get regular meeting of the township council is called to order. I just want to make a note right before we do that. Um the live streaming there's technical difficulties. So um this meeting is being recorded and will be available later.
Madam clerk, >> in accordance with 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 is required, indicating that this meeting would take place at the municipal building at 700 p.m. on
Tuesday, October 14th, 2025. >> If we can all stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the invocation by me. of the United States of America to the republic for which it stands. One nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. If there is to be peace in the world, there must be peace in the nations. If there's to be peace in the nations, there must be peace in the cities. If there's to be peace in the cities, there
must be peace between neighbors. If there's to be peace between neighbors, there must be peace in the home. If there's to be peace in the home, there must be peace in the heart. Amen. >> Madame clerk, please call the role.
>> Councilman embarrass >> here. >> Councilwoman France >> here. >> Councilman Karazzi >> here. >> Mayor Kramer. Councilman Oni Jaka >> here. Council member Batasnik >> present. >> Deputy mayor Dean >> here. >> Councilman Vasinella >> here.
>> Councilman Wright is here. >> We are on to item number five on the agenda. Copies of the agenda is available near the um clerk. >> Do this one first cuz >> Okay. Okay. We're just going to move one
up. So, we're going to do the Hispanic Heritage Month by Councilman and Barson Carl. >> He's here. Good evening everyone. >> Good evening. Tonight, we proudly recognize Hispanic
Heritage Month, a time to honor the vibrant cultures, histories, and contributions of our Hispanic and Latino communities right here in Franklin Township and across the nation. So, this month, September 15th through
October 15th, is celebrated as the Hispanic Heritage Month. As we celebrate this month, let us also reaffirm our dedic dedication to inclusion, equity, and opportunity for all. Franklin Township is stronger because of its
diversity. And tonight, we celebrate one of the many threads that make up our shared fabric. Thank you all who continue to build bridges and inspire future generations. Gracias. That's the only Spanish word I know other than
camosas. Uh we we are happy to present this proclamation today and I would like to invite our friends here Edna and I think Erica
is on her way. So the proclamation reads, "Whereas Hispanic Heritage Month is observed annually from September 15th through October 15th to celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of the
American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. And whereas the observance begins on September 15th, a historically significant date that marks the anniversary of independence of
several Latin American countries including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, with Mexico, and Chile celebrating their independent days on September 16th and September 18th, respectively.
And whereas Hispanic Americans have enriched our nation and our community with their strong commitment to family, faith, hard work, and service, contributing to the strength and vitality of Franklin Township and our
nation as a whole. And whereas the Hispanic community in Franklin Township continues to grow and thrive, adding to the rich cultural diversity that makes our township a vibrant and welcoming place to live, work, and raise families.
And whereas it is important to recognize and celebrate the countless ways in which Hispanic Americans have contributed to the cultural fabric of our community through their traditions, values, language, music, cuisine, and celebrations. And whereas the township
of Franklin is committed to fostering an inclusive community that celebrates the diversity and ensures equal opportunity for all residents regardless of their heritage or background. Now therefore, we proclaim that
Mayor Kmer is not here, but the mayor with the coun with the council, the entire council uh uh and the residents of Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey, do hereby
proclaim September 15th through October 15, 2025 as Hispanic Heritage Month in Franklin Township and encourage all residents to join in celebrating the rich history, culture, and countless contributions of Hispanic Americans to
our community and to our nation. In witness whereof, we have here to set our hands and caused the seal of the township of Franklin to be ex affixed this 14th day of October, 2025. So, I present this proclamation to Edna,
who is also the vice chair of the human relations commission. [Applause] Yes. >> Thank you very much to the council. Um I stand here um very proudly as a member
of the commission as vice chair of the commission uh wearing the indigenous um artisan work of the my uh parents' homeland the indigenous communities of my parents homeland which is Panama and of course I stand here proudly as a
resident of Franklin Township and of course of these great United States and we celebrate this wonderful diversity. Thank you for recognizing the contributions of Hispanics. Gaviva Franklin Township. [Applause]
>> On to the next one. Breast cancer awareness month. Councilman Frans and Councilman Carl Wright. >> Oh, all the money. >> Oh my god. >> No, just Can't take them anywhere. Can't take
>> You don't dummy me. >> As everyone knows, good evening. This is October is breast cancer survivor awareness month. So, we have Valerie who happens to be a survivor and a member of sister for
member many many years and she also has a couple people with her that can come up as well if they would like. No. Okay. They're being shy. >> There's somebody from the health services. Is there anybody from health services? >> We can speak. >> Anybody from the health services food
bank? No. Okay. >> They told you they were coming. Okay. So every year we want to acknowledge um October as breast cancer awareness month. So I'm going to read this proclamation. It says, "Whereas breast
cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the United States and remains the second leading cause of cancer death among women. And whereas approximately one in eight women in the United States will develop invasive
breast cancer during their lifetime. And it is estimated that over 310,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in American women just this year. And whereas early detection
through regular mimog mimographies mimographies I should know how to say that mammograms I usually say screenings and clinical breast examinations significantly increases the chance of successful treatment and survival.
Whereas advances in research detection and treatment have led to improved outcomes for breast cancer patients. But continued support for medical research remains essential to finding better treatments and ultimately a cure.
And whereas October has been designated as breast cancer awareness month nationwide, providing an opportunity to educate our community about breast health and to encourage our residents to take
proactive steps in managing their health. Now therefore be it proclaimed that I, Councilwoman Kimberly Francois and the mayor along with behalf of the C Township Council and the residents of Franklin Township, Somerset County, New
Jersey, do hereby proclaim the month of October 2025 as breast cancer awareness month in Franklin Township. And we encourage all residents to wear pink and support, participate in awareness
activities, learn about the importance of early detection, and support those affected by breast cancer in our community. So here you go. I'd like to >> Hi. Um I am Valerie Matisle and on behalf of Sisters to Sisters, we uh
sincerely thank you for this recognition. Uh breast cancer is a devastating disease. And yes, um African-American women traditionally
uh have the lowest diagnosis. However, we have the highest mortality rate. Statistics indicate that is due to limited access to quality healthcare. The Sisters and Sisters Network provides
resources, financing, education, opportunities for sisters not only to uh navigate that journey, but to gain access to quality health care and to be proactive on the front
end and then support you through that journey. So we thank you for this acknowledgement and we hope that you continue to support us in our mission and have our backs as we step into the arena to fight for the
cause saving our sisters one sister at a time educating her advocating and supporting her. So we thank you in advance for your time and your attention. Thank you again. I I also want to thank Sister Totoister
organization. They're really an amazing organization and on behalf of the advisory board of health. Uh I also wanted to mention that the breast cancer not only is for women, men also have breast cancer. So please don't forget
that they are ready to help the men as well. Not only just sisters but brothers as well. We thank you so much for all the services that you provide and congratulation for being so helpful to so many community members. Thank you.
[Applause] I just I just wanted to just wanted to say as we support breast cancer awareness month, men also have that problem called um
cancer period. Uh, and when we look at prostate cancer, we have to be very careful because just like breast cancer, it's like a thief in the night. It'll sneak up on you if you don't get your regular checkups. Um, that starts the
problem. And then once that ball starts rolling, it's hard to fix sometime. So definitely take your favorite loved one to sisters network and then take your favorite loved one to the friendly doctor and say
check them out. Thank you. [Applause] >> Should I ask the next one? >> So the next one is AISM awareness day. Councilman Carlson. >> Thank you so much. Um good evening
everyone. As you know, we have quite a few senior citizen in our community and so we have a proclamation about the agism. So I'm going to read it uh and uh if anybody wishes to come if they are
senior citizen wishes to come and join me that'll be wonderful. So I won't be alone. Of course we have our wonder. >> Thank you. So whereas October 9th, 2025 is designated as AISM awareness day, an
initiative to draw attention to the existence and impact of agism in our society and to encourage action toward towards building more age inclusive communities. And whereas
agism refers to stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination directed towards others or ourselves based on age. And it ma manifests in attitudes, belief, and
behaviors that diminishes the value and contributions of people as they grow older. And whereas agism negatively impacts the health and well-being of older adults, affects their financial
security, limits employment opportunities, and undermines the social fabric of our communities. And whereas agism is often normalized and overlooked in our society, yet it is a harmful form of
discrimination that can lead to social isolation, reduce quality of life and barriers to assessing health care and other essential services. And whereas Franklin Township is committed to
fostering a community where all residents, regardless of age, are treated with dignity, respect, and equality, and where older adults can continue to participate fully in civic,
social, and economic life. And whereas by raising awareness about agism, we can work together to diminish harmful stereotypes, celebrate the contribution of older adults, and build a more
inclusive and equitable society for generation to come. Now therefore, we the underside official of Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey, do hereby proclaim October 9th, 2025 as
AISM awareness day in Franklin Township. And we call upon all residents, businesses, organization and institutions to recognize the harmful effects of agism to examine their own
attitudes and practices and to join us in creating a community where people of all ages are valued, respected, and empowered to live with purpose and dignity. Thank you very much.
I always mention whenever I have a gathering I will tell that the older people are wiser members of our community. So we should always remember that they may get old but also they are wiser. So I hope the younger people us
all of us when we encounter older people we uh treat them with respect and also listen to their advis. Thank you so much. Need to flip the podium around there. No, the whole podium has to be spun. Got
to spin the whole podium. >> Can you get it? I'll get it. >> Perfect. >> Okay, we're on item number six. If you're following the agenda, it's upcoming events. Council members, are there any upcoming events that you want
to On Saturday, there's a no kings rally number two from 12 to 2 at the gazebo. Folks should sign up in advance. Um, and you can visit Google no kings. Thank you. >> Anyone else?
Yes, I was just checking with the clerk because I forget if it is Saturday or Sunday, but the Franklin Middle School, there is a free concert, the Somerset County Filmonic Orchestra. And let me tell you, this is something you'd probably if pay a lot of money to
see if it wasn't uh that it's for free at our Franklin Middle School. I guess depending how you look at it, it's either off at Hamilton or Francis, but I think you all know where it is. Um, and if I can locate if it's Saturday or Sunday, I'll let people know. But it's a
fantastic event. Um, and if you're into any of that kind of music, there's a conductor full orchestra. It's going to be fantastic. The other thing is haunted a haunted trunk or treat coming up. Uh, Councilwoman Fresh shaking her head.
That is definitely on a Saturday. And it's not this Saturday, but >> October 25th, >> the following Saturday. But we may not have a council meeting between now and then. So I wanted to make sure you don't. So >> we have three people teed up for this announcement. So >> Okay. I'm sorry to take the thunder
away. I'm sorry. But um it's a great event. Kids and adults alike love it. Um it's at the old what's called John's Plaza on Hamilton Street and it gets bigger and better every year and I think this year we're going to have definitely even more candy than previous years.
>> Yes. And that's partly sponsored and put together by the Hamilton Advisory Board along with many other uh groups in town. Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> Deputy mayor, I have a couple. >> Yes. >> So, I I'll just add to what the councilman said about uh Halloween on
Hamilton 2025. Um it it is in John's Plaza. For those of you who don't know where John's Plaza is, it's the parking lot to the right of the community firehouse, uh, which is located on Hamilton Street near Bayer Avenue. Um, it is trunk or treat, also music, games,
pumpkin decorating, crafts, costume parade, and prizes. Um, the rain is Sunday, October 26th. It is Saturday, October 25th from 12 noon to 300 p.m. and it is sponsored by the Hamilton Street Business District, um the week of
the people organization and our township recreation department. Um, also coming up on Wednesday, October 22nd from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the community senior center here in the municipal
complex is a free flu shot clinic being offered by the Somerset County Health Department. Um, there are no appointments required. If you wish to have a flu shot, um, you can walk-ins are welcome. uh 10:00 am to 1 pm for
anyone. Uh you don't have to be a senior. Any anyone can go and get a flu shot at no cost. Um, and then on this Saturday, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Neon Williams Park, there will be a kids
bike class being offered by um the township police department, the recreation department, and Ridewise, which is the county um transportation nonprofit organization. Um 10:00 Damon Williams Park. Um, you
can register for it online um through reces with the recreation department or there's a QR code on the website that you can just scan and it will bring you right there to register. Um but uh
police officers will be there to uh do bicycle inspections and then there's a safety and skills course and uh just building young children ages six and up their confidence in riding a bicycle.
>> I I have one too. So this uh October 26, that's Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. there is breast cancer awareness workshop at 47 Cedar Grove Lane. So please uh there are
great speakers and there's really a workshop, a lot of awareness and please come and benefit from this workshop. Thank you. >> And I had one more. I thought for sure that uh Councilman Vasinella would announce it, but um for those who are
interested in the Stigma Free Council, tomorrow from 6:30 to 8:30 is the Stigmaf Free Council meeting. Um it's held at uh the community senior center. Um for those of you who don't know what the stigmafree council does, it works towards making people um understand the
importance of um being stigmafree relating to mental health and substance use disorder. and it is headed up by um our special project manager Safi Kalen and Phyllis Beals who is also a
representative of I guess the advisory board of health and also the uh alliance on drug abuse. So, um, if you're interested in learning more about what Stigmafree Council does, I would encourage you to attend their meetings.
Um, the next one being tomorrow evening at 6:30, Senior Center. That's it. Deputy Mayor. >> Okay. And all these events, they're all available online. Franklin Township. >> They are. They're all on the website. We we're getting like the key ones that are
coming up, but if you go on the entire month of all the activities, recreation, um the community meetings, boards, everything is there. So, >> so, so what what I would say is if you go to the website and go to our township and there's a pull down and you go to the various calendars that exist. Um
there's the community calendar, there's rec calendar, there's the committees and commissions calendars. Um, you can look and see at a monthly, you know, at a glance, uh, what types of events are upcoming and they all have hyperlinks. So, like I just clicked on the calendar
for the Halloween event and it'll bring you the flyer for that Halloween event right from the calendar. So, everything is there. >> Yes. And it's it's a lot going on. And I saw that there's there's one that I thought you were going to mention the the Franklin Got Talent Youth Edition at
SGS Samson um high school Samson G Middle School is having it on the 24th 7 to 8:30. There's other things toward the top the DNR um Canal Walk is having that. So there's a bunch. So whatever that you're interested in, if you just
go online and search at the um calendar, you should be able to get a drop down everything there. So, just to keep everyone more um kind of a self-service view, whatever you're interested in, you can click on it. Okay, moving on. Um we're at item number seven, public
discussion. Okay, I ask for your unanimous consent to open to the public. Hearing no objection, we are now open to the public session. Anyone wishing to speak on government related matters may
do so now. You have five minutes. Um, no yielding of time. >> Hi. Uh, uh, Jim Johnston, 34 Norwich Place. Uh, thank you for talking about senior citizens. Uh, because my what I want to talk about ties into that. Um, I
want to talk about the Onyx warehouse. Uh there has been a new development uh with that uh that was announced at the uh environmental commission meeting last week. Uh now now this is the Onyx warehouse uh that's on old New Brunswick
Road and it's across the street from the shop right and the nursing home. All right. And the planning board has been having meetings about this Onyx warehouse for like a I think about a year and a half now. Okay. And uh so you would think you would assume that the
planning board would be notifi sending out notifications to all the surrounding people and businesses in the surrounding area to let them know that they're having these meetings. All right, about a warehouse. This warehouse is going to be 100,000 100,000 square feet uh uh 10
truck bays. All right. Well, so it looks like this assumption may be an incorrect one because at at the u at the environmental commission meeting uh last week, uh they announced that the um the uh the nursing home that's across the
street there, even though they've been having meetings for a year and a half, the nursing home only recently found out about it. I mean, how how could that be, right? I mean I mean did didn't didn't anybody from the planning board think to go over
there and and tell them what's going on? So so that so now the nursing home has decided to to uh to hire a lawyer to to retain the services of an an attorney to try to stop the warehouse now. Um right
so this this uh uh Okay. So so and and I support that. I I I support that they're doing the right thing. Uh but what they're doing is the same thing that the Canal Walk residents did with the B9 warehouse. And I support that. But again, the big question is why wasn't
the planning board doing their job? They let they let a whole year and a half go by having meetings and nobody ever goes over to the nursing home and tells them about this warehouse that's going to be right across the street. All right. So now now this is a nursing home. This this is this is uh even more concerning
than a retirement community because the nursing home uh senior citizens, all right, um uh and they they they require nursing care, okay? Or they're they're sick or they're disabled and they require nursing care. So So they can't
come in here to talk because they they they can't get out of their hospital. They're they're they're confined to the hospital. So So that that's why I'm I'm here. I'm speaking for them. Okay. Um, and I I know I know you think that the that you don't want to interfere with
the with the planning board. Um, and you you assume they're doing their job, but like I said, we we can't automatically assume that they're doing their job. And maybe some of you might might want to get involved and and and you know, try to help the try to go over over to that nursing home and see if you
can help the situation. Okay. Um, you know, I I I I don't know what else to say. I I I you know, I I'm I'm a very compassionate person. I I I I I I feel compassion for my fellow human beings. And when I see those people over
there, I I feel very sorry that nobody else was even thinking about them, you know. And and I I myself I I've I've come here to to these meetings on two previous occasions to talk about the be the Onyx warehouse and to to protest and
to express my concerns for the nursing home. And and I I did not get any reactions from anybody. you know, I I for for whatever reason, maybe I'm misreading it, but no, nobody was, you know, nobody shared my concern. So, I I'm I'm asking you, you know, to look
into it and see what's going on. And uh and Okay. And and Okay. Well, one more thing. At at the last at the last planning board meeting, uh the warehouse developer uh decided that they were going to exclude from the meeting two members of the planning board that that
for some reason they did they did not like. and they succeeded in those two people were not allowed to attend the meeting. I uh uh I I don't know how the the warehouse developer has the authority to to decide who is allowed and who is not allowed to to attend
these planning board meetings. So I would like to ask that those two members of the planning board who were excluded from the last meeting that they be reinstated and they be allowed to attend attend the meetings. Okay. Thanks. Uh, good evening. Linda Powell, 22
Buffer Drive. Um, sorry I was late today. Um, I used to come here a lot to talk about the Northeast Supply Enhancement or Nessie project which had been dead in the water because both New York and New Jersey had denied the water
permits. Um, I think it's I've been doing this for nine years now and we never had a chance to discuss the air permit because it was already um granted by the state prior to them revising
their hazardous air pollution thresholds which was um a year after they granted the uh permit to Williams Transcope. Um, there's some funny things going on with that which I don't have a really clear understanding of. For example, this
facility is designed to have these two huge um turbines, smoke stacks, whatever you want to call them. Um, and it's part of the same building, the same facility. They're going to be running at the same
time, but for some reason, various parts of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is looking at them as they're only one instead of two, and they're calling it a minor project, but they are going to have one virtual
hearing, and I'm hoping we can put the information about it on our website. Um it's going the the hearing itself will be on no Thursday, November 13th. Um the the uh water permit hearing was supposed
to be two hours and it ended up being 3 hours and a and half the people weren't able to speak. Uh they extended this to a 4hour hearing from 4:30 to 9:30. So, I'm I'm hoping we could put the information on because I think it would
be good to have as many people as possible and also include some of the the health risks involved um both acute and and chronic health risks involved with the types of pollution at least that the the
chemicals that are known that'll be coming out of these huge smoke stacks. And as we know from the fires in Canada last summer, pollution travels air pollution travels a long way. And some of the air pollutants like the small
particulate matter and this is directly from the American Lung Cancer Society bring it it it it um combines with toxins and carcinogens and brings them deep inside our body.
So, a lot of communities in the surrounding areas and as much as hundreds of miles can be impacted this. It will affect our health. It'll affect our land and it'll affect our water. So, we're really hoping as many people as
possible sign up to be on this because we don't really need this in our community. Air quality is already not up to standards um or has a bad rating. I forget whether it's a D or an F, but it's not good. And I myself have two
types of lung disease. Um, so I'm not really looking for more pollution. And um, this is, you know, one of the um, major um, fossil fuel companies in the world. They're one of the big donors to
Trump and that was one of his promises to get more fossil fuel projects, good coal projects going. um and forget about the rest of of the world basically. So, I'll get that information to you. Thank you. And also thanks to those council
members who had an opportunity to sign the letter um to Governor Murphy opposing this project. >> Thank you. Anyone else? Deborah Inman, 67 Roberts Road. Um, I looked on the website to see what the
criteria was to submit paperwork as far as when you want to run for a council person, and I couldn't find any. And my question is, what is the criteria? Is it required for them to physically live within the township and ward they wish
to represent? And how was their residence residency confirmed in the township? What due diligence does the team and or council do to make sure that they live in Somerset
and in the ward they wish to represent and where is this information posted for public review. Secondly, um I was recently made aware that the noise ordinance was modified so
that the officers at their discretion have the authority to issue a summon to residents who violate this ordinance and how many times do they need to visit the residents
before a summit is issued? And especially in my case where there was a resident who we called numerous times, three to four times a week, two to three times a night for them to turn
their music down. There was no summons issued. I spoke with one of the lieutenants in the police department and he said that it was solely up to the officer. That's unacceptable to me because they're continually violating the noise ordinance.
or does it not really matter because of what side of Franklin Boulevard that it is on? Lastly, um, what I witnessed at the last council meeting, the rudeness, the crash, the
disrespect, and even some of the disrespect I saw tonight with the talking to one another and not engaging and listening to the prior people that came up to speak before me. I think it
is rude, inappropriate, and unacceptable. We as taxpayers, we pay your salary to sit up there. We elect you. You need to be more engaged. And when we're speaking and not talking
to one another, if there's a question, you should wait just like we have to wait after the question and answer period. You should give the same respect you asked us to give you all sitting on that deis. We expect it sitting in this
audience. >> Anyone else? >> Alex Strauss, uh, 285 Hlett Way, Somerset. Uh, just to piggyback on what Mr. Jim Johnson was saying about Onyx. Um, can we get a list? We have an economic
development director. Can we get a list of all the commercial establishments, stores, types, etc. that have been contacted um and also working with the owner um of Onyx? um what kind of effort
was made to get stores over there um in the place of the coming warehouse. Um we know we have millions of warehouses um tons of cannabis. Um, we have a lot of
that, but I'd like to know this plays into what the economic development director is doing to get stores commercial into the township and specifically I guess in this case Onyx.
Thank you. Javon Walker, 15 Cune Street. Um, couple things. The first one I want to know is when exactly is the second hearing about the like the ordinance vote on the like the AI generators or the D. Okay, perfect. Thank you. Um, second question
is are I submitted an application to the housing authority like subcommittee um and I haven't received any word back is like so basically I went on the website looked at all the committees that are available. There were two vacancies for a housing authority committee. It has Councilman Wright and some others on
there. Um I submitted my my application about maybe three four weeks ago. I haven't received the word back. So that's why I'm trying to get an update on that. Um, and the other thing was, um, to piggyback off the previous residents comment is that there's definitely,
uh, like a lot of partisanship over council versus residents, Democrat, Republican, and so forth. Um, I I don't know what to say. It's just, um, we just got to get back to like a level of respect regardless of people's political views or personal opinions. Um it's
definitely been a like a degradation degradation of respect for anyone on opposing values. Um a good example is that the no kings rally that's coming up on Saturday. Um I like to hold that in the same regard as like uh like the memorial for Charlie
Kirk. Regardless of your personal opinion on it, let people have their freedom of speech and be able to freely express in in an in in a group that at least expresses their own views. You don't have to be there. But the baseline of what I'm trying to say is like everyone has a personal opinion. You
have the right to express that opinion. Just don't disrespect other people. Let people if they have one one train of mind, let them all get together and be able to just express their views. You don't have to be a part of it. Um that's it. Thanks. Beverly Lawson, 2004 Amwell Road. I have
a question on something that's on the agenda tonight. Resolution 25-436 gunshot detection license plate reader video surveillance system. Right. My question is, is this a want or need for the township? And if it is a need,
shouldn't the residents of this town be aware that there's so many gunshots going on that you need a detection in order to do it? maybe send out some nixus or something because I don't know if it's because we're so close to New Brunswick and they have a lot of issues or from some other town and possibly
people coming through here. I don't know. But the fact that we're trying to get this system that's quite expensive at that uh just curious is want or need. Thank you. >> Anyone else? Seeing none, I ask for your unanimous
consent to close the public portion. Hearing no objection, we are closed for the public session. We're at item number eight. Um, Mr. L, do you want to answer the first? >> Yeah, just just a couple of quick um I'm
not familiar with what actually happened at the planning board meeting because I wasn't there, but two things. I think they were they were talking about the the environmental commission meeting and I've now spoken with a council member who was present at the last environmental commission meeting and I
also spoke with our sustainability consultant by text to find out exactly what was spoken about regarding the onyx application which by the way has not been heard in several months due to some legal issues with their application and
it's not anticipated that they will be heard heard for the foreseeable future again. So, I'm not quite sure what Mr. Johnston is speaking about regarding what was said at the Environmental Commission meeting, but notice and and
I'll I'll leave that to you. That's why I got up and and asked you. Notice is done by the applicant from a certified list that's provided by the township of 200 foot property owners. So, >> that Well, that's for plenty board meetings. I don't know of a notice
requirement for I don't not sure what an environmental commission meeting >> No, no, the environmental commission was where they were speaking about the planning board application. >> Oh, okay. >> And it was not at a planning board meeting. It was at an environmental commission meeting according to Mr. Johnston, but the people who I just
spoke with both by text message um and and in person with the council member down at the other end of the day is is that there was a small mention by the chair, Mr. Wulitzky of the Onyx application, but more or less that it
was not currently being heard. Um, and we can address the other issues in a minute, but um, notice by law in the state of New Jersey for a planning board application is done by registered letter and notice in the
in the township newspaper of the application to all property owners within 200 ft. And while the the operators of the and I and I don't know the circumstances here, the operators of the nursing home may say that they weren't notified, but I don't know that
they own the property. It is the property owner that is notified. So I that's all I can say is that and that certified list comes from us of all property owners within 200 feet of an application and then it is the
applicant's obligation under the law to make that notification not the planning board. The planning board does not notify anyone. the applicant is required by law to provide that certified mailing list showing that every property within
200 ft was notified as was supplied by the township. So that's what I can say about that part of the the question. The other question as far as members of the board recusing themselves, I mean I'm aware of it. I we have a member of the
planning board here in Councilman Embarrison and and certainly Councilman you're free to answer that question. So I guess >> yeah thanks Bob. Uh so Mr. Johnston, I I was there on the meeting uh when we heard Onyx application and it so
happened two of the members uh strongly uh opined that they were not for the application uh right at the meeting. So it was uh jointly decided after
consulting with the council that they would want to recuse themselves from further considerations because they were already had an opinion against the applicant. So it was to the benefit of the applicant that was done not uh to
the uh to be fair. So because they were already prejudiced >> and and and what the councilman means by council is not this council up here but council co u n the planning board council meaning their attorney. >> Yes. Sorry.
>> Thank you. >> Attorney. >> Attorney. >> Attorney. Um so I I don't know where they're >> so so it's not the applicant that threw them out. It is our they themselves. >> The planning board attorney suggested given that they had expressed their
personal opinions before hearing the application and indicated that they were opposed to the application. Um it was in the interest of the uh the board that they recused themselves after they made those public statements. That's the
bottom line. That was at the recommendation of our planning board attorney. Um I I have some others. >> I know just one council members. Does anyone else want to comment? >> No.
>> Anyone of that? Okay. Town. >> Right. So So the the to Miss Ingram's question about the ordinance and and the township attorney can also chime in here. >> Inman, I'm sorry. I I apologize. Um, Miss Inman, the the ordinance allows for
the discretion of the police officer based on what they hear. I can't if if you feel that the officer acted inappropriately and did not take the the appropriate enforcement action then I
strongly urge you to contact the public safety director and request or or Captain uh Wilson who's the officer in charge and also oversees the internal affairs operation and file a complaint
with the internal affairs and it will be investigated. That's really the course of action. This council nor I have the authority to order a police officer to take enforcement action. Okay? So that that process that you need to follow is
really with the internal affairs division of the police department. So you should do that. That's that's the course of action to take. Um, and then, um, I, you know, I wrote notes down and, and
I, I'm going to go I'm going to ask for something that we ordinarily don't ask. Could you repeat your question one more time for me? >> I I >> Beverly Lawson 25-436. Is it a want or a need? >> Oh, is it a Thank you. I I was knew it
was police department. My my mind went to enforcement of laws. So that is a grant-funded acquisition. It is fully funded by the by a grant. And is it necessary? So you're a former law enforcement officer. Anytime that you
can provide information to police officers on things like random gunshots, which let's not be naive, occur. I mean, you know, I I can go back to 1985 when I started to work in the police department
and it was the same then as it is now. Do we get complaints about people saying that they hear gunshots? Absolutely. All of that that technology that's now available is there to not only keep residents safe, but also aid police
officers in conducting investigations. So if if there's a grant that provides for that type of technology at no cost to the taxpayers, then I don't know why anyone would be opposed to it. Um so
that's the the the item on the agenda. There was another question about how do you get on the council and where is that information published? I I think the township attorney can that's that's part of the election laws of the state of New Jersey. >> Can you address that township attorney?
>> Well, I think it's on the county like website. The clerk might know better than I do, but there's a process for be becoming a member of the council. You have to if you run as in a political party, you have to file >> uh file a petition in the spring to run uh in the June primary. If not, if you
want to run as an independent, you have to file a petition at the end of August. Um the there was a question about the vetting as to whether somebody's a resident or not. You have to swear that you're a resident and if there is a challenge that challenge gets heard I think in the first instance by the by
the clerk but then it is subject to a an appeal to the superior court and you're required to live I think it's one year prior to the election. So, if you are if you're running in November, you'd have to be a resident uh one one year prior
of the ward that you're running in. Unless you're running at large, then then it would be in the township as a whole. >> But you have to be a Franklin Township resident if you want to run for council >> for a year prior to the election >> for one year. Yeah. >> Just for my clarification, is that something that you certify? like you
look that up yourself or is it up to the opposing party to file a challenge or to look it up themselves? >> It's it's up to whoever wants to challenge. Although when I receive the them I do verify that they're a registered voter which would mean they are a resident.
>> Thank you. >> Deputy mayor >> did we address Mr. Javin on the AI generator hearing? I'm not sure if you're addressing someone. He asked when it wasn't. It's tonight. >> Oh, you did. >> No, it's not. It's next on the 8th. >> Actually, you said it to him, so I gave
him the answer. So, I'll give everybody else the answer. It is at the next council meeting, not this one. >> Thank you. I didn't hear my mistake. >> Okay. >> For anyone who's interested, the generator ordinance will be on at the next council meeting for second reading
and adoption. >> Thank you. Um Okay. We are now at item number nine, council comments and reports. So we'll start with council member Krazy.
Thank you madame deputy mayor. Thank you so much. Good evening everyone. Uh I'm going to start with first congratulating Franklin Township for receiving 2025 environmental achievement award and this
was presented to the Franken Township uh environmental commission for the project that they did. This was a joint project between the community energy plan and and and they did the micromobility study and the project was strategic planning
for energy efficiency and conservation. So I accepted this award on behalf of the township uh on October 10th. So congratulation township and I'm going to be giving this to Bob who is the really the
head of the the the township for doing all the good work and I also want to thank Tara Kenan for all the great work that she does for uh leading this project. So I also attended a few of the
com uh committees last uh this past month and during the trial trail committee advisory committee meeting we spent a good portion of the meeting to discuss the four options presented for
building Katabl Park. So that's that was an important one and the there were four options in cost varying from about 4 million to 9 million and the 9 million one was uh the option to have the
cricket fields and other sport complexes for our community members as well as uh other uh community garden etc. and the 5 million uh was the second option which was the primarily has the cricket fields
but not the other sport complexes. So the funding will come from the open space budget and we are still waiting to hear from the open space advisory committee on which option they recommend they support and hopefully by the next
the council meeting we will have a good idea which one they are presenting to proceed. also attended along with councilman Wright in Hamilton Street advisory committee. Uh we had one of the
dispensary owners actually during that meeting and he came to uh tell us that they would like to form a committee among the dispensary owners in town so they can serve the community better. And we welcome the idea. Any business group
that they like to form some sort of a committee to help the community and and uh serve the community better, we support them. and um advisory board of health uh was another board the another
board that I attended and we had a representative from safe community coalition and he mentioned that some of the cannabis shops in other township are starting to establish consumption room so the customer can consume cannabis in
their stores and the board expressed concern that this potential will cause some safety uh problems and uh so I followed up with mayor and our township
does not allow consumption room in any of the cannabis stores. So we don't have that u the event that we had one great event we have in town uh this past Sunday with
was Matias. So I had the opportunity to attend. I think it was probably several hundred people there. This was a great celebration to uh for the installation of Father Thomas Lanza. So they have a new father and I met a lot of people
from our community. Even my old neighbor, he was there. What what was amazing to me was the diversity of the community that I saw. You know, I've lived here for about 39 years and I remember when my kids were small, uh we
used to go for some events in St. Matias Church and you would see pretty much not much of a diversity, you know, all uh the same kind of color and skin color folks and so forth. But this time on
this celebration were people from all over the world. And it was just an amazing event to see how diverse we have become as a township. So again, it was a great event. I enjoyed quite a bit. Uh
also the Diwali celebration and thank you Councilman for doing that great job with your wife and others. And it was at Franklin High School and it was a great win, a great food as well. Lots of people. I'm sure you probably have some more to say about that, but I enjoyed
it. I thank you for and thank you the team. Uh, finally, the uh human relations commission meeting is on October 22nd and uh we will have a special guest, Mr. Bob Laort, who is the the head of
committee for 250 year celebration events. And please come. It starts at 7:00 October 27 across this chamber. Thank you so much, >> Councilman Onjeka. >> Yes.
>> Okay. Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Okay. I want first of all, let me use this opportunity. I know what's wrong with my phone the power. >> Hello. Hello. >> Okay. First of all, let me use this opportunity to thank my
councilman at large for inviting us for the the valley. It was um it was a good occasion to talk about and we enjoyed it. We enjoyed the music and enjoyed the people around us at that particular
time. Another thing is to thank uh fundraiser that we attended was also good to within this period of time which is a very hectic time for us. Uh one thing I noticed in my world which is a war three is that a lot of cleanup has
been going on there with the township and the sea wage department. Actually today when I was coming back I witnessed at some of the roads and uh we are cleaned up and uh the sidewalks everywhere around that which is a kudos
to the township and the sewage department. It's very very encouraging. Thank you deputy mayor. This is what I have for today. >> Councilman on Barrison. >> Thank you deputy mayor. Uh so yeah thanks for all the sentiments. Diwali
celebration was wonderful. Uh we um uh had over 1,200 uh people I think uh that day. Uh we served about,000 meals and we ran out of food at the end. Uh but nobody complained. So we had
announced that while supplies last. So um I think people enjoyed the programs and the festivities. We had free henna which is a little I think that ladies and the kids uh um wear and I think I
have miss friends who took one and councilman Carl had one as well but um yeah so we had a great fun we had a bizaar we had photo booth we had
many artists uh many regional um artists that displayed their talents in different instruments and music, dance and so forth. And we had many um many of our council members were there as well
as well as uh the county folks um the commissioners the deputy commissioner director was there. So it was a fantastic event. If you missed it this year, please plan to attend next year. But is you without going to India, you
would have you would see the the culture and the heritage of uh Indians celebrating Diwali is celebrated. Even though it's a Hindu festival, it has become a secular uh event within India and worldwide. Um it's the concept
is uh similar to other religions. uh it's a victory of uh light uh over darkness uh victory of knowledge over ignorance and so on. So it's it's thank you for all the township staff, parks and recreation and special project
manager for getting the word out and the IT department. So we it was overs subscribed so the word did get out. So thank you for uh all the support we got and and and board of education they were kind enough to collaborate with us on the event. Uh so they uh made the school
facilities available to us um and the staff so which was uh very much appreciated. Um we had a chance to meet with uh a HOA in um countryside estates with Councilman
Charles Wenjaka and the mayor and myself. We met with them. They had a number of concerns. Uh so we took an evening uh at one of the board members and we listened to the uh issues that they raised. There were uh quite a number of uh
um points that they raised with us and we answered many of them there and whatever we couldn't answer and some of the issues that uh had needed some research which we did and we got back to them uh this week and uh hopefully um we
addressed uh their uh concerns. um satisfactorily. So that's our job. So we are doing it. >> Yes, indeed. >> Yes. Thank you, Councilman. >> Thank you for attending. >> All right. So we uh other than that, I think we had a couple of meetings that I
attended. One was the sewage authority board meeting on the 7th where the budget was uh uh presented. Um the uh rate increase was discussed there uh 2.8 8% u sewer
rates are going to go up uh just like uh everything else uh in this world even though it is below the uh uh inflation rate it's still a small increase uh that uh you would have to um bear uh and then
again I agree with Councilman Karazzi the S Matias uh installed the new pastor Father Tom he seemed to be a very uh energetic uh young pastor And uh there was a huge crowd and they fed us fabulous food. Jocelyn was there as well
as Edna. So it was uh like he said uh it's a it's a it's a demonstration of our cultural and religious diversity, all colors of uh uh people there, countries of origin. Amazing amazing
gathering. I enjoyed participating there. That's all I got. Deputy Mayor. Thank you, >> Councilwoman France. >> I don't give reports on every committee meeting that I go to. So, I'm going to pass on that because I think other people will do it anyway,
like the sewage authority. Um, I did I did not mention that the youth center is also having a Halloween party on Friday, October 24th from 3 to 6. So any children that are members of Franklin Township, residents of Franklin Township
can also go to the youth center. It's a Friday, October 24th, right after school, 3 to 6, a Halloween party at the youth center on at 429 Lewis Street. And uh um Javon Javon, you mentioned about
the housing authority. So, I'll make sure that your resume gets over to the housing authority commissioners and they'll take a look at it. A lot of times what we look for is recommendations from that board or authority or commission to um accept and then comes back to the council and we
can make that appointment. So, I'll follow up on that. That's all I have. Deputy mayor. >> Thank you, Councilman Venisonella. >> Thank you. Um and real quick, not to be repetitive, but being a lifelong member of St. Matias Parish. I must acknowledge
what a wonderful event that was. And thanks to Councilman Rahm, Councilman Kurazzi, and our sheriff Darren Russo, who attended, and I'm sure other people would have, but there was many events going on. Um, St. has been here since 1961. I think the parish and the school
like ' 64, 65. Every house of worship in this town is equally as important. But I must say that um, a lot of people don't realize St. Matias uh isn't just the congregation and a school. They
constantly support um so many nonprofits, the food bank, Catholic Charity. They are constantly doing things to help this as many of our house of congregation are. I'm just pointing them out since they um had a big celebration. the bishop was there which
for those who don't know it's a big deal when the bishop comes and father Tom Lonza who is very energetic as was said and young and very in into keeping the school a significant part of the parish um many of us in town whether you're
parishioners or not look forward to St. thigh is continuing to prosper where many um parishes and especially school parishes with schools have had a hard time in the last decade. So, we wish them well and it was a heck of a celebration. In my uh my entire life,
I've never seen that cafeteria have that big of a party that was going on that that night. So, that afternoon and thanks again. Uh we had a public works committee meeting. I'm not going to go into all the details, but we uh have a few roads that we are have have to
because of weather bump until the spring. We're still paving now, but they realistically should not be sent out the bid because they will not be done be able to be done till spring. But we've done an incredible amount of road be paving. The other thing we'll do, and I congratulate our staff and council for
appropriating the money, we have um pretty much rebuilt the entire water infrastructure in a section of town that is the oldest um part of our water system between Hamilton Street and 27 over near Williams all the way to New
Brunswick. That area in there, uh it's been messy and and I appreciate the patience of the residents. Uh it's been a tough few years, but we have now put underground what should outlast all of us here. Um and anything that and some of it's being paved and you'll see the
finishing touches. Anything that isn't paved and all the curb and finishing touches uh that aren't done this fall will be done next year. There's guidelines of how long the ground has to settle, etc. But um I uh look forward to
sometime next summer when we go back and um pretty much have that completely done, not just below ground, but above ground. It's been a long time in the works and and um thank council for for appropriating the almost $4 million to help rebuild that water system. Uh
Councilwoman Francois, thank you for addressing uh that in um inquiry about people applying. for what it's worth. Uh you can always email us personally, call us, whatever, but we get a lot of applications. We tend usually not to
tell people they aren't being appointed. Um sometimes if someone has a question, we'll reach out to clarify something, but don't anybody feel like we don't see them or get them or read them. We often defer as the councilwoman said to the organization commission committee board
and the uh council representative or liaison for recommendations as a courtesy because um we don't have to take what they say but as a courtesy we look for their input before we appoint anybody and that's relevant to any committee commissioner board in town. Um
there was some other meetings but I think that pretty much is the main things. Uh, thank you, uh, Deputy Mayor. >> Council member Pataznik. >> Uh, thank you, Deputy Mayor. Um, Councilman Karazzi mentioned that the
Franklin Township Environmental Commission was honored at the ANJ. Um, I guess they call it the I don't know, some sort of convening that happened just this past Friday. I think it was the 10th. But also, uh, an esteemed former member of this council, Dr. Ted
Chase was also recognized at the lunch. And while Councilman Karazzi picked up the morning shift with the entire environmental commission, I picked up the lunch shift to honor Dr. Ted Chase for a lifetime of environmental dedication with the Candy Ashman McGee
award. Uh Candy Ashman was a tremendous asset to the environmental movement, the longest serving member of the Pinelands Commission. Um she died at the age of 88 which I was a little older than that but I joked was uh really 22 because she was
a leap year baby. Um but uh Candi was an amazing woman and Ted Chason is amazing man and he did a tremendous job for this township uh also with his service at Ruckers University and his undergraduate degree um at I guess his graduate degree
at Stanford. uh a tremendous environmental advocate, a tremendous uh person who cares about the neighbors and uh you know, someone who worked for generations in town to advance all different causes that he cared about. And he had a chance to share what his
why was, why he cared so much about the environment. And it was simply that he loves the birds. And the birds depend on all of us to have a nice environment to live in. Clean water like we need to live, they need to live, too. They need
all kinds of um ecosystems and support networks, the native grassland preserves that we've done such a great job at preserving in New Jersey for different um types of species. And so I just want to uh publicly acknowledge his achievement. it it's a a a small list of
folks that have been identified as receiving that award and congratulate him on a really fine job over the course of his years and dedication to the township with more work to be done and more expectations for us to for him to continue to serve. He's a like I said he
he knows a lot. Um I I think you know he's his environmental impact is only equal to his humility. you know, he kept saying, "I don't deserve this. I don't know why I'm getting this award." And I could go on and on, but I know time is limited
tonight. Not that we have a very full agenda. Um, but you give a politician a microphone, it's hard to shut it off. So, I'm going to end there just with um, you know, my appreciation. Congratulations to Ted Chase. He had the council position in Ward One previous to me. I feel like it's a lot to live up to. I try to do that every day for him
as a mentor because of the great light and example that he shined. And we're all really blessed to have him in our township. So, thank you. Councilman Wright. >> Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Uh, real quick, uh, the redevelopment agency meeting,
um, will be cancelled this Monday. There's nothing on our agenda. Uh, we have the Somerset County Action Program, uh, SCAP. We'll have a Zoom meeting this week on Thursday, uh, to go over our our monthly activities.
the recreation advisory committee. Uh once again, uh they inform me and they encourage you to always check the website to see about the monthly activities and what's coming up uh that for the appropriate age group that you
might want to be involved with. I want to thank uh Councilman Vasinellic as we share the fourth and fifth ward about the water main and sewer projects. Um that helps everybody. It stops us from uh digging up a hole every every month
or so because there's a crack, a leak, someone calls in and says, "Hey, I see water bubbling up." But what he didn't mention was that that bubble up cost you money because we're charged for water and that's how you get your water rate.
So, we don't want to waste it. Um, American Water, they don't care what happens. They want their money. Uh, so enough said on that. And um Thompson manager said something and uh
some of the audience brought this up and I didn't understand it but uh consent item M that uh gun detection uh uh situation. I want to say it's not a need or a want.
It's just a public safety item that the Township of Franklin could use. It's not something that we pluck out the sky. Oh, we want to buy this, we want to buy that. I think that you would want us to buy it. I would
think you want us to have it. It's available. It's technology. It's something that we could use. Um, so I didn't understand the uh the question. It's not uh could it be or would it be?
It's not discretionary. As a township manager said, it didn't cost us anything, so why leave it on the table? It didn't cost us anything. Um that's it. Uh Madame Deputy Mayor, >> thank you. I I agree on that uh
statement. I think we should definitely pick up anything that serves and will make our community a better one. Um, and this one is a good one. So, thank you. I just have a few items. Um, I think most of us have mentioned a lot
of the community discussions. So, the first one being on October 22nd, um, Assemblyman Joel Danielson has his, um, the MVC mobile unit coming over to his place in Elizabeth Avenue. And I know a lot of folks still have um real ID
appointments or anything that's related to motor vehicle basically. Um it's really fast. You just make an appointment and go. Um it is limited appointments. So um I would suggest make those quickly if you have anything specific that you would want to work
with the MVC. Um apart from that, we had a beautiful movie night um last Friday at NASA Park. Um, we had a showing of Finding Nemo and the kids had a blast. Um, thank you to our parks and recreation for having the snacks and um,
apple cider for the kids. They absolutely love that. And then somely man Joel Dennison sponsored popcorn and water as well. So, and couple candies as well. And that was very nice addition this year. Um, and we want to continue having those. Um, I think it's a
community bonding and building and kids really look forward to it every year. So, we see a lot of um positive feedback from that. Um I attended a a special request that was given to me by a bunch of kids at Sounds of Tomorrow that's located on Pier Street, part of Scab
actually. um and I've never been there and I wanted to go see what they're doing and I was so amazed by the work that the kids are doing with the mentorship of Dwayne and um Fatima and um they're actually teaching them about like podcasting skills, motor skills
like speaking and um just a lot of things that you know fall under the background of just media and communications. I thought it was so interesting when I was there and um we were just kind of sitting around the table and talking then one thing led to another and the kids started asking me very tough questions um what's happening
in um in town and they were so excited to learn about things that are happening in the youth centers that some of them didn't know about and um I thought information sharing was so important so um if you don't know of sounds of tomorrow please do do go it's from what I understood um it's free of cost to our
kids um And you know there's a lot of things that they do for the community. I think it's important that um we um give them that visibility so that folks of our specifically our kids um can go and util utilize the um equipment that they
have under their um direction. So the other thing I did want to say congratulations to Mr. Chase. Um so excited for him. He has always been um you know I I do look up him as a mentor as well and he gives great ideas and feedbacks about our community. So so
happy that he got that award. Diwali um Mr. Ambaraan Councilman your wife did an amazing job. >> Thank you. >> She literally um if you if you were there you know that as soon as you entered there was like this handmade um what do you call that? The flowers that
were around. >> Yeah, that's the rangoli. >> Rangoli. So, if you look at up, it's it's handone. Every single petal they colored it, right? Handone. And then they made into this really nice decoration piece. Um, as you enter, you'll see that. And I thought it was amazing because I don't have that
creatively to do that, but they had to be patient and work on that. And every year she does that. So, and she works with staff members, and I applaud that. I think that's amazing. Um, one thing that I mentioned that resonated with a lot of people is that this is what home feels like. This is Franklin Township,
right? We admire the culture. We um love the diversity that we have and one thing that that I love to attend is those celebrations that we have. We are able to celebrate each other's holidays and cultures and learn about it. So that's so important to and again thank you for
having that and your wife and the staff work so hard on it. Um those are the items that I had I wanted to mention out. I think the rest has been already mentioned. Oh, one more thing. the public works. Um
we are having a uh hopefully a don't know if we had already the state funded that um Mr. Manager Pier Street and Cedar Grove to Davidson that's going to happen next >> that that >> next year >> next in in early in the spring that's a state funded
>> state funded so Pier Street to Cedar Grove to Davidson. So that's state funded and thank you for and the staff for finding that and working on that grant. Um that again these are things that our staff looks into to make sure we're saving cost and money. So great
stuff. Um now township manager report. >> I I just have one one quick item to mention. I I did most of my uh announcements earlier with the upcoming events, but um of interest I believe to I know Councilman Wright, but also um
Councilman Vasinella and and hopefully all of council for that matter. Um there there was a piece of property that we were looking to purchase and you had authorized the purchase. Um, that's the piece of property behind Mount Carmel Church on Franklin Boulevard, about
three acres. That was a a six house subdivision. Um, it closed on Friday, so we own it. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. So, that will be that's a that's a that's a really nice parcel of land. It's very heavily wooded and it
will be preserved as a heavily wooded uh parcel right there smack dab in the fourth ward uh for ever. Trees that will stay there. >> Trees that will stay there and not cut down to build houses. >> We're loving them for it. >> So that was the only announcement I had. >> That's it.
>> Mayor, that was it. Yep. >> Has that been the shortest? >> Well, you got me with all those other things earlier, so I think I've talked enough. >> I I forgot to mention something that was told >> Yeah, I forgot to mention something on the agenda from the beginning. So, there is an item on the agenda that was pulled
um from the agenda for further review and will be placed back on on the agenda later at a later date. So, just wanted to put that out there. If you're here for um uh >> it was the easement castle work. >> Yes. Yes, that one. Thank you. Um okay,
now we're back to uh item number 11, council discussion items. There's none. And now we're at item 12, approval of the minutes. I present the following minutes to the township council for their approval. Thompson council work session regular meeting and executive session September 9th, 2025. Township
council work session regular meeting September 30th, 2025. Do I have a motion to approve the minutes? >> So moved. >> Seconded. >> Moved and seconded. Any discussion? Madame clerk. >> Councilman embarrass.
>> Yes. >> Councilwoman Francois. >> Yes. for September 9th. Abstain for September 30 if I was not available. President >> Councilman Karazzi. >> Yes. >> Councilman Oniji Jaka. >> Yes. >> Council member Patnik. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Rudine.
>> Yes. >> Councilman Vasinella. >> Yes. >> Councilman Wright? >> Yes. >> Item 13, approval of warrants. Warrants in the amount of $4,53,246.71 on October 14, 2025 are presented to the township council for payment. Do I have
a motion to approve the warrant? >> I move that the warrants be paid as read. >> Seconded. >> Moved and seconded. Any discussion? >> Madame clerk. >> Councilman Barrison. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Francois. >> Yes.
>> Councilman Karazzi. >> Yes. >> Councilman Oni Jaka. >> Yes. >> Council member Bataznik. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Rudin. >> Yes. >> Councilman Vasinella. >> Yes. >> Councilman Right. >> Yes. Item 14, public hearing adoption of ordinance on second reading. We have the
first reading to announce to public that we are considering an ordinance and the second reading to vote and allow the public to speak. >> Okay. Ordinance number 4478-25, an ordinance to acquire by purchase or condemnation certain lands within the
Township of Franklin, County of Somerset, State of New Jersey for the purposes of open space preservation in the Township of Franklin, pursuant to NJSA4A 12-13A for property known as the West Point Avenue properties, also known as
block 348, lots 1.02 902 and 16- 27 and commonly known as 439 and 483 West Point Avenue, Somerset, New Jersey, is presented for public hearing and final adoption. The public hearing has been noticed as required.
>> I ask your unanimous consent to open to the public on this item only. Hearing no objection, it's now open to the public. Seeing no one come forward, I ask for your unanimous consent to close to the public. So move
>> hearing no objections. I now close to the public. Um, Madame Clerk. Oh, do I have I'm sorry. Do I have a motion to adopt? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. Any discussions?
>> Madame Clerk. >> Councilman Barrison. >> Yes. Yes. Councilwoman Francois. >> Yes. >> Councilman Karazzi. >> Yes. >> Councilman Uni Jaka. >> Yes. >> Council member Bataznik. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayudin. >> Yes. >> Councilman Vasinella. >> Yes. >> Councilman Wright.
>> Yes. >> Okay. Ordinance number 4479-25, capital ordinance providing for the acquisition of property known as the West Point Avenue properties is located at block 348 lots 1.02 102 16- 27 and
also known as 439 and 483 West Point Avenue in the township of Franklin County of Somerset, State of New Jersey, appropriating $742,600. There, the Open Space Trust Fund of the Township of Franklin to pay for the cost
thereof is presented for public hearing and final adoption. The public hearing has been noticed as required. I ask for unanimous consent to open to the public on this item only. Hearing no objection, it's now open to
the public on this item. Alex Strauss 285let way. It seems like a good idea. Um that area actually I was raised mostly in the Levit development and that's ward four. Same ward. Um
across Hamilton is the Route 27 in that same area, Route 27 of Veronica Avenue. And within the last decade there was basically like clear cutting to build the 7-Eleven and the gas station. Um so this could you know help um certainly
does help offset that maybe perhaps. Um and of course there's another gas station there as well. Um, I would be interested in knowing kind of like what the tree count is on the property now. How many acres? Also, I'd like to know how much um what is the current total
currently in the open space fund prior to today. That is um how much is in the open space fund. Um would like to know those three things, the dollar amount open space fund, the tree count, and the acreage of this property. >> You would have to ask that question ahead of time. I can't give you the
answer to any one of those questions right now. You don't know how much is in the open space fund? >> Off the top of my head, right at this very moment, no, because there's some transactions that just took place and I haven't done an accounting as of today. So, I don't know right off the top of my head. >> Nobody here knows.
>> I can tell you that at the close of 2024, it was at over 14 million. >> Over 14 million. Okay. >> So, but I can't tell you right this very moment. No, I don't do a daily accounting of all of our trusts. Nothing was spent out of there since >> Oh, there's been plenty spent out, but
there's also been tax money collected. >> I just Okay. I just found it a bit interesting. Nobody knows what's in the open space fund and we're voting. Not that I'm against this 3/4 of a million. Not that I'm against it, but I just feel you should know how much is in the fund.
>> I just gave you the answer that I gave you. >> I know you did, but there's other people there, too. And yes, >> so I don't leave the fund amounts because I don't know either. But I do want to say my understanding, you were asking about the property we're preserving. My understanding is it's
being preserved. We're not developing it. We're not cutting trees down unless there maybe is a hazardous dead one and we need to for safety. But my understanding is we're leaving it in its natural form. >> It's an open space acquisition. That's what we do. >> So I mention that because we're trying
to preserve as much especially tree canopy in the fourth and fifth ward. And I think this is a wonderful thing along with the other one the manager said. And if anybody ever comes across a piece of property, we can't commit to buying it, but bring it to our attention. We look, but we're open to preserving land. My
understanding is this will be preserved in its natural state. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Sounds good. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Seeing no one forward, I will ask for your unanimous consent to close the public hearing. Hearing
no objection. It's now closed. >> Do I have a motion to adopt? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Moved and second. Any discussion? >> I'm just to ask the township manager, any concern that what the items on the agenda today were somehow going to be deficit spending in the open space fund?
>> None. No. >> Thank you. >> Any other discussions, >> Madame Clerk? Councilman Barrison, >> yes. >> Councilwoman France, >> yes. >> Councilman Karazzi, >> yes. >> Councilman Nijaka, >> yes. >> Council member Baznik, >> yes.
>> Deputy Mayor Udin, >> yes. >> Councilman Vasinella, >> yes. >> Councilman Wright, >> yes. >> Okay. Ordinance number 4480-25, an ordinance to acquire by purchase or condemnation certain lands within the township of Franklin, County of
Somerset, State of New Jersey for the purposes of open space preservation in the Township of Franklin pursuant to NJSA 48 colon 12-13A for property known as the Brener property, also known as block 5.02, 102 lot 58 and commonly
known as 3995 State Route 27 Somerset, New Jersey is presented for public hearing and final adoption. The public hearing has been noticed as required. >> I ask for your unanimous consent to open to the public on this item only.
Hearing no, it's now open to the public. This is >> to make this a habit. Alex Strauss at 285 has the way. So I looked up this property and I think last meeting uh township manager said it's 100 acres but it says 40 about 47 acres.
>> I was a little off. I I was off by about half. I was just shooting from the hip at that particular point. I actually measured it after I said it. >> Okay. >> Just about 50. So, I see there's a building on the property also. And >> we're not buying the building. There's a set aside. They're going to carve off
the house and keep the house. And we're only buying the open space property. >> Okay. So, the building is assessed, but that's separate. This is a separate assessment. Um because if you look it up
as far as the assessment of this address 39.95 uh was >> has a farmland assessment currently >> Route 27 Princeton, New Jersey. >> Mhm. >> So um so that's if the the house was assessed for a million dollars. That's
only the house you're saying. >> That's only the house. Yeah. >> That's only the house. So you're buying the farmland. >> Farmland assessment doesn't show the accurate value of the house. So, and the farmland assessment is for the the the property that we're buying and we're
only so they're keeping the house and it'll be subdivided off from the ch from the large parcel and they'll keep the house and it'll stay on the tax rolls and we'll buy the property that is surrounding the house. >> I see. What was the farmland assessed
for? >> Farmland assessments. It's the that appraisal is the appraisal of the land. The farmland assessments are at a vastly reduced amount because it's farmland. >> I see. >> So, it has a farmland assessment. >> Yeah. I was confused because if you go
on the website, >> it says that it's it's um up for sale for 3.6 million. >> Yeah. >> And we're buying this for 3.0 43. >> We're not buying the house. >> But then the assessment you're saying was only the house because the
assessment was >> correct. When you do an assessment on farmland with a home, the home gets a full assessment because that's not included in the farmland assessment. Only the farmland and any outuildings that are associated with the farming
operation are included in the farmland assessment, which like I said is vastly reduced to encourage farming. >> So that's why the house was one million >> about was assessed, but that doesn't in Okay. Yep. Um,
so would the township be renting out the farmland for farm for farmers or >> I no decision has been made as to how that's been used. And we do lease um by competitive bid some of our open space properties to continue the agricultural
pursuits. This might be farmed. It might be some other use. Just passive recreation use if anything. We own several other pieces of property that are rather large in scale immediately adjacent to it where we talk about creating walking trails and things like
that, >> but there's no no active recreation that would be proposed there. >> Okay. So, was this under threat like Councilman Vasinella was saying this, you know, property? >> It was for sale. >> Was it was it under threat of development?
>> Sure. I mean, all of those properties along Route 27 are have the potential to be purchased by a developer and developed as residential developments. >> Okay. So, we're we're >> they're in a rural residential zone. So, >> I mean, only a small piece is actually on Route 27.
>> Well, it's got a pretty decent amount of frontage, so it goes deep and you build a road and you build houses. There's in fact another subdivision a little further south of this that already had the subdivision done. That's a heavily wooded parcel that was I think subdivided into eight or 10 parcels if I
looked at the map. So I mean you could certainly build a development there. >> It's all sewer and uh all uh septic and well that's what limits the amount of houses that can be built. There is no city sewer or uh in that area. There is
city water but there's no city sewer. >> Okay. So that limits sewer. Sewer and septic limit the amount of houses that can be developed based on the size of the lots necessary for a septic. >> Okay. Yeah. I'm also, you know, caught
my eye because it's $3 million, which, you know, that's why I asked how much is in the open space fund because this is a big piece of change. >> Remember that there's about $8 million going into the open space fund every year. >> Okay. >> So, >> all right. And I' I've been here before
and I've expressed misgivings the fact that no nothing's been acquired usually north of Amwell Road. Well, I guess the last one was north of of uh east of Hamilton Street. Um so that's good. But I'm hoping that somehow if we could
others municipalities sometimes find a way to you could say gum up the works for the warehouse people. In other words, acquire something in war two, something that could try to break up some of what the warehouse developers are doing, which is we're getting well,
warehouse township here, you know, and the BI was struck down, but we've still got three or four more warehouses were voted in anyway. So, I'm hoping that it could be done, especially more in W 2 to focus even buying a small piece of land
to keep it away from a larger uh development. So, just wanted to say that as well. And uh that's all it's up to anyone else to say anything about this piece of land. That's all I have. Thank you.
>> Thank you. I think uh SP open space is purchased as there as we see the there's some criterias around how we purchase this right we don't just don't go grab land we have to make sure it goes through >> I think that there's a number of different factors in involved in
acquiring uh land as open space and the most important factor of all is that you have to have a willing seller okay and they have to be willing to sell it at an amount that is you within reason to the
appraised value of it done in accordance with the Green Acres regulations for appraisals. So, you know, while you might have a piece of property that you could convince someone to sell, if they're selling it for two, three times
the actual appraised value of it, then the township really can't purchase that property. So, that's a big a big part of it is a willing seller. Um and and it has to have some some
open space purpose. Like the properties that we talked about in the fourth ward today both serve an open space purpose. We have identified through a a um an analysis done by staff members of our
health and and tree canopies and heat and all of the things related to that area of our township. the the you know the life expectancy right all of those things are impacted and one of the things that was identified was that
there was a need for more tree canopy that's why we're working toward with the shade tree commission to get more trees planted in the fourth and fifth ward but these properties were preserved from development there were developers that
one was already subdivided and one was purchased by a developer the West Point property for the purposes of developing it and building houses there. So, the goal here is to preserve those properties and leave them in their
current state, much like the other open space property at the other end of West Point Avenue that we referred to as the Scalone open space property that was purchased many years ago before I was the township manager with open space funds for that sole purpose of just
maintaining some undeveloped lands within the fourth ward. So, that's the reason why. >> Thank you. Um, any anyone else have any questions on this item or >> Okay, seeing no one come forward, I ask your unanimous consent to close the
public hearing on this item only hearing none. It's now closed. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. Any other discussions on this item? Madame Clerk, >> Councilman Barrison, >> yes.
>> Councilwoman Francois, >> yes. >> Councilman Karazzi, >> yes. >> Councilman Onaka, >> yes. >> Council member Vaznik, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Rudine, >> yes. >> Councilman Vasinella, >> yes. >> Councilman Wright, >> yes. Ordinance number 4481-25,
capital ordinance providing for the acquisition of property known as the Brener property located at block 5.02 02 lot 58 and also known as 3995 state route 27 in the township of Franklin County of Somerset State of New Jersey
appropriating $3,67,000. There from the open space trust fund of the township of Franklin to pay the cost thereof is presented for public hearing and final adoption. The public hearing has been noticed as required. >> I ask for your unanimous consent to open
to the public on this item only. Hearing no objection, we are now open to the public. Seeing no one come forward, I will now ask for your unanimous consent to close to the public. >> Hearing no objections, we are now close to the public. Do I have a motion?
>> So move to adopt. >> Second. >> Move uh moved and seconded. Any discussion on this item? >> Madame clerk. >> Councilman embarrass. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Francois. >> Yes. >> Councilman Karazzi. >> Yes. Councilman Oniaka, >> yes. >> Council member Bataznik,
>> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Redine, >> yes. >> Councilman Vasinella, >> yes. >> Councilman Wright, >> yes. >> Ordinance number 4482-25, an ordinance accepting conservation easement from Jeffrey J. Carter for premises known as block 507
38 lot 18.01, 101, also known as 179 Cedar Grove Lane, is presented for public hearing and final adoption. The public hearing has been noticed as required. I ask for your unanimous consent to open to the public on this item only.
Hearing no objections, we are now open to the public on this item only. Seeing no one come forward, I ask for your unanimous consent to close the public session. Hearing no objection. It is now closed. Do I have a motion to adopt?
>> So moved. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. Any discussion? >> Madame clerk. >> Councilman. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Francois. >> Yes. >> Councilman Karazzi. Yes. >> Councilman Oni Jaka. >> Yes. >> Council member Baznik. >> Yes.
>> Deputy Mayor Redee. >> Yes. >> Councilman Vasinella. Yes. >> Councilman Wright. >> Yes. >> Okay. We're at uh item number 15, ordinance on introduction and first reading. There's none. And now we're at
item 16, consent agenda. This items A tox as listed on the consent agenda portion of this meeting are presented to the township council for adoption. Do I have a motion on this consent agenda? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. Any discussion?
Madame clerk. Councilman of Aras. Yes. >> Councilwoman Francois. Yes. >> Councilman Karazzi. >> Councilman Oni Jaka. >> Yes. >> Council member Vatausnik. Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Redee. >> Yes. >> Councilman Vasanella. Yes. >> Councilman Wright. >> Yes.
>> Item 18, old business. Do we have any nominations for 2025 boards, commissions, and community vacancies? >> Deputy. Mayor, I have one nomination for the Historic Preservation Advisory Council Commission. >> Nomination. I'm I nominate Susan Carol
uh for a regular member position expiring 12312026. >> Any other nominations for this? >> We can do this by motion. >> Okay. >> All right. So, everyone in all in favor say I. I. >> Oppose say nay.
Congratulations to Sus and Carol. >> Um, and I think we are >> we are now at the last portion. There's no executive session. Do we have a motion to adjourn? >> So moved. >> Seconded.
>> Moved and seconded. All in favor say I. I. Oppose say nay. Be well. Franken.