It has been a very exciting summer serving as your mayor. Our Memorial Day ceremony always puts things into proper perspective about what “sacrifice” is and how sacred our freedom is in our country. Our first annual Community Day was a great success thanks to countless volunteers and everyone who made the event special. In case you missed it, I spent some time in the dunking tank- perhaps I have started a new mayoral tradition? I was honored to be part of our school awards ceremony; I told our children who were moving onto high school that they should be prepared to have their values, bodies, and brains challenged as they grow into young adults, and they should cherish the friends they made in Franklin.
I would like to thank Ron Matthews for serving as our Chief Financial Officer; Ron retired on July 1 and served as our CFO for many years. I wish Ron the best and welcome Diane Laudenbach as our new CFO. Diane has been a certified municipal financial officer since 1994 and has CFO experience in many Hunterdon County municipalities; the Township Committee and I look forward to working with Diane.
Looking back on my first seven months as mayor, I can say that the experience has been very challenging, humbling, and rewarding. The most rewarding aspect of the job is that I have met so many residents who were more than willing to volunteer their expertise to a township issue regardless of its complexities- that says a lot about the folks who live here. I am pleased that many members of the public have attended our Committee meetings and have been vocal about their opinions and beliefs. I also want to make it known that our municipal employees have been very patient and professional during our budget hearings. As a part-time mayor, I rely on our employees for many things- they are the faces you see at the municipal building, they are the ones who plow our roads, and protect our residents. Our employees deserve all of our thanks and support- I receive many phone calls and emails from residents saying what a great job our employees do and that makes me proud as well.
There is only so much I can communicate in our newsletter but the conversation shouldn’t stop here- attend our Committee meetings, email me, or call me with your ideas and comments- I would love to hear from you. Have a safe summer.
