them. Um, the top five issues
in any election year or in really any year for citizens and elected officials like ourselves are taxes, followed by taxes, followed by taxes, followed by taxes, and then closing out with taxes. And this council has done a tremendous
job to keep the portion we control under the rate of inflation. The mayor sort of falsely estimated over his time as mayor about half, but by my math it was a third of the rate of inflation. And that takes a lot of work.
It takes patience. It takes some creativity to look at how we can get grant funds, how we can work with other government agencies for shared services so we don't have duplication and we can streamline um some of those things to
keep costs low. Um, we're looking at health care to ensure that we uh self-insure because health care costs are really going up very quickly. Working with the board of education on an educational a health wellness center um to keep medical costs down. So, there's a lot of things that we're doing
to get to that place. It's sort of magical and it's not h happening most places. It doesn't take away the sting from the other portion of the taxes that we don't control. We're all experiencing that. The mayor pointed out to me that my assessment, the part that's
unrealized gains, went up 69 out of 20,000 households. That's what my house went up. So I feel you're paying directly as well. And in my house, we had a lot of drama around these very issues. And the mayor, he's an engineer, so the spreadsheet might have been
overwhelming, but he took my frustration out by walking me through to better understand how it connects. It doesn't mean that it's acceptable, per se, but it helps you understand because it's really overwhelming. And so, those of you who listen to that tonight and go to
the tax town hall, we'll get a chance to understand more about each of those ports parts because I understood our 2.6 part. I didn't understand how it became 30% increase year-over-year for for my family. Um, and the last thing I'll say is um with relation to the school board,
I'm the liazison to the schools. There is sort of a history to what has happened with school budgets. Under Chris Christie, he instituted something called a 2% tax cap. That 2% tax cap has not kept up with inflation and that has
left school districts way underfunded. and they recently went and said, "We're going to do a new calculation and tell you how adequate are the taxpayer contributions to the total cost of students." And our school district fell short significantly. They could have
increased spending up to 18%. In addition to their 2%, so a total of 20. They took a more modest number. You can take it up with them. That was ultimately their decision. Um the governor gave them a one-time chance to do that without voter approval. And I'll
just say in my my personal opinion, it's a political view that should have been spaced out over years that that deficit built up, not in one year that our families are now having to see that jump. We don't control that. We're not the governor. We didn't write that letter. Um, so talking to your school
board is helpful because they're going to maybe be faced with decisions like this in the future and start to plan for that. And I will say as former schoolboard president and being on the school board, not enough people go to those meetings and they are very interested in hearing from you. They care a lot um about how these impacts
both impact the education of our students, our future, right? They're going to take care of us and also taxpayers that are footing the bill in a weird system um that we're going to speak to a little bit more. Um, I am proud of what council's been able to do to keep spending low and equally
frustrated with the escalation, particularly in this year that's compounded along with the the schoolboard increases. And I think all of us share in your pain and appreciate folks coming tonight to talk about it. But I'd also close by just saying don't be misled by folks who want to paint
with a broad brush and say this body was responsible for the decisions of the school board. 60 something percent of your the taxes that you pay. Um because that's what happens in campaign season. And it's just not true. It's dishonest. And we'll work together and we'll find
ways to help the schools save money, too. And we've done a lot of that. I can go on, but I I'll leave it at that. I um I think the mayor did a great job with the details. Um and there's more details to be learned at the town hall. Um, but we care deeply and that's why we metal
to keep our rate of spending under inflation and we hope to continue to be able to do that because that's our commitment to you. Thank you. >> Thank you. Actually, I think the attorney was more articulate than I was. I I may be able to crunch numbers better
than he, but he he can uh say the lines better than I. Councilman Vasanella, >> I'm going to pick right up on that point. Mayor, I didn't really plan on speaking about taxes. speak poorly. >> Uh, no, just hear me out. It's more
complimentary than that. No, seriously, I didn't plan on speaking about taxes, but I I I think I just want to mention two things that have been mentioned. So, first of all, whether by volunteer I'm trying to think a little outside the box here. whether by volunteer program or by estate regulation
um we have an opportunity when people purchase a home whatever it is you have a closing there's certain documents that are part of any kind of real estate transaction or closing process not to get into the details but I don't know why we don't have some pamphlet that
both takes the mayor's approach and our attorney's approach and spells out exactly what a homeowners should know because this is not a problem unique to Franklin. Quite frankly, I think we do better here in Franklin than most towns and I've done the research. But it's a
mess. Taxes are a mess. And the only time people seem to get interested and it's human nature is when it goes up and when it goes up a lot. And as described, a lot of it is not easily understood.
most of us up here um have learned over the years because of having to deal with tax increases. So I believe it would be helpful for people to understand all the taxing entities,
who controls the taxing entities and how to be able to plug in maybe they take something like the mayor did and make it statewide. you should be able to easily understand how the biggest expense you have by government will play out as a
homeowner. So, I don't want to keep on going on, but I think there's room there to be had because half the people that came to talk about taxes may still have been disgusted, but they would have been aware of how this happened and the few tools available to them to to counter
tax increases. They may have been able to I'm sorry. Okay. May have been able to utilize and be um more aware and maybe have made a little difference. I'm not putting it on anybody here. The point is we have to give the tools as a state. We
have to give the tools for people to be aware of the biggest governmental expense in their lives if they are indeed homeowners and even renters because some of that's passed along through the landlords etc. So that plus the second thing I think they do a great
job. I don't think they do a perfect job as no government uh department or agency does. Our tax assessments are a lot of science and a little bit of art. And at the end of the day, regardless of
what we do, keep no tax increase, mega tax increase. At the end of the day, your personal assessment is what's going to drive your final tax bill. So, I've been surprised. I've been wrong. I've been right when I've gone, whether it's
mine or other people's assessments, and said, "Whoa, how did that go?" point is look into it. Uh my understanding, at least my experience as a citizen, not as a councilman, they're very friendly and helpful at the at the tax assess the tax
offices that give you the information. They need to justify the increase in an assessment. Again, most of the times are correct, but they're not correct all the time. And I implore people, it's not an easy process, but it's not a impossible
process. Appeal your taxes. If you did your research and you believe you've been overassessed, appeal your taxes. So, that's another part of this equation that isn't talked about too much, but um just keep those two things in mind. But
overall, the state um hopefully Trenton did a heck of a thing with the stay in New Jersey. And I think most people, I'm not there yet, but I'm getting there. Most people 65 and older will be smiling and be able to stay without the burdens
of being taxed out of their homes. So now, and I'm I'm I'm hopeful that the state house will now attack the other thing that we're doing a resolution on and come up with a different way to figure out taxes. um as far as funding
our school system specifically. So, it stinks, but we've we this stay in New Jersey, which hopefully we'll do in a town hall so that people will be able to take advantage of what will be a 50%
decrease for many of the seniors in this town. That's incredible. again. Um, and that's happening starting 26, but I think there's paperwork you have to file this fall to be able to get it next year. So, separate from the town hall
we're doing to explain, and I think it should be two separate town halls, we should do an instructional because if you file that paperwork, right, you get a major tax deduction. And now they got to keep everybody under 65 staying in New Jersey or smiling. Maybe we should
call it smiling in New Jersey. So, sorry to be so long-winded that that's and I have more to talk about with taxes, but tonight is not the appropriate time or forum. That being said, a couple quick things. um there's devils in the details or in the devils in the details or
whatever the expression is. But hopefully um there'll be possibility for that uh vacated rescue squad to be used in a productive way perhaps to house um what
are well any volunteers. Again, there's a lot of details and I I know that um we're not going to get into it as a discussion, but the first aid squad that that has been vacated, there's families still in this town that were responsible for starting it, I think, back in the
50s. I remember going to their 50th anniversary celebration. But I want to thank uh any families and any people that were involved or related to the people involved with um doing something strictly on a volunteer basis that
literally saved hundreds of lives in this township um in my board and in my neighborhood. So, I hope um I know sometimes there's internal squables and disagreements, but we have uh well, all the firehouses in our town, but
especially um uh community in East Franklin that have done uh God's work in my opinion. So, I hope that whatever happens there will further enhance um our response services. And I'll throw
one last thing out there. the only firefighter in the history of Franklin Township to ever die in the line of duty was one of the students that was talked about that um you know they they're there saving lives in Franklin. Unfortunately, he lost his
life and saving others. Anyway, real quickly, National Night Out, great event. Um I think it was covered in the press and um anybody who didn't get a chance uh try going to it next year. There's a pretty cool event. It's in the beginning of August, so it's not the
best time. People are away, but if you're around, check it out. Um, oh yeah, and our great first responders also, as many of you probably read, saved a stranded water skier. I thought I'd seen everything, but in the middle
of the Ritan River, and they should be proud, all of the groups that were involved in that. Um, thank you. Uh, last thing. Oh, sorry. Uh, two quick meetings when uh shade tree meeting. I actually was sick and not able to
attend. But two two main issues that came out of there, ongoing issues, but um uh we're looking at Franklin's first I'm going to call it little mini reforestation uh project to start getting the canopy that we're losing every day, our tree
canopy to start increasing it, especially in the fourth and fifth wards where it's been shown that uh it's a real quality of life issue. So, I think Open Space will be reviewing it and hopefully that project will move forward and set an example for um more projects
like that in our town and hopefully even other towns. Last thing, the public works meeting today. We haven't had one in a couple months. Um so, we got a an update uh on all these projects. I'm not going to go into them because I think you can link to all of them on our
township website. I will mention couple things. roads. There's a few projects we're we're bumping to. They've been funded, but just timewise because of weather, we'll be doing them in the spring of 26 and the details are on our online. I can say that last year we did
all of the roads, record amount of road repaving. The re only reason we're not finishing it all this year and some are being bumped to the spring is because this year we did a record amount of re rebuilding our water infrastructure. I know something was asked about the infrastructure money or COVID money.
Well, we put $4 million and most of it's I can proudly say has been spent, the bulk of it in the fifth ward and the fourth ward to redo the oldest water system, part of the water system in our township. So, um,
lots going on. Please go on the website. We have infrastructure projects. Mr. Wright isn't here. stepped out of the room. But, um, we're actually starting to get close to finishing what is a decadel long, uh, sidewalk project, and there's a handful of them that will be
done this, uh, this fall, too. So, go online if you're interested. There's neighborhoods all over town that are getting major uh, upgrades, infrastructure below and above ground. And I think that is it, Mayor. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilwoman. Kimberly
Francois, >> I'm I'm going to make a few points. First, I want to talk about the senior center. So, that building was built and opened up the doors back in 1998. And the only reason why I know that cuz I was the mayor back then. So, we're talking about 27 years. The building is
about 27 years old. I was taken aback by Agnes coming up here talking because I sit on the housing authority with her. She's never said anything to me about problems with the senior center. Clearly we have to continue to do more and more improvements and thank you Dr. Kurazzi
for being the senior center lays on and knowing what's we've given that report tonight to talk about what we've done over there from a uh aesthetic purpose. Now when we start talking about providing meals for seniors that was something that you know we wanted to
provide programs but we never really talked about ever talking talked about providing meals for seniors. So that's something that's very interesting. But we've been spending a lot of time tonight talking about increase in taxes. Well, providing meals would is is
clearly would be an expense which would be a burden on the tax rate as well. So, you know, we have to we have to look at we can't it's it's kind of like we can't Burger King. You can't have it your way. So, we have to really think about how we can if we could provide meals, what
would that be in terms of our budget and funding and where we're going to take that money out of the tax rate. So, that's something to talk about. We never really ever ever ever talked about providing meals. What we wanted to do was to provide a building, a safe place for seniors to go and enjoy and have,
you know, have some some activities and recreation. And we want to keep that building up to code standards. and we want to make sure, you know, it's enjoyable for the seniors that are there. So, thank you for staying on top of that. And quite frankly, some of us were blindsided by hearing some because
I haven't been over there in a long time. But anyway, that's all I have to say about the senior center. Also, I wanted to mention that uh it was brought up before that there is a week of the people um event coming up this Saturday from 2 to 5 over in Neiman Williams
Park. We do it every year. This year it's the our 54th celebration. So for 54 years straight we've had the week of the people event. We do it mainly we give out free prizes. We give out book bags. Thank God we have the PBA from Franklin
that donates book bags and gives us materials and stuff in the book bags. And the kids line up and the parents line up and we give out book bags and we've run out of book bags because there's always a need for that. We give out free food. We give out free ice cream, hamburgers, hot dogs. We have
free music and we also have the youth provide free entertainment which they seem to love. And I I also hope that our council will come over that day as well, you know, and and um enjoy the festivities as well. So free, free,
free, and it it's a nice community event for everybody. We're hoping the weather is not too hot. It doesn't look like rain, so we should be good. The other thing I wanted to mention um you talked about Mr. Guy about workforce
development. So just want to say a few things about that because I know you and I have talked about this a couple times. We did it. We did a uh based on the fact that the council was able it voted and approved American rescue funds for the
adult program for construction. We completed that program at Consulana in June. We had over 15 people graduate from that program. We took a pause in during the summertime and we're planning
on opening um reenacting that program for the fall for the adults. We know that we have $150,000 that's left from the ARC funding and we also know we have $90,000 left from the CDBG social services grant. We plan on using that
money because if we don't use it, we're going to lose it. So, I know I've talked to you about this a couple different times. I have a meeting scheduled with Dr. Solomon on on Friday at 2 o'clock. I will talk to him as well. So, we're going to I'm committed to getting that program up and running like I did for
the fall like we did in the school system. So, you know, we don't have to keep talking about the program. We are going to get that program done. Okay. So, that's all I have to say. And Rahm I don't know if you during your comments you you want to talk about >> say that but thank you. >> Okay. And then one more thing I want to
mention is the um it was brought up to tonight by um Javon Walter that he was interested in the M municipal alliance and also the cultural arts council. It was also brought up tonight by um Elam
Okansi. that I can see that you're interested in the uh Hamilton Street Advisory Board. So, we do not have a position open for the Hamilton Street Advisory Board because you have to be a residential property owner of which you
are not. So, that's not a slot that's open and available for you. But we are looking to spit to uh fill that vacancy for Javon Walker. We we can certainly appoint you to the municipal alliance tonight. You have your forms in. We
could do that. Or if you're interested I would you be interested in the culture arts or are you more interested in municipal alliance because we could do one or the other. >> Do I have to have a choice? >> You want you want both? >> Oh, okay. All right. Well, we'll see
what how council feels about that tonight. That's all I have to say, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you, Councilman Embarrass. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, let me be brief uh in my comments. Uh, the um I
was uh with the mayor uh and council member at Patassnik on the 40 at the 42nd RCG RSG farewell ceremony. It was a wonderful program. they uh did that in Franklin
this year. So we the the Franklin school board gave the auditorium uh and hosted them. So it was a very nice event. It was great to see uh the people served our country and be recognized. Um and then uh there was another event at the
Franklin Middle School. It's a national health center week uh that I attended. Uh so that's an interesting um I just part that I wanted to talk about today. Um it is for the um community health centers that are throughout the country
are celebrating our community uh health uh week. Um so that's I don't know whe you all heard about this part of the ARP money we assigned to build a community health center right in the Franklin
Middle School campus. Um, Zufall is going to administer that and run it and it's going to be starting out with only for the children that go into the school and then it's gradually going to uh
expand to others, parents and and the other neighborhood people and the whole town at some point. Uh it's um we are very proud that we were able to get the community um health center built there
uh from the ARP money. Uh that's uh it's going for a good cause and then ongoing costs uh are not going to be part of the council's budget. Uh it's completely uh run by the school board and the zufall through grants and other funding
mechanism. It's a great community service and and the the building is brand new. It's not it it's completed but it's not fully equipped but you can go if you go by Franklin Middle School you will see it's right in the front of the parking lot. Uh so th those are the
two projects that I wanted to mention. Um other than that uh the ARP money primarily went to uh our infrastructure improvement. um the old water line, water manes were replaced are being
replaced using that money. Part of the funding went to our sewer department. Same case there. And and then whatever was left, I think you heard councilwoman um talk about workforce training um for the people that need uh retraining or
some training and skills uh that can get them employed. So we are doing things for the community. We are making the lives better for the people of Franklin. Uh we are doing the best we can and I think the taxes we talked about multiple
times. Um just a quick comment on um Mr. Walker's comment on the World Cup uh uh broadcast. So I have met with uh place of worship. Um they have large ground and we have talked about maybe hosting
or not not hosting really um broadcasting uh the telecasting the events on their grounds. Um uh we have identified a company that uh does the jumbotron mobile jumbo jumbotron at the
grounds but we we have to get a handle on uh how to manage the expenses. So we we will talk more about that but we are working on your idea. That's all I got mayor. Thank you. >> Thank you Councilman Oni Jaka.
>> Okay. Thank you ma'am. >> West Minister Road which start >> Hello. Okay. West Minister Road. We start from 27, Route 27 and it goes through Hampton Road. That road has right now has been a very
um death trap. The speed on that limit actually is 25 miles an hour. But they drove they drive up to 60 miles an hour on that particular road many many times.
See, so I'm suggesting that we will install a speed bump on that road. Partly part of it has speed bump installed towards Hampton Road and and um and Glenn Townhouse, but the other
part of it has no speed r as now. So basically we need to study it and uh install it there to reduce the speed and save lives. Another thing is >> I'm sorry councilman what road was that?
>> That's um Westminister road which starts from 23 way down. >> Okay. Another important thing is Glen development area is partially marked. You know that area we have a very
serious problem with parking. So what they did was they marked only on the pavement but which is not complete. We really need need to go out there and do a complete marking on that area. That will help the the residents living in
that area very very well. Okay. That is two. Mr. Walker, I spoke with a couple of my friends on the World Cup coming to New Jersey and New York. They are very very
happy to be part of it. So, and they are working on it too. But what they complaining about will there be entertainment? Would there be alcohol for them to drink? I don't know about location. So, that is what is going on.
They are happy. We're happy that you brought the suggestion. Thank you, mayor. That is what I have for tonight. >> Thank you, Dr. Kurazzi. >> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, thank you so much, uh, councilwoman for the comments about the senior citizen
center. I have heard that Quill Quailbrook provides free or lowcost lunch. So, I have to look into it, but we will make this as an agenda item for the next meeting. And by the way, if if
we decide to offer free lunch, that doesn't mean that that taxpayers have to pay. We can look for sponsorship and others. So there are other ways because as a council, our responsibility is to keep the taxes low. So we don't want to
just to treat one group versus the other. So there are other ways that we can get funds to uh do what we'd like to do. So we appreciate that one. Um the uh most of the thing has been said already about taxes and so forth. So the only
thing that I wanted to mention is that human relations meeting is on the 27th and across the hall. So please come and hear about human relationship activities and some of the things that you bring in here will be great. I also want to
mention about the u uh the uh voting that that I heard about u u that you know you described. I think it's something that we should look into it. uh anything that helps our democracy and
make things fair, it worthwhile to look into it. And if we see that it's really going to do the job, especially considering the diversity of our community, I think it it's something that we need to look into it seriously and and come with some sort of a
decision that is important for our community members. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Thank you, Deputy Mayor Sheepa Udin. >> Thank you, Mayor. Okay, so I have a couple quick things before I get into
the other stuff, but I want to talk about um one of the topics that's been burning from last week on B9. So, the planning board meeting met on B9 um last week and there were conditions about 30 of them that were discussed and
reviewed. um the public had a public session to talk and provide additional um conditions and they reviewed that with the uh planning uh board team there. Now currently what what do we do next? Right? What is the next step? The next step is that now all this goes up
to the judge for review and that is something that we're going to follow through. Um there is a meeting next month. So, if you go to our um township page website, go to the plotting board meeting drop down, there's an agenda just like how you find the council, you
would also get to know exactly when the meetings are taking place and I'll continue to provide updates as we are getting information loaded for that. So, that's one of the bigger thing I wanted to talk about. Um just last week we also wrapped up. So I had a complete a summer
health series program part of the mayor's wellness program where I had asked the seniors as to what are the topics key health issues that things that just bothered you or you wanted to learn about from a seminar educational purpose. So a couple things came on. We
wanted to have folks talk about anxiety. So we had um one of our very own Phyllis Bees talk about anxiety. She had a workshop. We spoke about bone density, right? We had a person from the hospital come and discuss that just last week with when we wrapped it up. We spoke
about Medicaid uh Medicaid 101. So, as renewals are approaching in October, I believe it's important that you navigate and understand your options so that you can get the best option for your needs. um because there's a lot going on out there and we just want to make sure we
open up and provide you um just a plate of platform where you can go and pick your options. Um and we have done a seminar that was completely full. So all these workshops that I've done in the last month and going into August, a month and a week, um you'll notice that
it's it's been filled. So that tells me that there's a lot of need of these seminars because folks have been coming and taking full advantage of them. So, thank you for that and thank you to the staff um parks and reccks and safy from our special project manager for working
out all the logistics for that um public works meeting. I think we heard a lot from our council members on it. I just wanted to highlight a couple things on that. So, um as you know that there's so apart from our funds that go out to pave the roads
which is very important. We want to make sure that's part of our public safety. That's very important to us. We want to make sure there's no potholes. If there is, we're repairing them. We also get something called um the capital paving state funding. So, we apply for grants to the state and based on the grants,
they provide us they look at there's a couple criterias and requirements and they look at that and provide us with roles that we can pave. So, you may be aware in 23 we had Deont Lane um approved. So, that deont lane stretch got paved. So they look at a couple
criterias with the length and um uh the roads damages etc. So in 24 we had New Brunswick Road Willow to the mont lane. These are all in work two areas right. So um and right now in 25 we had put in for Pier Street um Cedar
Grove to Davidson because that's another area that's large and has been um conditioned pretty heavy. So we just got it approved. Um the work won't start this year because it's almost nearing down to summer and we'll have that for
spring of next year. But these are really important information. We talk about money where it's being spent and you know how the taxpayers are are putting it, but our staff is also working very closely on looking at grants, right, to see um where we can
pull in money that's outside. So, we're not always coming after the residents as well or and and also I do want to point out that anything that impacts you guys impacts us directly as well. We don't get any special tax breaks um sitting here. So, we all have tax increases that
we have to pay for. So, just want to state that out there as well. Um you might have also noticed in war 2, New Brunswick Road is going to get temporary closed um starting next week on the 18th for 30 33 days. that's not with the
town, that's with the county project that's been approved. So, and then it's going to get temporarily uh paved. So, you might start seeing some caution signs being put up and wondering what's going on. So, that is something that the county um picked up on which is um on their end and there will be detours
that'll be announced there. So, that's on the uh public works. Um so I and I think um >> is that back? >> Oh, he's not back. Councilman Patazi did not mention this, but there is another
big project that um one of our residents brought up to us a couple council sessions ago called the Nessie project. Um a lot of us have been and then this council's pretty much been very involved. Um it's important for me to let you know again once again why you
know we stopped it once. We need to stop it again, right? Um, there's an upcoming public hearing meeting on September 10th and if you haven't seen it, please make sure you go sign up. Many of us on council have signed up to be comment to make comments. Um, and if you want would
like to make comments, I think there's a deadline. I'm not sure, but it's all online. You can definitely go and click and sign up and be part of that. That's something that we need to take control. We have to make sure it's stopped because it will be a direct impact to a lot of residents. A lot of us talk about health, climate, pollution, all that,
right? So, you got to remember that's going straight through us. So, we have to make sure we're all in this to stop this um project from going on. Taxes we spoke about quite a bit today. Um and I think we will continue to talk
about it. I do want to thank this council. I want to thank mayor for putting this beautiful spreadsheet that took me that almost broke my phone opening it up. Uh mayor, but it has done its job. It gives a very detailed breakout of our tax assessment. It's so
important because when we get the bill, we just see one total due amount and we assume, okay, this is all happening here at the tax, you know, the council's raising these um increases, but it's so important to understand how that tax break works. And I think you're going to get that at the town hall. So, I really
encourage everyone if you're interested in your tax bill and just want to learn about it, our tax assessor team will be the subject matter experts will be right there explaining, going over questionnaires and just trying to help break that information. Along that line,
W 2, specifically my ward, I have done quite a bit with the assemblyman Joe Dan providing property tax relief seminars all the way from January till now. We just concluded it in Renaissance. um uh Sterling Point Center. So, we've been continuously working on making sure the
seniors understand about the senior freeze, the New Jersey anger program. How do you apply? Do you have questions on applying? So, that's been worked on. I do know that um the senior center is going to have another session of that which is wider open to the public. I don't have the date yet, but if you're
interested and you fall under those brackets, please attend because they will walk you through it. They'll they'll tell you how to apply and possibly get money back. It's important that you take advantage of anything that's out there that can help you. Um, and and and I and the last thing I
do want to mention is that look, we we have budget hearings every year that are open to the public. We go through line by line, department by department. We sit on it and we discuss what's happening from last year versus this year. Where's the up uptick? If there is an increase, why there is an increase?
Right? So, this town council has been very transparent on that. Um I want to make sure that you know we're not just hiding some agenda somewhere and saying hey this is where it's happening and here go find it right it's very open we go through that every year um and it's very clear as to where we we ask
questions at least in our departments you have noticed that if you go back to some of those recordings we have stopped a lot of increases we want to know why but we try to offer the same services if not more at a at a very low department funding um amount so I just I know we're
talking about taxes a lot today, but please understand that this team, this council has always been very transparent on providing information. There's going to be a lot things going out and it's hard to understand when you're seeing a number that's just this big and like, you know, you see thousands of dollars going out. But it's also important to
understand that breakdown and where to go um when you have those specific questions because this is just one, you know, lever I call it or one portion of the bill and then there are other portions like the mayor explained, the council members explained. So, it's important to understand those levers and
where do you go to ask those questions. We can always help answer those questions in terms of navigating you to the right person, but it's important to also be there. Um, as Councilman Ambar mentioned, I was one of the members there when the board of ed um discussed a budget hearing and I fully went in and
said, you know, if this impacts the seniors, this impacts those single moms, the single dads that are living on those fixed income, right? Um but again we're just the two people that went up there and kind of spoke about it and it you know the board meet the direction of
moving forward with it because of the caveats that they have. If they don't raise then they're underfunded by the state. So they had their um hands also tied with the state they're not getting funded. So I just want to mention that it's so important to you know um be educated onto the tax portion but also
the rest of the other stuff that goes on. So that's all I had. Mayor, thank you so much. I know you made a little long, but just want to be clear. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, I've already talked quite a bit. The only thing I'm going to add is um the Franklin 250, which is a
celebration of the 250th year of our nation. Uh, Mr. Lord is doing a bangup job with that. Um the first event looks like it's coming along nicely which will be on January 4th, 2026
to commemorate the conference on horseback where right after the uh battle of Princeton. Um the Washington met with his generals in um um u
what's the southern part of our town >> no um >> Kingston thank you >> thank you met uh in Kingston in the cemetery in Kingston it wasn't a cemetery then and um decided whether they were going to go to New Brunswick
or to rest at Jockey Hollow. Um and uh the Battle of Princeton people that are um celebrate Battle of Princeton every year are very excited about joining us for the conference on horseback
celebration and a local restaurant seems interested in uh sponsoring a reception uh that'll be at no cost to the town. So, we're very excited about that. Uh that's one of five events that happened in Franklin and um uh I'm looking
forward to that and the other four events as they come to uh fruition. Uh that's all I had. Mr. Acting Manager, have you >> I do not have anything at this time. Mr. Mayor, >> you all right?
>> Thank you. >> Confused. We said he >> how uncharacteristic of the seat. Um >> all right. So that's we have no council discussion item. Item number 11,
approval of the minutes. We're going to start the meeting now. Uh there are no minutes to be approved. approval of the warrants in the amount of 10,68,7162 on August 12th, 2025 are presented to the township council for payment. Um, do
we have a motion on the minutes? >> So move. >> So move >> and a second. >> Seconded. Second. >> Any discussion? Anyone would like to pull an item or put the assistant, the acting manager on uh the spot?
Madame Clerk, >> Councilman, yes. >> Councilwoman Francois, >> yes. Councilman Karazzi, >> yes. Mayor Kramer, >> yes. >> Councilman Oni Jaka, >> yes. >> Council member Vatausnik, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Udin, >> yes. >> Councilman Vasanella, >> yes. >> Councilman Wright,
>> yes. >> It passes. Public hearing and adoption on ordinance on second reading. This is um second readings are when we uh actually vote on an item to see
whether we're going to pass it or not. First readings are when we announce it to the general public that we are intending to take a vote. Uh so we have uh one ordinance on second reading 4472-25 an ordinance amending the code of the
township of Franklin County of Summers at state of New Jersey more particularly chapter 50 police department section 50-8 requirements for appointment to the police force uh is presented to the public for public hearing and final adoption. The public hearing has been
noticed as required. Um do we have a motion to open for public hearing? >> So moved. Second. >> We then second it. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppos say nay. Motion is carried. We're open for the public on this item only.
Same rules apply. >> Seeing no move to close the public session. I'm sorry. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. All in favor of closing the public session say I. >> Post say nay. Motion is carried. Public session is closed. Do we have a motion
to adopt? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. This is really just cleaning up some verbiage in uh an ordinance we have. Um any other discussion?
>> Madame clerk. >> Councilman Barrison. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Francois. >> Yes. >> Councilman Karazzi. >> Yes. >> Mayor Kramer. >> Yes. >> Councilman Onichaka. >> Yes. >> Council member Vatausnik. >> Yes. Deputy Mayor Rudine. >> Yes. >> Councilman Vasanella. >> Yes. >> Councilman Wright.
>> Yes. >> Item number 14, ordinances on introduction and first reading. Ordinance 447125. Uh an ordinance amending the municipal code of the township of Franklin County Somerset State of New Jersey. more particularly chapter 115 dogs and other
animals with amendments to article one general provisions and article two dogs and cats and the addition of article f uh seven wildlife and article 8 free roaming cat colonies. The foregoing
ordinance is presented to township council for adoption on first reading 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, September 9th at 7 p.m. in the council chambers.
Do we have a motion to adopt >> I mean I'm to introduce >> second >> moved and seconded. Um the discussion is this has been discussed quite thoroughly. some changes
have been made to um uh in the in the interest of um of uh people uh agreeing on it and um
does there any other discussion? Okay, Madame Clerk. >> Councilman embarrass. Yes. >> Councilwoman Francois. >> Yes. >> Councilman Karazzi. >> Yes. >> Mayor Kramer. >> Yes. >> Councilman Onichaka. >> Yes. >> Council member Vataznik. >> Deputy Mayor Dean.
>> Yes. >> Councilman Vasinella. >> Yes. >> Councilman Wright. >> Yes. >> Okay. Ordinance 4473-25. An ordinance of the township council. Township. An ordinance of the township of Franklin
authorizing the acquisition from Franklin Somerset First Aid Squad lot 302 lots 67 9 and 10 and 11 on the official tax map of the township of Franklin foregoing ordinance is presented to the township council for
adoption on first reading posting and publication in accordance with law and public hearing and final adoption of the meeting of the township council to be held on Tuesday September 9th 2025 at 7:00 p.m. in the council chambers. Do we have a motion to introduce?
>> So moved. >> Second. >> We been seconded. So this is an area land near Somerset transmission that has been um No, I'm sorry. >> No, I'm sorry. This is the first aid.
I'm tired tonight. >> Mayor, this is the first aid squad um property. The squad has stopped operating. The remaining members have uh elected to turn the property back over to the township. This authorizes us to accept it. >> Thank you. Any other discussion?
>> Is is there any cost involved in this, Mayor? >> Uh I believe yes, there is. There's a very small cost. We've um because the squad doesn't have any funds, we've actually agreed to pay for their attorney. I think it's $2,500. >> Could you give me the address on that in case somebody wants to do a driveby?
It's in Franklin >> 189 for those interested. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Catherine. It's in front. >> Any other discussion? >> Madam Clerk, >> Councilman Embarrison, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Francois,
>> yes. >> Councilman Karazzi, >> yes. >> Mayor Kramer, >> yes. >> Councilman Oni Jaka, >> yes. >> Council member Bataznik, >> yes. Deputy Mayor Dean. Yes. >> Councilman Vasinella. >> Yes. >> Councilman Wright. >> Yes. >> Now, the ordinance I was thinking of 4474-25,
an ordinance amending the code the township of Franklin County and Somerset State of New Jersey for particularly chapter 112 land development to reszone lots from the general business area GB zone to the R7 single family residential
zone. and the foregoing ordinance to present the township council for adoption on first reading, posting, and publication in accordance with law and a public hearing for final adoption at a meeting of the township council to be held on Tuesday, September 30th, 2025 at
7 p.m. in the township council chambers. Do we have a motion to introduce? >> So moved. >> Seconded. >> Moved and seconded. This is about reszoning some properties uh near Somerset Transmission
uh near Route 27 uh where um they're no they're in the BI or GB zone. So if someone wants to make a minor change to their property where they normally would have to get permits, they now have to go
before the zoning board. Um people have been um claiming that they're holding back on improving properties uh because of this restriction. So this um this is to
zone the properties more towards how they are being used. Any other discussion? >> Just that that's a single family, not multif family, right? >> Single family >> R seven. Yes. >> Okay. Well, well, wait a minute. You You can build a You can build a two family
home, but you need 15,000 square feet, >> correct? >> So, just to be clear, you would need a minimum of two 7,000 ft lots to be
able to build a two family or Vince, would that allow them to build the four family? >> Two family. You could build a single family or two family. You have two family, you need 15,000 square ft. >> Okay. So, just want to be clear because I >> duplex on 15,000. >> Yeah. >> You could build a duplex.
>> A duplex. Okay. No, no, I'm supported this. I think it kind of works. Well, we don't need to go into it now. I just wanted to make sure you know the details. Thank you, acting manager and attorney. >> Um,
motion second and discussion. Anyone discussion? Madame clerk? Councilman, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Francois, >> yes. >> Councilman Karazzi, >> yes. >> Mayor Kramer, >> yes. >> Councilman Onaka, >> yes. >> Council member Bataznik, >> yes.
>> Deputy Mayor Redine, >> yes. >> Councilman Vasinella, >> yes. >> Councilman Wright, >> yes. >> On to the consent agendum. Agenda items A through AU. How many How many is that? >> 11.
>> 11. >> 47. >> 47. Now there's a consent agenda as listed on the consent agenda portion of this meeting and presented to township council for adoption. Do we have a motion on the consent agenda? >> So moved and seconded. Any discussion? Anyone
would like to pull an item or point out an item? >> Yes, sir. >> Go ahead. >> This is where your money gets spent. Um I lost it. Okay. Uh, AG,
when people say we're not spending money on recreation, there's a $400,000 item from January 1 to December 31st on competitive contract for recreation and enrichment programs. So there you go
on one, $400,000. Now for the second, there'll be a festival here at the Township Gazebo. is put on by One Family, One Fight, Inc., and it'll be R&B music and games. Now,
the reason it's called One Family, One Fight is a young lady lost her son uh through stupidity in the streets of Franklin Township. So, she does this as a reminder for everyone. Sometimes it's not your fight
to be in a fight. So, you need to remember that. And then everybody needs to come out, good time, uh, and definitely have some fun. Mr. Mayor, that's it for me. >> I just want to point out the stupidity was not on her part. Some people might
have misinterpreted what you said. >> What? >> You said she lost her son due to stupidity. It wasn't her stupidity. It was other stupidity. >> Yeah, it was other stupidity. >> I just want to It's that when we start killing each other, it's stupid. I I
agree. >> Any other comments or >> Madame Clerk? >> Councilman embarrass. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Francois, >> yes. >> Councilman Karazzi, >> yes. >> Mayor Kramer, >> yes. >> Councilman Noni Jaka, >> yes. >> Council member Pataznik, >> yes.
>> Deputy Mayor Redee, >> yes. >> Councilman Vasinella, >> yes. >> Councilman Wright, >> yes. >> Uh, resolution to be voted on separately. 20. Resolution 25364
authorizing township council to send a letter to the state legislators regarding property taxbased reform property taxbased funding reform. Do we have a motion on this item? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded.
>> So for discussion, I just want to read two of the opening paragraphs on it. This is to Senators Bob Smith, uh, Assemblyman Joe Danielson. and um Assemblyman Kevin Egan. Um,
dear legislators, we are writing to urge you to take bold action to address a longstanding and increasingly harmful flaw in our state school funding system. The reliance on local property taxes as
a primary source of revenue for public education. The basic tenant of a progressive tax system is that those who with the means to pay uh contribute more than those who do not. Our property tax
system, however, is over 400 years old. Perhaps in the past, the value of one's property was a reasonable proxy for one's ability to pay. That is no longer the case. And it goes on to ask to abolish the use of property taxes to pay
for our schools. Um, any other discussion, >> Madame Clerk? >> Councilman Embarrison? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Francois? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Councilman Karazzi. >> Yes. >> Mayor Kramer. >> Yes. >> Councilman Noni Jaka. >> Yes. >> Council member Pataznik.
>> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Redee. >> Yes. >> Councilman Vasinella. >> Yes. >> Councilman Wright. >> Yes. Thank you. This this council cares about what's going on. We're taking action to try to stop it and amend it.
Um uh also to be voted on separately, resolution 25365 in insurance for of a special event permit. I'm sorry, issuance of a special event permit. Week of the People uh
community gathering August 16, 2025 from 2 PM to 5:00 pm at Neon Williams Park. Um do we have a motion from uh >> So moved. >> Thank you. >> Moved and seconded. Any discussion? >> I want to see everybody's face in the
park on Saturday. It's going to be a good event. We do it every year. Miss Francois, she's part of that team and I want everybody to show up. The time >> any other discussion,
>> it's free, free, free like 20. >> 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. >> Yes. >> Madame Clerk, >> Councilman Embarrison, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Francois, >> yes. >> Councilman Karazzi, >> yes. >> Mayor Kramer, >> yes.
>> Councilman Oni Jaka, >> yes. Council member Pataznik, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Red, >> yes. >> Councilman Vasanella, >> yes. >> Councilman Wright, >> yes. >> Old business 2025 boards commission committee vacancies to Does anyone have
a nomination? >> Mr. Mayor, um clerk sent a few names. I don't know if you have seen it. there are like uh seven people that they uh are uh they have applied or they have sent their application for various uh uh
openings that we have who is going to be talking about them are we you mentioned about Mr. Walker, but there's also another person, Sabil Pierce, who also interested cultural art. And based on the note that we got, there's only one
position available for cultural art. Um, and there are also two for Hamilton Street, but unfortunately both of them are not resident and so we cannot nominate them. Uh, there is uh one for
uh advisory recreation council. Well, I don't know who is the liaison for that. >> Mr. Right. Uh, Councilman Wright. >> Councilman Right. Okay. Um, >> so what are we doing with this? Uh, five that potentially they can be members.
>> That's up to the council to nominate. >> Okay. >> Well, so when I spoke earlier, I spoke about Mr. Walker. He was interested in the alliance and the cultural arts, and he just hollered out and said, "Could I have both?" Now, one of the things that he's been
talking about this um >> what is the thing you got >> soccer >> this world cup the world cup is that under the cultural arts >> so why can't we nominate him for both the >> so we have one person also is interested in cultural arts and we only have one
position open as far as I can tell >> right but he's here now >> and he's interested >> here now >> no sorry >> council woman. Um, >> oh, sorry. Go ahead, Mayor. >> I'm done.
>> We can nominate whoever we want to nominate and people can then vote. >> So, go ahead. >> Yeah, I'm sorry, mayor. So, just hearing this without trying to extend it. It sounds like there might be a little confusion over how many seats or who
would be appointed to cultural arts. Uh, perhaps the council would entertain nominating Mr. Walker for the drug alliance and then we could just pause and fill uh at the next meeting uh the cultural arts after we've just had time to review the request. I don't know if
that sounds reasonable so you know we're moving forward but not too >> that's reasonable because there are two other people that are interested in cultural arts >> and maybe it is Mr. But we'll Yeah. Okay. So just a suggestion but it's your motion. So are your nominations and Mr. Kurazz's commentary.
>> So do we have a nomination? Well, I I'll nominate Mr. Well, go ahead, Councilwoman French. I know you were I don't want to >> based on what I'm hearing, u I I would like to nominate Mr. Walker for the municipal alliance.
>> Okay. Any other nominations for that position? >> There is no nomination here. So, I think that will be fine. >> We're looking for a lot of people to fill that committee. >> Okay. Any other nominations for any
other position? There's one. We have We have four openings in the historic preservation advisory commission. >> Can't hear you, Councilman. Sorry. >> So, there's there there are four openings on the Historic Preservation Advisory Commission. And we have an
applicant here, Zoma. Sorry if I pronounce it wrong. >> Um, so we do need more members there. So, I nominate to the historic I I recommend we hold off on that
because I think with historic I don't know we're getting a lot of echo maybe in historic you need certain classes of individuals some have to be an engineer some have to live in the historic district some are just regular residents are you aware of the four vacancies what categories or classes they fall
>> according to the agenda they're all regular members >> yeah but regular members have classes and I don't have them >> I just don't want I want to make sure we put the person that we know what that person is and what seat they're filling because it could cause a cascade of conflict then to fill the other ones.
Not that I know anything about the individual. >> Yeah, I don't either because we need >> we we need we needed members and >> I think you should work with Vincent Tara probably >> that guy is in Nigeria. >> Oh, he's in Nigeria >> and from the name. Yeah. You know him?
>> I don't know him but he's from my area. >> From your area. >> Yeah. >> All right. >> We just kind of hold off and just check. That's all. >> Yeah. Yeah, it it'll it'll just take a few minutes to go over and speak to the individual and find out what class they are, but we we need to appoint the person to a specific class.
>> Yeah. >> But by the way, that person is interested to four different uh advisory board. So it's not that's not the only one. So uh interested in the board of adjustment, historic preservation, housing authority and planning board. So
there are four things that that person is interested. So, Councilman embarrass you. >> If I have his number, I don't have his number. >> On the >> on the phone. >> On the phone. Okay. Okay.
>> Okay. >> So, do we have a nomination? >> I'm going to vote >> and and then if he if they fit one of the categories, you'll bring it back in September. >> Okay. So we have one nomination for
>> and and we're going to ask madame clerk inform the two who are uh put their uh information for the Hamilton Street advisory board that uh that is only for the resident. So they are not qualified
to uh apply for that uh that particular board. >> Okay. So I want to stick to nominations. We have one nomination. Any other nominations? >> I move that the nominations be closed. >> Second.
>> Okay. Um, all in favor of closing nominations say I. >> I. >> I. >> Oppose say nay. >> Not the usual way we do it, but fine. We've done it. So, Madame Clerk, >> oh, I'm sorry. We can do it by acclamation because it's only one person
for one position. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppos say nay. Congratulations Mr. Walker. Um. >> Moving on. >> We have an executive session. Resolution 25-363.
an authorized executive session potential open space acquisition West Point Avenue Properties and Brener Properties and litigation SHI International is presented to Township Council for adoption. Do we have a
motion to go to executive session? >> So move second. >> Moved and seconded. Madame Clerk. >> Councilman Barrison. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Francois. >> Yes. >> Councilman Karazzi. >> Yes. >> Mayor Kramer. >> Yes. Councilman Oni Jaka, >> yes.
>> Council member Bataznik, >> maybe. Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Dean, >> yes. >> Councilman Bassinella, >> yes. >> Councilman Wright, >> yes. >> No speeches, Mr. Patasnik. So,