December 20 – December 31, 2010

Thursday, December 23: Township Committee
Out of respect to the two new committee members, the present committee agreed to carry ordinances 2010-09 (Recycling), 2010-10 (Solar Energy Systems), and 2010-11 (Lighting) to January 13, 2010.

The Recycling ordinance can be viewed in the township clerk’s office.

The Solar Energy Systems ordinance can be viewed here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/45662473/Solar-Energy-Ordinance-for-Dec-23-Hearing

The Lighting ordinance can be viewed here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/45686513/Lighting-Ordinance-Hearing-Dec-23

The Committee agreed to pass Ordinance 2010-12 which as of December 23, 2010 suspended COAH fees to residential structural improvements and expansions.

We received our Tax Collector’s reports for October and November 2010. In October we collected $656,341.64. In November we collected $2,366,145.36

We paid our bills checks dated 12/16 through 12/23. Big ticket items included: $282,241.51 (Transfer of tax levy into our township open space and recreation account), $93,750.00 (4th installment of the fire district tax), and $33,094 (12/17 municipal payroll). The complete check control register is always available for public view at the township clerk’s office. In 2011 I am going to work on getting the check control register posted on the township website.

The Committee approved by a vote of 4-1 a three year agreement (1/1/10 -12/31/12) for the Public Works Department union and for a one year agreement (1/1/10 – 12/31/10) for our non-union DPW supervisor. I was the lone dissenting vote because the agreement contained 3% raises each year. Our DPW does a great job… “however”… given the extremely difficult economic climate we are enduring, our increased costs, decreasing revenue, and my preference for reducing government spending, I could not vote for a contract with such a schedule of increased pay.

We passed resolution 2010-83 which cancelled several capital improvement fund accounts, specifically: $9,587.36 for the purchase of a 4x4 vehicle, $6,445.63 for the purchase and installation of an emergency generator, and $799.90 for the purchase of a sport utility vehicle.

Our CFO Ron Matthews gave us and the public a “snapshot” look at our open space funding mechanisms and suggestions on how we could use those funds to pay down past debt on previous open space purchases. I found the presentation very worthwhile and clear to understand. In the near future I will reproduce Mr. Matthew’s table he wrote on the white board in the municipal building. The bottom line is we receive about $282,000 each year in our open space tax, we have accumulated debt from past open space purchases and we need to initiate a payment plan to reduce this debt. In the short term this payment plan may hamper us from purchasing additional open space, however if the right property should become available there are still ways for us to finance the purchase of that property.


Thursday, December 30, 2010: Township Committee
Our year end meeting was only 15 minutes long and it basically served as a formal way to close the financial books on year 2010. We passed Resolution 2010-84 which transferred a total of $69,350 of funds between appropriations. We also approved payments of $2,598 in bills.

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On December 9, three Exceptional Duty Awards and one Civilian Service Award were given to four employees of Franklin Township.

Class II Patrolman Joseph Cesare and Patrolman John Oliveira were commended for their action on July 25, 2010. While on duty they made a motor vehicle stop and arrested two individuals for possession with intent to distribute drugs. Further investigation yielded the discovery of $23,000 cash and the subsequent forfeiture of the cash and the Chevrolet Suburban.

Detective Timothy Snyder was commended for his action on June 30, 2010. While on duty Detective Snyder responded to a go-cart crash with two individuals suffering serious injuries after falling off an 80 foot cliff. Detective Snyder waded hip deep across a river in full uniform and rendered first aid and stabilized the victims until Emergency Medical Services arrived.

Marie Wedel was commended for over ten years of service to the Franklin Township Police Department.

All four individuals are exemplary employees of Franklin Township and they have much to be proud of; their commendations are well deserved, congratulations.

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As 2010 comes to an end I look back on my first year serving the public as a committeeman. I wouldn’t exchange the last year for anything; I have embraced my responsibilities with enthusiasm, seriousness, and honesty. I have voted my consciousness after gathering all of the facts. I have gotten to know many more people in Franklin and that to me is the best part of my job. 2011 will be full of challenges and I am looking forward to working together with the township committee, our municipal employees, our commissions and boards, and most importantly, our residents on addressing these challenges as they arise.