As I am writing this blog entry from my office this afternoon I see a hot air balloon working its way across the horizon. Few yellow and orange leaves remain on the trees after this week’s wind, and as the sun begins its descent I have a sense of comfort and peace living in Franklin Township. Do you feel that way too?
November 2: Election Day
Congratulations to Committeewomen-Elect Vigdis Austad and Sue Campbell. Here is a link to their website which describes who they are, their background and experiences, and what motivated them to run for elected office:
http://www.ftvote.com/Site/Meet_the_Township_Committee_Candidates.html
I look forward to working with Ms. Austad, Ms. Campbell in 2011.
November 10: Land Use Board
A good portion of the meeting was spent discussing the draft Comprehensive Farmland Preservation Plan (CFPP). The CFPP was prepared through a cooperative effort between the Township Committee, Land Use Board, Agricultural Advisory Committee, Open Space Advisory Committee, the Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance, and Franklin resident volunteers. Adoption of the CFPP into our master plan would allow us to apply for and receive funding from the State Agricultural Development Committee (SADC) through state-sponsored Municipal Planning Incentive Grants. It is my understanding from the SADC that we are eligible for $1.25 million in state funding to purchase development easements from qualified farms with no local match required. Adoption of this plan is important if we wish for Franklin to continue to protect its farmland and agriculture. Anyone who wishes to see a copy of the draft can do so in the municipal building, Board Secretary’s office, or email me and I will provide you a PDF copy. The Board discussed the plan and chose to carry the vote to their December 8 meeting.
The Board also reviewed a revised draft of solar / wind power ordinance. At this point I do not anticipate the Committee receiving a finished ordinance in 2010. My message to the Land Use Board and Environmental Commission on this matter is to do your due diligence and prepare the best ordinance possible- it is your job to use your expertise and forward the best ordinance to the Committee. In turn, it is our job to determine how the policy is suitable for the township. Keep us informed of your progress and we will keep communication lines open with you and the public.
November 11: Township Committee
Committeemen McGeary and Tarshis were absent so between Mayor Jacukowicz, Committeeman Tarshis, and myself, we managed to conduct the town’s business in short time. We adjourned from our regular meeting at 8:21- by far the shortest meeting I’ve participated in since I have been on Committee. Kudos for Committeewoman-Elect Austad for being in attendance. Highlights from the meeting included:
1. Adopting the October 28, 2010 work session and executive session meeting minutes.
2. We authorized the payment of bills through November 11, 2010. Big ticket items included: 11/5 municipal payroll ($37,271), and municipal attorney fees ($6,199)
3. Police / Public Safety Director Ken Mandoli gave his October report; highlights included 4 adult arrests, 100 motor vehicle summonses, and 140 motor vehicle warnings. Mr. Mandoli reported 186 cars at the Trunk or Treat event, and he informed us that Class II Special Officers volunteered 43 hours of their time to the township, reducing the need for overtime costs. Mr. Mandoli also provided us with a copy of his 2010 year end report (10/1/09 – 9/30/10) for the Office of Emergency Management (OEM). The report stated that our Emergency Operations Plan is current through 2014. His report included a summary of events, programs and training that the OEM and our Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) were involved with during the year. Mr. Mandoli informed us that with the submission of his OEM report to the State Police, the township qualified for a $5,000 grant from the State.
4. We adopted Resolution 2010-70 re-appointing Ken Mandoli to serve as Coordinator of the Office of Emergency Management for a 3 year term, effective October 1, 2010 at an annual salary at $1,266.00.
5. We adopted Resolution 2010-71 to authorize ADR Towing, Ralph Anthony Automotive, Ray Fisher Auto Body, and Superior Towing and Transport to provide towing and storage of motor vehicles for 2011 and 2012.
6. We finally authorized the Mayor to sign the agreement for deer carcass removal services for 2010. Re-authorizing should be much simpler in 2011 now that the legal framework has already been laid out and has passed the smell test… so you don’t have to!
7. We received the Public Works October monthly report. Highlights included budget preparations for 2011, police vehicle service and repair, mounting snow equipment on vehicles, snow fence installation, maintaining the recycling center, and ditch/shoulder/drain/basin work on Baker Road, Old Franklin School Road, and Oak Grove Road. A pre-construction meeting took place on November 19 for phase 1 of West Sidney Road improvements.
8. At 8:00 PM the Committee switched hats and became the Board of Health where we adopted our October 14 meeting minutes then heard a septic system waiver request for Block 135, Lot 23; 207 Cherryville Road. The property owner was requesting a design waiver to allow the septic disposal bed to be located within 12 inches of the regional water table when 24 inches is required. Soil logs demonstrated that the water table is 18 inches below grade. The owner proposes to mound the system so that the disposal bed will still be 24 inches above the water table. Our township engineer reviewed the plans and cited no objection to the design waiver and we subsequently granted the request.
November 17 & 18: League of Municipalities Conference
I attended the 95th Annual League of Municipalities Conference in Atlantic City. I attended 5 sessions and managed to cover the convention floor twice. The sessions I attended were:
“A Review and Discussion of Governor Christie’s Property Tax Relief Toolkit”;
“Pension Reforms- What do They Mean?”;
“Elected Officials Refresher on Budget, Procurement, and Finance Purchasing Issues”;
“Elected Officials Refresher on Ethics, Public Meetings, Open Public Records, and Civility in Public Discourse”; and
“Capital Spending in an Uncertain Economy”
I have attended the Conference since the mid 1990s in different capacities- as a vendor, as a municipal planning board member, as a county planner, as a municipal planner, and now as an elected official. The Conference provides attendees the opportunity to network, learn from their peers, and take back ideas to our communities. From the exhibitors on the convention floor I picked up information on website providers, green products and sustainable energy companies, insurance providers, affordable housing consultants, and public works equipment companies.
Overall the League Conference is a good experience for those involved in government; I recommend that elected officials go at least once while they are in office and that you make the most of your stay. When I was not in workshop sessions I was visiting exhibitors; I would be more than happy to share my notes and brochures with anyone who expresses an interest in getting an up close and detailed report on each of the sessions and exhibitor material.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
October 18 – October 31, 2010
On Wednesday October 20 I met with planners Rick Steffey and Bill Millette of the Hunterdon County Planning Board to discuss the status of farmland and open space preservation in Franklin Township. The County offers to meet with municipalities on a monthly basis to discuss the status of ongoing farmland and open space preservation projects as well as anything else that might pop up during conversation. This was my first meeting with these gentlemen – I was filling in for Mayor Jacukowicz and Open Space Chairman John Demarrais who could not attend. I used the meeting as a fact finding mission for myself and I look forward to attending more of these meetings.
Our county planners are helpful and wiling to offer assistance when they can. As a planner myself, and a former county planner (Union County), I commend the Hunterdon County planners on scheduling these meetings on a monthly basis- open communication is key to cooperation and I am looking forward to taking advantage of this opportunity the County has given us. If there are any issues Franklin residents would like me to present to the County please contact me and I will do all that I can to assist.
I missed the October 25 Environmental Commission meeting. My review of their meeting minutes revealed they are working on a tree ordinance, GIS trails mapping, and they want to participate in the review of a recycling ordinance that the Committee has been discussing.
On Saturday October 23 I joined the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts in their annual roadside litter patrol. I’ll be honest- picking up litter at 8:30 AM on a Saturday wasn’t the first thing I wanted to be doing but as the morning progressed I found the experience rewarding and downright therapeutic. I got to know more Franklin residents, with two sons I am sure at least one will be interested in scouting, and being able to walk some of our most beautiful rural roads on a crisp, fall Saturday morning while beautifying them by removing trash was rewarding in its own way. Many folks driving by slowed down to thank us for the work we were doing.
I want to thank Jim Foran for accommodating my desire to be part of this project- I was the only non-scout affiliated person in the crowd and Jim made me feel comfortable enough to want to come back the next time the scouts decide to do litter patrol.
Wednesday October 27 was the Land Use Board meeting where we heard and approved an application for a lot line adjustment (minor subdivision) on Block 10, Lot 11. I had to recuse myself from the second hearing of the night involving Block 10, Lot 26. The Land Use Board has a few draft ordinances in the works, in particular I was given a copy of a draft solar / wind power ordinance.
Thursday October 28 was our Township Committee workshop session. Highlights from the meeting included:
1. Adoption of the 10/14 executive session and regular meeting minutes
2. Payment of the bills. The 800 pound gorillas in this check run included: transfer of tax levy to the Franklin Board of Education ($801,185), transfer of tax levy to the North Hunterdon/Voorhees High School ($529,748), 4th quarter county taxes ($425,455), 10/22 municipal payroll ($45,544), 4th quarter county open space tax ($44,187), 4th quarter county library tax ($35,895), December billing for the North Hunterdon Municipal Court ($9,024), and we paid our township attorney $8,161. The check control registry is public information so if you want to see it in its entirety, stop by the clerk’s office.
3. We approved resolution 2010-69 supporting the “Over the Limit Under Arrest 2010 Year End Statewide Crackdown” whereby we pledge to increase awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving; our police officers will exercise increased impaired driving enforcement from December 6, 2010 through January 2, 2011.
4. We discussed a recycling ordinance (again!)…. It was formally introduced and referred to the Environmental Commission for their review. The public hearing on the ordinance will be on December 9, 2010.
5. We approved to spend (an amount not to exceed) $6,500 for a sound system upgrade for the meeting room. The upgrade consists of a digital recording system, wall mounted speakers, new microphones, transcription software package, installation and set up costs. The lowest quote that suited our needs was from Gramco Business Communications. The two other bids received were in the amount of $10,460, and $15,710. This sound system will be used not only by the Committee, but also by the Land Use Board, and any other group that chooses to conduct a public meeting in the municipal building. The system will enable us to have audio files of the meeting available on the township website and we can do away with the cassette tapes.
6. Our zoning officer reported on the zoning applications received year to date. For 2010 our zoning officer has reviewed 63 zoning applications. October’s applications included an equipment shelter and new antennas to the existing monopole at 95 Quakertown Road, and a residential roof mounted solar array.
7. The Committee reluctantly accepted longtime Land Use Board member Kurt Fischer’s resignation from the Land Use Board. I’ve known Kurt since I began on the Land Use Board in 2006; he was a valuable asset to the Board, his knowledge and dedication will be sorely missed and I wish him the best. Mayor Jacukowicz appointed alternate Board member David Dallas to Kurt’s unexpired term.
8. Our township planner gave us an update on the Appellate Court decision on COAH’s Third Round Rules and its impact on Franklin Township’s Third Round Plan. A copy of the document can be viewed here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/40781910/101026-COAH-Update
COAH stands for the Council on Affordable Housing and they are a state agency whose purpose is to ensure that each NJ municipality provides its fair share of affordable housing. The history of COAH goes back to the mid 1970s, it is not my intent to give the background or express my personal opinion about the topic of affordable housing; my purpose here is to keep Franklin residents informed on our legal obligations and the cost to the taxpayer. The Appellate Division invalidated COAH’s third round growth share methodology and directed COAH to come up with a new way to determine each local government’s fair share obligation within 5 months. How does this affect Franklin? Our COAH assigned 65 unit obligation number has now been invalidated; we should get a new number within 5 months. Our township planner’s letter spells out our situation succulently, for now the Committee has chosen to “stay pat” until the rest of the cards fall- once we have a new affordable obligation number to work with we can either contend it or decide to work with it. What upsets me is that all of our work and dollars that went into our first 3rd round report was also invalidated- we are not getting refunded the money we paid to prepare our reports, and as the statewide policy continues to morph, we have to continue paying our consultants to stay on top of the issues or we risk being sued by developers.
9. We received a letter from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection informing us that we stand to lose $137,427 in Green Acres funding. We were awarded the funds in September 2008 and there has been “no movement on the Township’s part to advance a land acquisition project since August 2009”. If we wish to pursue the acquisition of a parcel related to our Open Space Plan we need to inform Green Acres by December 1. The Committee is taking this letter seriously; our finance officer is going to inform us about how much money is in our open space accounts and we will then decide whether it is prudent to proceed with open space purchases at this time. The letter concluded by stating that our decision not to proceed with spending the $137,427 would not jeopardize future Green Acres funding.
My personal commentary on matter: I support open space and farmland preservation- keeping Franklin rural and agricultural is the reason why I first volunteered on the Land Use Board, it is why I am active with Rural Awareness, and it is also one of the reasons why I decided to run for public office. Our audit ending December 2009 states we have $279,881 in our open space account. We are anticipated to collect an additional $280,000 this year. We still need to pay down past open space acquisitions- Summit Manor ($425,000), and we need to start making payments on the $1,122,996 we spent in 2006 on acquiring development easements on a 70 acre parcel on Sidney Road. I understand from the Open Space Advisory Committee that we have $117,000 due from the County open space tax. There are also other opportunities to obtain matching funds for open space acquisition. All this said, I am a firm believer of moving ahead with a “clean slate”- we need to control our debt that has accumulated from past open space purchases. If we have to wait out a round of open space acquisition in order to manage our finances that are already making an impact on our budget that is something we are going to have to do now. While I support open space acquisition it must be done in a way that has minimal impact on our daily operating expenses and if we have outstanding debt that still requires financing I am uncomfortable moving forward and passing on the debt to future Committees because it will be the taxpayers who will get burnt. If I have any of my facts misconstrued I invite your comment; I understand the Open Space Advisory Committee is meeting in early December and I look forward to meeting with them to discuss how we can work together in managing our past debt while planning for the future.
I had the honor to be a judge for the costume contest at the Township Trunk or Treat Tailgate Party held on Friday, October 29, sponsored by the Recreation Commission and the Police Department. The CERT (Certified Emergency Response Team) and the Quakertown Fire Department did a great job with vehicle and crowd control. In the spirit of Halloween I arrived in a pretty outrageous costume; I just hope the pictures took don’t come back to haunt me! If you missed Trunk or Treat you missed out on a lot of fun! After the costume contest everyone headed to the tailgate party where I witnessed the talents of our residents who decorated their vehicles in the spirit of Halloween. I grew up in suburban Milltown, New Jersey and when it came to trick-or-treating there were many houses close together and we made out like bandits on Halloween. When my wife and I moved to Franklin one of the things I thought about was “well there goes my children’s chance at trick-or-treating, we will have to drive to Clinton or Flemington for decent trick or treating.” I was pleasantly surprised at the Trunk or Treat turnout, the friendliness of the attendees, and the whole atmosphere at the Trunk or Treat Tailgate Party; now I can rest easy knowing that my children will have fine memories of Halloween in their hometown just as I did.
Our county planners are helpful and wiling to offer assistance when they can. As a planner myself, and a former county planner (Union County), I commend the Hunterdon County planners on scheduling these meetings on a monthly basis- open communication is key to cooperation and I am looking forward to taking advantage of this opportunity the County has given us. If there are any issues Franklin residents would like me to present to the County please contact me and I will do all that I can to assist.
I missed the October 25 Environmental Commission meeting. My review of their meeting minutes revealed they are working on a tree ordinance, GIS trails mapping, and they want to participate in the review of a recycling ordinance that the Committee has been discussing.
On Saturday October 23 I joined the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts in their annual roadside litter patrol. I’ll be honest- picking up litter at 8:30 AM on a Saturday wasn’t the first thing I wanted to be doing but as the morning progressed I found the experience rewarding and downright therapeutic. I got to know more Franklin residents, with two sons I am sure at least one will be interested in scouting, and being able to walk some of our most beautiful rural roads on a crisp, fall Saturday morning while beautifying them by removing trash was rewarding in its own way. Many folks driving by slowed down to thank us for the work we were doing.
I want to thank Jim Foran for accommodating my desire to be part of this project- I was the only non-scout affiliated person in the crowd and Jim made me feel comfortable enough to want to come back the next time the scouts decide to do litter patrol.
Wednesday October 27 was the Land Use Board meeting where we heard and approved an application for a lot line adjustment (minor subdivision) on Block 10, Lot 11. I had to recuse myself from the second hearing of the night involving Block 10, Lot 26. The Land Use Board has a few draft ordinances in the works, in particular I was given a copy of a draft solar / wind power ordinance.
Thursday October 28 was our Township Committee workshop session. Highlights from the meeting included:
1. Adoption of the 10/14 executive session and regular meeting minutes
2. Payment of the bills. The 800 pound gorillas in this check run included: transfer of tax levy to the Franklin Board of Education ($801,185), transfer of tax levy to the North Hunterdon/Voorhees High School ($529,748), 4th quarter county taxes ($425,455), 10/22 municipal payroll ($45,544), 4th quarter county open space tax ($44,187), 4th quarter county library tax ($35,895), December billing for the North Hunterdon Municipal Court ($9,024), and we paid our township attorney $8,161. The check control registry is public information so if you want to see it in its entirety, stop by the clerk’s office.
3. We approved resolution 2010-69 supporting the “Over the Limit Under Arrest 2010 Year End Statewide Crackdown” whereby we pledge to increase awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving; our police officers will exercise increased impaired driving enforcement from December 6, 2010 through January 2, 2011.
4. We discussed a recycling ordinance (again!)…. It was formally introduced and referred to the Environmental Commission for their review. The public hearing on the ordinance will be on December 9, 2010.
5. We approved to spend (an amount not to exceed) $6,500 for a sound system upgrade for the meeting room. The upgrade consists of a digital recording system, wall mounted speakers, new microphones, transcription software package, installation and set up costs. The lowest quote that suited our needs was from Gramco Business Communications. The two other bids received were in the amount of $10,460, and $15,710. This sound system will be used not only by the Committee, but also by the Land Use Board, and any other group that chooses to conduct a public meeting in the municipal building. The system will enable us to have audio files of the meeting available on the township website and we can do away with the cassette tapes.
6. Our zoning officer reported on the zoning applications received year to date. For 2010 our zoning officer has reviewed 63 zoning applications. October’s applications included an equipment shelter and new antennas to the existing monopole at 95 Quakertown Road, and a residential roof mounted solar array.
7. The Committee reluctantly accepted longtime Land Use Board member Kurt Fischer’s resignation from the Land Use Board. I’ve known Kurt since I began on the Land Use Board in 2006; he was a valuable asset to the Board, his knowledge and dedication will be sorely missed and I wish him the best. Mayor Jacukowicz appointed alternate Board member David Dallas to Kurt’s unexpired term.
8. Our township planner gave us an update on the Appellate Court decision on COAH’s Third Round Rules and its impact on Franklin Township’s Third Round Plan. A copy of the document can be viewed here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/40781910/101026-COAH-Update
COAH stands for the Council on Affordable Housing and they are a state agency whose purpose is to ensure that each NJ municipality provides its fair share of affordable housing. The history of COAH goes back to the mid 1970s, it is not my intent to give the background or express my personal opinion about the topic of affordable housing; my purpose here is to keep Franklin residents informed on our legal obligations and the cost to the taxpayer. The Appellate Division invalidated COAH’s third round growth share methodology and directed COAH to come up with a new way to determine each local government’s fair share obligation within 5 months. How does this affect Franklin? Our COAH assigned 65 unit obligation number has now been invalidated; we should get a new number within 5 months. Our township planner’s letter spells out our situation succulently, for now the Committee has chosen to “stay pat” until the rest of the cards fall- once we have a new affordable obligation number to work with we can either contend it or decide to work with it. What upsets me is that all of our work and dollars that went into our first 3rd round report was also invalidated- we are not getting refunded the money we paid to prepare our reports, and as the statewide policy continues to morph, we have to continue paying our consultants to stay on top of the issues or we risk being sued by developers.
9. We received a letter from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection informing us that we stand to lose $137,427 in Green Acres funding. We were awarded the funds in September 2008 and there has been “no movement on the Township’s part to advance a land acquisition project since August 2009”. If we wish to pursue the acquisition of a parcel related to our Open Space Plan we need to inform Green Acres by December 1. The Committee is taking this letter seriously; our finance officer is going to inform us about how much money is in our open space accounts and we will then decide whether it is prudent to proceed with open space purchases at this time. The letter concluded by stating that our decision not to proceed with spending the $137,427 would not jeopardize future Green Acres funding.
My personal commentary on matter: I support open space and farmland preservation- keeping Franklin rural and agricultural is the reason why I first volunteered on the Land Use Board, it is why I am active with Rural Awareness, and it is also one of the reasons why I decided to run for public office. Our audit ending December 2009 states we have $279,881 in our open space account. We are anticipated to collect an additional $280,000 this year. We still need to pay down past open space acquisitions- Summit Manor ($425,000), and we need to start making payments on the $1,122,996 we spent in 2006 on acquiring development easements on a 70 acre parcel on Sidney Road. I understand from the Open Space Advisory Committee that we have $117,000 due from the County open space tax. There are also other opportunities to obtain matching funds for open space acquisition. All this said, I am a firm believer of moving ahead with a “clean slate”- we need to control our debt that has accumulated from past open space purchases. If we have to wait out a round of open space acquisition in order to manage our finances that are already making an impact on our budget that is something we are going to have to do now. While I support open space acquisition it must be done in a way that has minimal impact on our daily operating expenses and if we have outstanding debt that still requires financing I am uncomfortable moving forward and passing on the debt to future Committees because it will be the taxpayers who will get burnt. If I have any of my facts misconstrued I invite your comment; I understand the Open Space Advisory Committee is meeting in early December and I look forward to meeting with them to discuss how we can work together in managing our past debt while planning for the future.
I had the honor to be a judge for the costume contest at the Township Trunk or Treat Tailgate Party held on Friday, October 29, sponsored by the Recreation Commission and the Police Department. The CERT (Certified Emergency Response Team) and the Quakertown Fire Department did a great job with vehicle and crowd control. In the spirit of Halloween I arrived in a pretty outrageous costume; I just hope the pictures took don’t come back to haunt me! If you missed Trunk or Treat you missed out on a lot of fun! After the costume contest everyone headed to the tailgate party where I witnessed the talents of our residents who decorated their vehicles in the spirit of Halloween. I grew up in suburban Milltown, New Jersey and when it came to trick-or-treating there were many houses close together and we made out like bandits on Halloween. When my wife and I moved to Franklin one of the things I thought about was “well there goes my children’s chance at trick-or-treating, we will have to drive to Clinton or Flemington for decent trick or treating.” I was pleasantly surprised at the Trunk or Treat turnout, the friendliness of the attendees, and the whole atmosphere at the Trunk or Treat Tailgate Party; now I can rest easy knowing that my children will have fine memories of Halloween in their hometown just as I did.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
September 26 – October 17, 2010
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.
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
========
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.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
September 19 – September 25, 2010
On Monday September 20, I met with Franklin resident Frank Bell (http://www.bellarchitect.com) to draft out our application for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant rebate program. The program is sponsored by New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program and no-match funding up to $20,000 per municipality is available for energy audits of municipal-owned buildings. The applications are due by December 31 but we are going to get ours in by the first or second week of October. I will keep you posted on the progress of this grant application through this blog site.
On Tuesday, September 21 I met with our Financial Officer Ron Matthews to draft out our Local Government Best Practices Checklist that is due back to the State Department of Community Affairs on October 1. This checklist consists of 88 questions each NJ municipality is required to answer “yes, no, or not applicable”; the number of “yes” answers will depend on the percentage of final State aid payout the town gets. Here are our results: we scored 50 yes points which resulted in a 98% of final State aid payout- what does that mean in dollars? Our total State aid is about $275,000; our final payout is 5% or $13,750; and 98% of that is $13,475, so we lost $275 in State aid. I am not one to discount any dollar loss but I thought our loss was going to be a lot more than $275.
On Wednesday, September 22 I attended the special meeting of the Board of Education at which time they announced contingency plans for the first day of classes- September 27. Everyone was disappointed that the school wouldn’t be ready by the 27th, but many more were upset about the proposed school bus pickup / drop off location which was supposed to happen in front of the school. The location was later changed to St. Catherine’s Church. Since the 22nd it has been announced that classes K-5 will be starting school on the 28th at the school (http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/09/classes_for_k-5_students_will.html). I’ve noticed tremendous progress over last week, even today (Sunday) scores of workers were on site so it looks like it will sooner rather than later that the school will be habitable by students of all classes. So long as the construction area is separate and does not affect the students safety and concentration, perhaps both can co-exist until all of the work is done and we can close this ugly chapter of Township history.
On Thursday, September 23 the Township Committee meeting held its work session. The usual season ticket holders were present- what does it take to get more members of the public to attend? Here is a breakdown of what happened:
1. We approved the 9/9/10 meeting minutes
2. Ken Mandoli acting on behalf of the non-profit group “Remember Together” gave a presentation on a proposed 9/11/01 memorial at Landsdown Meadows. Remember Together is seeking consent of the Committee to move forward with the project and we consented. The memorial is slated to be finished by September 11, 2011. A recent article on njnews.com explains the memorial in greater detail: http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/07/sept_11_monument_planned_by_fr.html
3. We authorized payment of bills from 9/10/10 through 9/23/10. Big ticket items included the 3rd installment of the Fire District tax levy ($75,000), the 9/9/10 municipal employee payroll ($32,729), road surface treatment for Nixon Farm Road ($21,931), and the October billing for the Municipal Court of North Hunterdon ($9,024). The total amount of checks cut between 9/10/10 and 9/23/10 was $155,650.43.
4. Public Safety Director Ken Mandoli is going to look into utilizing a “Speed Sentry” radar sign which displays motorists’ speeds and records speed data. The sign is available on loan to municipalities for up to one month free of charge. Mr. Mandoli is going to find out how much it costs after the first month but it is a first come, first serve basis.
5. At 8:00 PM the Committee changed hats and became the Board of Health where we concluded a hearing of a septic system for Block 34, Lot 6 and granted a 3 month approval extension for Block 26, Lot 10.
6. Our clerical assistant update included the cancellation of monthly rug service delivery by Aramark- we were paying $300 plus a month for the rug service- instead we purchased rugs for $420 and will maintain them ourselves. I got on this issue a few months ago and I am glad we have resolved it by purchasing our own rugs. This may be small potatoes when we are talking about a $3.3 million dollar annual budget, but if I can find places to save money- no matter how small- I will do it.
7. Speaking of saving money, we approved Resolution 2010-63 which requests the Hunterdon County Freeholders to engage in an analysis of all police, fire, and rescue services. Several other municipalities in Hunterdon County have sent the Freeholders similar resolutions so let’s see if they act on it or not.
8. From the good, to the bad, to the ugly, Town Committee gets it all- we approved a deer carcass removal agreement with a private company at a cost of $58.00 per carcass. Hunterdon County takes care of carcass removal from county roadways but on local roadways, we are on our own. Carcasses will be removed within a timely 48 hours.
Upcoming events in Franklin for October include the Rural Awareness Harvest Home Tour October 9 and the Halloween Trunk or Treat is being held at the Elks Lodge on October 29 from 6:30 – 9 PM.
Fall is my favorite time of the year, but it happens so quickly- one nasty rainstorm in early November will knock out the pastiche of multi-colored leaves. So as October yields its bountiful harvest of yellows, oranges and reds, be sure to appreciate the beauty that you are witness to because before you know it, you will be shoveling snow waiting for the Burpee seed catalog!
On Tuesday, September 21 I met with our Financial Officer Ron Matthews to draft out our Local Government Best Practices Checklist that is due back to the State Department of Community Affairs on October 1. This checklist consists of 88 questions each NJ municipality is required to answer “yes, no, or not applicable”; the number of “yes” answers will depend on the percentage of final State aid payout the town gets. Here are our results: we scored 50 yes points which resulted in a 98% of final State aid payout- what does that mean in dollars? Our total State aid is about $275,000; our final payout is 5% or $13,750; and 98% of that is $13,475, so we lost $275 in State aid. I am not one to discount any dollar loss but I thought our loss was going to be a lot more than $275.
On Wednesday, September 22 I attended the special meeting of the Board of Education at which time they announced contingency plans for the first day of classes- September 27. Everyone was disappointed that the school wouldn’t be ready by the 27th, but many more were upset about the proposed school bus pickup / drop off location which was supposed to happen in front of the school. The location was later changed to St. Catherine’s Church. Since the 22nd it has been announced that classes K-5 will be starting school on the 28th at the school (http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/09/classes_for_k-5_students_will.html). I’ve noticed tremendous progress over last week, even today (Sunday) scores of workers were on site so it looks like it will sooner rather than later that the school will be habitable by students of all classes. So long as the construction area is separate and does not affect the students safety and concentration, perhaps both can co-exist until all of the work is done and we can close this ugly chapter of Township history.
On Thursday, September 23 the Township Committee meeting held its work session. The usual season ticket holders were present- what does it take to get more members of the public to attend? Here is a breakdown of what happened:
1. We approved the 9/9/10 meeting minutes
2. Ken Mandoli acting on behalf of the non-profit group “Remember Together” gave a presentation on a proposed 9/11/01 memorial at Landsdown Meadows. Remember Together is seeking consent of the Committee to move forward with the project and we consented. The memorial is slated to be finished by September 11, 2011. A recent article on njnews.com explains the memorial in greater detail: http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/07/sept_11_monument_planned_by_fr.html
3. We authorized payment of bills from 9/10/10 through 9/23/10. Big ticket items included the 3rd installment of the Fire District tax levy ($75,000), the 9/9/10 municipal employee payroll ($32,729), road surface treatment for Nixon Farm Road ($21,931), and the October billing for the Municipal Court of North Hunterdon ($9,024). The total amount of checks cut between 9/10/10 and 9/23/10 was $155,650.43.
4. Public Safety Director Ken Mandoli is going to look into utilizing a “Speed Sentry” radar sign which displays motorists’ speeds and records speed data. The sign is available on loan to municipalities for up to one month free of charge. Mr. Mandoli is going to find out how much it costs after the first month but it is a first come, first serve basis.
5. At 8:00 PM the Committee changed hats and became the Board of Health where we concluded a hearing of a septic system for Block 34, Lot 6 and granted a 3 month approval extension for Block 26, Lot 10.
6. Our clerical assistant update included the cancellation of monthly rug service delivery by Aramark- we were paying $300 plus a month for the rug service- instead we purchased rugs for $420 and will maintain them ourselves. I got on this issue a few months ago and I am glad we have resolved it by purchasing our own rugs. This may be small potatoes when we are talking about a $3.3 million dollar annual budget, but if I can find places to save money- no matter how small- I will do it.
7. Speaking of saving money, we approved Resolution 2010-63 which requests the Hunterdon County Freeholders to engage in an analysis of all police, fire, and rescue services. Several other municipalities in Hunterdon County have sent the Freeholders similar resolutions so let’s see if they act on it or not.
8. From the good, to the bad, to the ugly, Town Committee gets it all- we approved a deer carcass removal agreement with a private company at a cost of $58.00 per carcass. Hunterdon County takes care of carcass removal from county roadways but on local roadways, we are on our own. Carcasses will be removed within a timely 48 hours.
Upcoming events in Franklin for October include the Rural Awareness Harvest Home Tour October 9 and the Halloween Trunk or Treat is being held at the Elks Lodge on October 29 from 6:30 – 9 PM.
Fall is my favorite time of the year, but it happens so quickly- one nasty rainstorm in early November will knock out the pastiche of multi-colored leaves. So as October yields its bountiful harvest of yellows, oranges and reds, be sure to appreciate the beauty that you are witness to because before you know it, you will be shoveling snow waiting for the Burpee seed catalog!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
September 5 – September 18, 2010
September morn
We danced until the night became a brand new day
Two lovers playing scenes from some romantic play
September morning still can make me feel that way
Thanks Neil Diamond for the inspiring and heartfelt lyrics but lately I just don’t feel like dancing; nor do I want to hear Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out Forever.” How about “Back to School Again” by the Four Tops for a change? Now we’re talking.
It’s been a busy couple of weeks as your committeeman. Summer is a distant memory and it’s back to work as I continue to serve the residents of Franklin. Our ongoing school construction project continues to be the most important issue in town; I’ll cover that in my September 13 entry.
Wednesday September 8: Land Use Board
Our meeting was a work session where members gave updates on the various ordinances being worked on for eventual Committee consideration; these ordinances include: tree preservation, lighting, steep slope, riparian buffer, home occupation, solar energy, and wind energy. If you are interested in assisting with the preparation and review of any of these ordinances or have questions please contact me and I can either assist you myself or put you in touch with the right people.
Thursday September 9: Township Committee
Given that two committee members were absent, the meeting was a little shorter than usual:
-We approved the August 12 meeting minutes.
-Franklin Resident Frank Bell gave a presentation and informed us that state grant and federal stimulus money is available to municipalities for energy audits and energy efficient upgrades. More information about the grant can be found at: http://www.njcleanenergy.com/commercial-industrial/home/home I am meeting with Mr. Bell next week to review the grant application. I see this as a win-win situation for the environment and the taxpayers; if you have been to the municipal building the words “energy efficient” aren’t the first that come to mind so I look forward to taking advantage of energy efficient technology and saving the taxpayers some money. East Amwell recently completed a similar project- their experiences can be viewed here: http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/09/east_amwell_using_grants_for_e.html
-We paid the bills by approving the check control register covering 8/12/2010 – 9/9/2010. We disbursed $1,503,962; big ticket items included: $801,185 (Franklin Board of Education), $529,748 (North Hunterdon / Voorhees School District), $50,595 (8/27 municipal payroll), $34,815 (8/13 municipal payroll), and $26,880 (August health insurance premium for municipal employees). Our check control register is always public information and is available at the clerk’s office and at the committee meetings; I invite all to review these bills and to ask questions and provide suggestions on how we can reduce our spending.
-We approved Resolution 2010-62 designating an $800,000 bond anticipation note a “qualified tax-exempt obligation”.
-We approved Resolution 2010-61 authorizing the township engineer to submit a grant application to the NJ Department of Transportation for the West Sidney Road Phase 2 Improvement Project. Phase 2 work consists of 1 mile of work from the southwest of Rote 617 (Cherryville Road) to Cherryville Road. The scope of work consists of storm sewer improvements, pavement repairs, minor road widening, roadway leveling, resurfacing, and driveway repairs. The total estimated cost of the project is $303,600.
-We received August reports from the Police Department and Department of Public Works. A special note was made in the police report that the Class II Special Officers volunteered 85 hours of their time in August. In August 189 motor vehicle summonses and 158 motor vehicle warnings were issued compared to July when 149 summonses were issued and only 58 warnings were issued. DPW was busy in August with vehicle and equipment repair / maintenance, and road work, and assisting with moving boxes of files at the municipal building.
-We met as the Board of Health and approved a septic system application at Block 34, Lot 6.
-Mayor Jacukowicz and I gave the Committee an update on the Land Use Board’s September 8 meeting. We had 10 zoning applications in the month of August which included 3 solar array projects, an in-ground pool, and a storage shed. We carried amending the construction fees to the next meeting.
-Mark your calendars: the Halloween Trunk or Treat is being held at the Elks Lodge on October 29 from 6:30 – 9 PM.
Saturday September 11: Quakertown Fire Company BBQ Chicken Event
Being a committeeman wouldn’t be complete without attending a cookout / BBQ and the Quakertown Fire Company BBQ Chicken event hit the spot. Besides indulging in delicious chicken and amazing baked beans, I was able to talk to members of the fire company and township residents. These events are fewer far between in our community and that it is a shame- getting to know each other is what makes small towns special; once you lose the connection and communication with your neighbor you might as well live in a lackluster suburb or unforgiving city. To see pictures from the BBQ check out: http://www.quakertownfire.com/fullstory.php?116567
The QFC is holding an Oktoberfest on October 2, for more information check out http://www.quakertownfire.com/fullstory.php?116570
Monday September 13: Board of Education Meeting
Over 60 people attended this meeting; the BOE provided the public with an update on the construction project. This chart describing the progress made was distributed to the public: http://www.ftschool.org/FTS_HOME/FTS_Home_New_files/FTS%20School%20Construction%20Status%20Report%20v4.pdf Superintendent Harttraft told us the list of items that need to be addressed before a temporary certificate of occupancy (TCO) can be issued. Board members discussed briefly the types of contingency plans they are considering if the school cannot be occupied on September 27. Plenty of residents had questions and for the most part I felt their questions were answered. The next BOE special meeting is scheduled for September 22, 7:30 PM at the firehouse- that meeting will be important because the BOE will announce whether the building is ready or not and if not, what the contingency plans will be in place.
My commentary: Overall I thought the meeting went well; tempers were in check, and I didn’t get the strong feeling that there was a “blame game” going on. Sure there were complaints about bureaucracy, permitting, lackluster field work, and overbearing inspections but anyone who has ever been involved in a construction project knows first hand that “whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.” As a licensed professional planner I work for the city of Plainfield and part of my job includes working with our construction official with certificate of occupancy inspections. I have inspected many schools and I can attest that the process is tedious because so much is at stake. It is possible for a school to operate and still have the appearance of a construction zone. I visited the school on Saturday the 18th and workers were digging the pits for the water tanks; I happened to meet BOE President Chris Piparo on site and we had an encouraging conversation. I also met with our construction official, mayor, and the school’s general contractor on the 14th to get an update on the permitting process and what is required for a TCO. Going what I have heard and seen, and given my experiences with inspecting schools, I am encouraged and feel that the school could be ready for a TCO by the 27th- it is not impossible, but additional work needs to be done, and it needs to be done quickly and correctly. I am hoping for the best and that our children are able to attend classes in Franklin Township on September 27th.
The media continues to cover our school construction project:
http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/09/franklin_kids_will_be_in_schoo.html
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/09/franklin_township_school_on_tr.html
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/09/school_officials_promise_frank.html
We danced until the night became a brand new day
Two lovers playing scenes from some romantic play
September morning still can make me feel that way
Thanks Neil Diamond for the inspiring and heartfelt lyrics but lately I just don’t feel like dancing; nor do I want to hear Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out Forever.” How about “Back to School Again” by the Four Tops for a change? Now we’re talking.
It’s been a busy couple of weeks as your committeeman. Summer is a distant memory and it’s back to work as I continue to serve the residents of Franklin. Our ongoing school construction project continues to be the most important issue in town; I’ll cover that in my September 13 entry.
Wednesday September 8: Land Use Board
Our meeting was a work session where members gave updates on the various ordinances being worked on for eventual Committee consideration; these ordinances include: tree preservation, lighting, steep slope, riparian buffer, home occupation, solar energy, and wind energy. If you are interested in assisting with the preparation and review of any of these ordinances or have questions please contact me and I can either assist you myself or put you in touch with the right people.
Thursday September 9: Township Committee
Given that two committee members were absent, the meeting was a little shorter than usual:
-We approved the August 12 meeting minutes.
-Franklin Resident Frank Bell gave a presentation and informed us that state grant and federal stimulus money is available to municipalities for energy audits and energy efficient upgrades. More information about the grant can be found at: http://www.njcleanenergy.com/commercial-industrial/home/home I am meeting with Mr. Bell next week to review the grant application. I see this as a win-win situation for the environment and the taxpayers; if you have been to the municipal building the words “energy efficient” aren’t the first that come to mind so I look forward to taking advantage of energy efficient technology and saving the taxpayers some money. East Amwell recently completed a similar project- their experiences can be viewed here: http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/09/east_amwell_using_grants_for_e.html
-We paid the bills by approving the check control register covering 8/12/2010 – 9/9/2010. We disbursed $1,503,962; big ticket items included: $801,185 (Franklin Board of Education), $529,748 (North Hunterdon / Voorhees School District), $50,595 (8/27 municipal payroll), $34,815 (8/13 municipal payroll), and $26,880 (August health insurance premium for municipal employees). Our check control register is always public information and is available at the clerk’s office and at the committee meetings; I invite all to review these bills and to ask questions and provide suggestions on how we can reduce our spending.
-We approved Resolution 2010-62 designating an $800,000 bond anticipation note a “qualified tax-exempt obligation”.
-We approved Resolution 2010-61 authorizing the township engineer to submit a grant application to the NJ Department of Transportation for the West Sidney Road Phase 2 Improvement Project. Phase 2 work consists of 1 mile of work from the southwest of Rote 617 (Cherryville Road) to Cherryville Road. The scope of work consists of storm sewer improvements, pavement repairs, minor road widening, roadway leveling, resurfacing, and driveway repairs. The total estimated cost of the project is $303,600.
-We received August reports from the Police Department and Department of Public Works. A special note was made in the police report that the Class II Special Officers volunteered 85 hours of their time in August. In August 189 motor vehicle summonses and 158 motor vehicle warnings were issued compared to July when 149 summonses were issued and only 58 warnings were issued. DPW was busy in August with vehicle and equipment repair / maintenance, and road work, and assisting with moving boxes of files at the municipal building.
-We met as the Board of Health and approved a septic system application at Block 34, Lot 6.
-Mayor Jacukowicz and I gave the Committee an update on the Land Use Board’s September 8 meeting. We had 10 zoning applications in the month of August which included 3 solar array projects, an in-ground pool, and a storage shed. We carried amending the construction fees to the next meeting.
-Mark your calendars: the Halloween Trunk or Treat is being held at the Elks Lodge on October 29 from 6:30 – 9 PM.
Saturday September 11: Quakertown Fire Company BBQ Chicken Event
Being a committeeman wouldn’t be complete without attending a cookout / BBQ and the Quakertown Fire Company BBQ Chicken event hit the spot. Besides indulging in delicious chicken and amazing baked beans, I was able to talk to members of the fire company and township residents. These events are fewer far between in our community and that it is a shame- getting to know each other is what makes small towns special; once you lose the connection and communication with your neighbor you might as well live in a lackluster suburb or unforgiving city. To see pictures from the BBQ check out: http://www.quakertownfire.com/fullstory.php?116567
The QFC is holding an Oktoberfest on October 2, for more information check out http://www.quakertownfire.com/fullstory.php?116570
Monday September 13: Board of Education Meeting
Over 60 people attended this meeting; the BOE provided the public with an update on the construction project. This chart describing the progress made was distributed to the public: http://www.ftschool.org/FTS_HOME/FTS_Home_New_files/FTS%20School%20Construction%20Status%20Report%20v4.pdf Superintendent Harttraft told us the list of items that need to be addressed before a temporary certificate of occupancy (TCO) can be issued. Board members discussed briefly the types of contingency plans they are considering if the school cannot be occupied on September 27. Plenty of residents had questions and for the most part I felt their questions were answered. The next BOE special meeting is scheduled for September 22, 7:30 PM at the firehouse- that meeting will be important because the BOE will announce whether the building is ready or not and if not, what the contingency plans will be in place.
My commentary: Overall I thought the meeting went well; tempers were in check, and I didn’t get the strong feeling that there was a “blame game” going on. Sure there were complaints about bureaucracy, permitting, lackluster field work, and overbearing inspections but anyone who has ever been involved in a construction project knows first hand that “whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.” As a licensed professional planner I work for the city of Plainfield and part of my job includes working with our construction official with certificate of occupancy inspections. I have inspected many schools and I can attest that the process is tedious because so much is at stake. It is possible for a school to operate and still have the appearance of a construction zone. I visited the school on Saturday the 18th and workers were digging the pits for the water tanks; I happened to meet BOE President Chris Piparo on site and we had an encouraging conversation. I also met with our construction official, mayor, and the school’s general contractor on the 14th to get an update on the permitting process and what is required for a TCO. Going what I have heard and seen, and given my experiences with inspecting schools, I am encouraged and feel that the school could be ready for a TCO by the 27th- it is not impossible, but additional work needs to be done, and it needs to be done quickly and correctly. I am hoping for the best and that our children are able to attend classes in Franklin Township on September 27th.
The media continues to cover our school construction project:
http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/09/franklin_kids_will_be_in_schoo.html
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/09/franklin_township_school_on_tr.html
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/09/school_officials_promise_frank.html
Monday, September 6, 2010
August 29 - September 4, 2010
I attended a Rural Awareness meeting on Thursday September 2. Those present voted on a new Rural Awareness logo, and discussed in detail the upcoming October 9 Fall Harvest Home Tour. For more information on the home tour check out
http://www.ruralawareness.org/2010_home_tour/2010_tour_release.pdf
==========
Two news articles got my attention this week that I would like to share:
1. "Towns Resist Governor's List of Best Practices"
http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/09/towns_resist_governors_list_of.html
Last week all 566 NJ municipalities received from the Department of Community Affairs a "best practices" checklist consisting of 88 questions aimed at learning how local governments operate. All towns are being asked to complete the questionnaire and return it by October 1; if not the State will withhold their final state aid payment for 2010. A copy of the best practices checklist can be found here:
http://www.state.nj.us/dca/lgs/fiscal/bud_forms/best_practices_2010.pdf
In a worst case scenario we can lose 5% of our state aid. In calendar year 2010 we are receiving $276,515 in state aid:
http://www.nj.gov/dca/lgs/muniaid/10_aid/10sosa/1010_ssa_2010.pdf
I have no objections to filing out this questionnaire; even though it's our local tax dollars going to the state, and the state then gives us back some of our money and calls it state aid. One could argue the merits of state aid but right now I am going to make sure that the questionnaire is completed and hopefully we will get all 100% of our state aid, and if not, I will find ways to ensure that we do not take such losses in the future.
===
Article #2: "Surplus Spending Leads to Westfield Bond Rating Drop"
http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/09/surplus_spending_leads_to_west.html
Moodys Investor Services downgraded Westfield's bond rating to Aa2 because the town drew down on their surplus funds for 5 consecutive years to compensate for insufficient revenue. I don't know Franklin's bond rating off the top of my head, but I am going to ask our Finance Officer this week. I do know that our entire budget is $3,319,767 and our anticipated surplus for this year is $1,029,000. According to our auditor this surplus amount is acceptable and as long as I am in office I will not approve of unreasonable surplus spending. If Westfield can mess up it can happen to other towns too but I will be vigilant to ensure that it doesn't happen here.
==
The Land Use Board meets this Wednesday and the Town Committee meets on Thursday night- come on out to the municipal building and see how your local officials govern.
http://www.ruralawareness.org/2010_home_tour/2010_tour_release.pdf
==========
Two news articles got my attention this week that I would like to share:
1. "Towns Resist Governor's List of Best Practices"
http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/09/towns_resist_governors_list_of.html
Last week all 566 NJ municipalities received from the Department of Community Affairs a "best practices" checklist consisting of 88 questions aimed at learning how local governments operate. All towns are being asked to complete the questionnaire and return it by October 1; if not the State will withhold their final state aid payment for 2010. A copy of the best practices checklist can be found here:
http://www.state.nj.us/dca/lgs/fiscal/bud_forms/best_practices_2010.pdf
In a worst case scenario we can lose 5% of our state aid. In calendar year 2010 we are receiving $276,515 in state aid:
http://www.nj.gov/dca/lgs/muniaid/10_aid/10sosa/1010_ssa_2010.pdf
I have no objections to filing out this questionnaire; even though it's our local tax dollars going to the state, and the state then gives us back some of our money and calls it state aid. One could argue the merits of state aid but right now I am going to make sure that the questionnaire is completed and hopefully we will get all 100% of our state aid, and if not, I will find ways to ensure that we do not take such losses in the future.
===
Article #2: "Surplus Spending Leads to Westfield Bond Rating Drop"
http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/09/surplus_spending_leads_to_west.html
Moodys Investor Services downgraded Westfield's bond rating to Aa2 because the town drew down on their surplus funds for 5 consecutive years to compensate for insufficient revenue. I don't know Franklin's bond rating off the top of my head, but I am going to ask our Finance Officer this week. I do know that our entire budget is $3,319,767 and our anticipated surplus for this year is $1,029,000. According to our auditor this surplus amount is acceptable and as long as I am in office I will not approve of unreasonable surplus spending. If Westfield can mess up it can happen to other towns too but I will be vigilant to ensure that it doesn't happen here.
==
The Land Use Board meets this Wednesday and the Town Committee meets on Thursday night- come on out to the municipal building and see how your local officials govern.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
August 22 - August 28, 2010
The Board of Education meeting of August 23 and 26th was the talk of the town this week and for good reason. Not only does school costs represent the majority of our tax bill, but the ongoing construction is causing just concern for all residents with children who attend the school.
For those not familiar with what has been going on, two quick links from nj.com:
Franklin Township Fire Marshal orders school evacuated, ending school board meeting UPDATED
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/08/franklin_township_fire_marshal.html
and:
Construction may delay Franklin Township School opening to Sept. 27
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/08/construction_may_delay_frankli.html
Let the media and the gallery of comments (whom I fondly call the peanut gallery) speak for themselves. Lots of opinions out there- obviously this has become quite a story and it has hit a nerve for many residents.
I attended Thursday's meeting and as a member of the public I was taken back by the fact that the Board dismissed construction Manager Dave Tillou before the public was permitted to ask questions. I was also surprised and disappointed that the Board held their vote to approve change orders without first hearing public comment.
Board President Chris Piparo stated that the Board has a policy that the public cannot question Mr. Tillou at the Board meetings- he only receives questions and answers to the Board. Dr. Harttraft followed up by saying that Mr. Tillou's telephone number is on the school's website and anyone is free to call him anytime with questions. Well, I checked the school's website here:
http://www.ftschool.org/FTS_HOME/Construction_New.html
...and unfortunatly Mr. Tillou's contact information is no where to be seen. It is also unfortunate that "construction updates" was last updated on June 11: -6/9/10 Walls are going up and the roof is coming off. It looks like things a moving forward nicely.
Communication is key; keeping the Construction Page of the school's website up to date and accurate would help keep residents updated and possibly help quell misinformation and rumors that plague the project's progress. Perhaps a chart showing which tasks are complete, which are ongoing, and which ones are not yet complete would help illustrate the project in easy to read fashion? It is my opinion that in the name of public accountability Mr. Tillou should be required to attend the entire board meetings and answer questions- may they be from the public or from the Board members. The simple gesture of "accessibility" to the decision makers can only help; perhaps as we move forward the Board will re-examine their stance on this topic.
In my "real job" as a city planner for Plainfield I have managed several projects involving the restoration of our historic City Hall. One of my projects received an award from the NJ State Historic Preservation Office (see: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/hpo/4sustain/awds2002.htm scroll down to the 3rd project). Having experience in very public projects I do have sympathy for Mr. Tillou and the Board; but I also value the importance of accountability to the public and providing up to date information at any given notice.
Setbacks aside, let's work together, keep the information current and accurate, and support the completion of the school.
For those not familiar with what has been going on, two quick links from nj.com:
Franklin Township Fire Marshal orders school evacuated, ending school board meeting UPDATED
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/08/franklin_township_fire_marshal.html
and:
Construction may delay Franklin Township School opening to Sept. 27
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/08/construction_may_delay_frankli.html
Let the media and the gallery of comments (whom I fondly call the peanut gallery) speak for themselves. Lots of opinions out there- obviously this has become quite a story and it has hit a nerve for many residents.
I attended Thursday's meeting and as a member of the public I was taken back by the fact that the Board dismissed construction Manager Dave Tillou before the public was permitted to ask questions. I was also surprised and disappointed that the Board held their vote to approve change orders without first hearing public comment.
Board President Chris Piparo stated that the Board has a policy that the public cannot question Mr. Tillou at the Board meetings- he only receives questions and answers to the Board. Dr. Harttraft followed up by saying that Mr. Tillou's telephone number is on the school's website and anyone is free to call him anytime with questions. Well, I checked the school's website here:
http://www.ftschool.org/FTS_HOME/Construction_New.html
...and unfortunatly Mr. Tillou's contact information is no where to be seen. It is also unfortunate that "construction updates" was last updated on June 11: -6/9/10 Walls are going up and the roof is coming off. It looks like things a moving forward nicely.
Communication is key; keeping the Construction Page of the school's website up to date and accurate would help keep residents updated and possibly help quell misinformation and rumors that plague the project's progress. Perhaps a chart showing which tasks are complete, which are ongoing, and which ones are not yet complete would help illustrate the project in easy to read fashion? It is my opinion that in the name of public accountability Mr. Tillou should be required to attend the entire board meetings and answer questions- may they be from the public or from the Board members. The simple gesture of "accessibility" to the decision makers can only help; perhaps as we move forward the Board will re-examine their stance on this topic.
In my "real job" as a city planner for Plainfield I have managed several projects involving the restoration of our historic City Hall. One of my projects received an award from the NJ State Historic Preservation Office (see: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/hpo/4sustain/awds2002.htm scroll down to the 3rd project). Having experience in very public projects I do have sympathy for Mr. Tillou and the Board; but I also value the importance of accountability to the public and providing up to date information at any given notice.
Setbacks aside, let's work together, keep the information current and accurate, and support the completion of the school.
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