Week of January 10

The week of January 10 was a busy week. Tuesday nights is open house at town hall- stop down some time and get to know your municipal employees. I plan on making it to town hall on as many Tuesday nights I can.

On Tuesday January 12 I met with our Tax Assessor, Construction Official, Zoning Officer, and Finance Director. I look forward to getting to know them, their jobs, and how we can all work together to give the citizens of Franklin the efficient and professional services that they deserve. The highlight of the evening was learning that the new school addition plans are in the Construction Official's office- check them out if you can- it is your tax dollars footing the bill for this project.

Wednesday January 13 was the reorganization meeting of the Land Use Board. I am the committee representative to the Board. Besides the formalities of appointing our chair/vice chair, engineer, planner, attorney, meeting schedule, newspaper, and secretary, we also interviewed 2 potential candidates for the Board and we held a brain storming session on our goals and objectives for 2010- the notes from this vision session is still on the white board in the upstairs meeting room in town hall- check it out! If anyone has questions about the Land Use Board feel free to contact me and I will do my best to get the answers you deserve.

Thursday January 14 was our Township Committee regular meeting. We received reports from our tax assessor, tax collector, public safety director, and public works department. We authorized $3,732 for a contract with City Connections, LLC for website services for 2010. We also adopted Resolution 2010-16 regarding Class II police officers which we carried over from our last meeting.

We approved a salvage yard license application for 552 Pittstown Road. We also received a Notice of Order to Comply from the NJ Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development / Office of Public Employee's Occupational Safety and Health. Basically we have to install railings at the front steps of town hall, install crash rails/guards near the LP gas containers in the rear parking lot, reconfigure some electrical equipment in the police patrol room. Some may see this as petty, but it does involve the safety of our employees.

We also approved St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center to act as our animal control officer for $6,300. We also appointed our Open Space Advisory Committee to serve as our 2010 Municipal Open Space Coordinator.

The Committee also serves as the Board of Health- at our meeting we granted septic system waiver requests for 371 Pittstown Road.

As you can read, it was a busy meeting- and a busy week! Still reading? Congratulations!