I am as happy to report that all of our students are back in the township school.
http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/10/franklin_students_will_be_back.html
Isn’t it amazing when the news is good there are no comments from the public but when things get sticky or controversial everyone is a backseat driver or Monday afternoon quarterback? I guess it is human nature; as an elected official I do hear more complaints than compliments which is the nature of the beast but let’s remember we are a community which shouldn’t preclude anyone from hurling a nicety every once in a while!
I would like to congratulate our Public Works Department on enabling us to receive a $7,061 recycling tonnage grant (2008) from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection. We ranked 4th in the county in monies received- great job guys! To view an article summarizing the grant results see:
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/10/hunterdon_towns_get_122000_in.html
Next year’s municipal budget is on my mind and apparently I am not the only elected official who is thinking 2011 already. The Hunterdon County Freeholders have already begun 2011 budget discussions:
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/10/hunterdon_freeholders_to_begin.html
Municipal governments are expected to pay an additional 12% in health benefits for their employees and contribute an additional 22% into the pension system. With revenues down, how are we expected to keep our local tax rate flat while keeping a respectable surplus? I have my own ideas and I invite your comments as well. Municipal officials await action in Trenton for guidance and tools:
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20101013_N_J__towns_work_on_budgets_with_scant_guidance.html
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Well we had our first frost advisory a last week, baseball playoffs are in full swing (no pun intended) and tomorrow is my birthday- fall is definitely upon us. I am honored to report to the residents of Franklin what I have been up to over the past few weeks:
Monday, September 27: Environmental Commission
While I am not the Committee liaison (Robert Shockley is), I attend the meetings as a member of the public. Before I was elected to the Committee I was the Environmental Commission Chairman and our Commission consists of a great group of smart and able volunteers who care a lot about Franklin so I will support them in any way I can.
The Commission reviewed the draft tree ordinance provided by the Land Use Board, they discussed topics of interest to include in the next township newsletter, I reminded them to think about next year’s budget, we discussed the school construction project, and some potential grant applications the township can apply for in the near future.
Tuesday, October 5: Recreation Commission
The annual Trunk or Treat Tailgate Party is being held Friday, October 29, 2010, beginning at 6:00 PM at the Clinton Elks Club on Sidney Road. Open to all Franklin residents, here is the flyer:
http://www.franklin-twp.org/Trunk_Treat_tailgate_flyer2010.pdf
The Commission welcomed new member Rich Cavallaro and lamented the departure of Sherrie Peterson. Mark Mroz was elected Chairman and as Committee liaison I look forward to working with Chairman Mroz and the rest of the Commission on their budget requests and ensuring their events are successful and well attended by Franklin residents. If anyone is interested in participating in the “Over 30” basketball program, of the youth basketball program, please contact me or our township clerk and either of us will put you in contact with the right people.
Thursday, October 7: Rural Awareness & Saturday, October 9, Rural Awareness Harvest Home Tour
I attended the October Rural Awareness meeting and the meeting was dominated by planning and preparation for the October 9 Harvest Home Tour. I volunteered for the tour, had a chance to meet many Franklin residents, and I got to see some very nice homes. Not only do all the volunteers deserve a hand for the work they did, but the homeowners deserve special appreciation for opening their beautiful homes to the public.
Thursday, October 14, Township Committee & Board of Health
With Mayor Jacukowicz not in attendance Deputy Mayor McGeary took charge of the gavel and ran the meeting like a pro. Business we tackled that night included the following:
1. We approved our September 23 work session and executive session meeting minutes.
2. Our Tax Collector reported receipt of $102,986.06 which included $9,411.81 in 2009 taxes, AND $4,37 in 2011 pre-pay taxes!
3. We paid the bills by approving the check control register covering 9/10/10 through 10/14/10. We disbursed $290,417.86; big ticket items included: $102,000.00 (capital appropriations), $48,329.00 (9/23 municipal payroll), $36,808.10 (10/08 municipal payroll), $18,474.95 (3rd quarter employer disability), $18,000.00 (Quakertown Volunteer Fire Company), $13,500.00 (auditor William Colantano), and $12,255.00 (pole building for the Public Works property). As always, our check control register is public information and available at the clerk’s office. I invite all those interested to review these bills, ask questions, and provide suggestions on how we can reduce our spending.
4. Our Police Director submitted his September 2010 report. A special note was made in the police report that the Class II Special Officers volunteered 70 hours of their time in September; the same officers donated 85 hours of their time in August. Thank you! The Department issued 181 vehicle summonses and 212 warnings.
5. The Quakertown Fire Company Division of Emergency Medical Services provided us with a 3rd quarter 2010 report. In the 3rd quarter of 2010 QFC EMS responded to 53 service calls and the QFC responded to 63 fire-related emergencies. The report included response times which revealed that average en route time for the ambulance or first-responder vehicles was less than 2 minutes 30 seconds. I want to thank Chief Bradley Patkochis for keeping up on his quarterly reports to the Committee and for being responsive to our requests for information.
6. We approved Resolution 2010-64 accepting a grant award of $5,000 from the NJ Dept. of Law and Public Safety.
7. We approved Resolution 2010-65 accepting the resignation of Sherrie Peterson from the Recreation Commission which also included a resolution of appreciation for her contribution to the Commission between 2003 and 2010.
8. We approved Resolution 2010-66 imposing a Halloween curfew from 10/27/10 through 11/1/10 – anyone younger than 18 must be off the streets unless accompanied by an adult. Side note: as a young, young buck I used to dread the ol Halloween curfew in my hometown and now I am reading the curfew resolution of my hometown into the public record- funny how things turn out sometimes.
9. Of 3 bidders for the West Sidney Road Improvement Phase I project, we awarded the contract to DeSantis Construction in the amount of $262,585.47. The two losing bids were in the amount of $277,733, and $296,234.
10. Our Public Works Director submitted his September 2010 report. Highlights from the report include asphalt repair on the following roadways: Baker, Hogback, Old Franklin School, Pine Hill, Pleasant View, River, Upper Kingtown, and West Sidney.
11. As the Board of Health we approved our September 23 meeting minutes, approved Resolution 2010-67 concerning a septic design for Block 34, Lot 6, and we did not approve Ordinance 2010-08 “Authorizing the registration of septic system businesses providing septic system services in the township”. A little commentary on this ordinance: I came to the meeting thinking I was going to approve this ordinance. Have septic pumpers register with the township, at the end of each year they submit to us a list of tanks they pumped in the township, this enables us to keep track of who has pumped which helps us with our own record keeping. We keep permit records of electrical, plumbing, and construction work performed by registered contractors, why not septic maintenance as well?
This is why we have public meetings and decisions to pass laws are not made in back rooms! After listening to members of the public in attendance and my fellow Committee member’s concerns, I was inclined to vote “no” for various reasons. I think we can achieve the goal of maintaining clean aquifers through other means, including educating residents, and in the spirit of less government perhaps now is not the time to impose any new regulations on the public, or burden our municipal employees with any additional record keeping. In light of the “no” vote, I ask the Environmental Commission to work on progressive ways to educate our citizens on septic and well upkeep / maintenance.
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