Franklin meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Franklin Township agenda: budget hearing, bond proceeds, subdivisions, and more

Franklin Township officials held several meetings over the past two weeks, with the most significant items on the Township Committee's agenda: public hearings on the 2026 municipal budget and an ordinance to use unexpended bond proceeds for capital improvements. All meetings were held as scheduled, but minutes have not yet been published, so no final decisions are confirmed.

Township Committee

The Township Committee met Aug. 11. The agenda included public hearings on the 2026 municipal budget (R-119-26) and Ordinance O-15-26, which would appropriate unexpended bond proceeds for capital improvements. The committee also planned to vote on several resolutions: hiring two full-time DPW laborers to replace resignations (R-123-26), accepting a gym equipment donation from Delsea Regional School District for police use (R-121-26), and approving farmland preservation easements and an agreement with South Jersey Land and Water Trust (R-122-26 and R-127-26). An ordinance to change alcohol sales hours was introduced for a future public hearing.

Communications Commission

The Communications Commission met Aug. 12 for routine procedural business. The agenda included approval of minutes, a review of previous statistics, and updates on old business such as Civic Plus hours, web page updates, and an OPRA online form. Under new business, the commission considered new forms and approved website design. The commission also observed a moment of silence for member Kristin L Mathiesen.

Planning Board

The Planning Board met Aug. 18. The board considered two minor subdivision applications, each to split one lot into two: PB26-02 at 2633 Sheridan Avenue (Block 701 Lot 14) and PB26-04 at 2156 Chew Avenue (Block 303 Lot 1). Both were listed as granted subject to conditions. The board also approved minutes from June 16, 2026, and held an executive session for attorney-client matters, with no action taken.

Library Board of Trustees

The Library Board of Trustees met Aug. 19. The agenda included routine business: approving minutes, receiving reports, and discussing personnel policy and a Friends/Board agreement. The only new business was correcting the 2026 holiday/closing schedule for Veterans Day. The board also discussed a letter from B. Doherty and received a director's report and statistics.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days.

Franklin's Agricultural Advisory Committee extends Ken's contract through yearend 2026

The Franklin Agricultural Advisory Committee approved minutes from its May 11, 2026 meeting and extended Ken's contract through the end of 2026 at its July 13 session. No vote tally was recorded for the contract extension. The committee took no other actions and set its next meeting for September 14, 2026.

Township Committee — Affordable Housing Fee Overhaul on Agenda

The Franklin Township Committee met July 14 with a packed agenda, though minutes have not yet been published and no outcomes are confirmed. Items listed on the agenda included:

• **Ordinance O-10-26**: Repeal and replacement of Chapter 138, which governs affordable housing fees and development charges.
• **Ordinance O-11-26**: Purchase of Block 4904 Lot 5, returning ownership to Franklin Township.
• **Ordinance O-11-26**: Renunciation of Block 2103 Lot 23, returning ownership to Franklin Township.
• **Resolution R-108-26**: Introduction of the 2026 Franklin Township budget.
• **Resolution R-113-26**: Approval to submit a grant application and enter a contract with NJDOT for resurfacing Williamstown Road.

Additional agenda items included renewal of alcohol beverage licenses and creation of new compost-facility positions. Because minutes are not yet available, it is not known which items were approved, denied, or tabled.

Library Board — Replacement Card Policy Abolition on Agenda

The Franklin Township Library Board of Trustees met July 15. Minutes have not been published, so no outcomes are confirmed. Agenda items included:

• Motion to approve minutes from May 20, 2026.
• Motion to approve the 2025 Audit.
• Motion to abolish the Replacement Card Policy.
• Motion to approve personnel committee minutes.
• Discussion of a Friends/Board Agreement.

The agenda also included a closed session.

Planning Board — Three Minor Subdivision Applications

The Franklin Township Planning Board met July 21 to review three minor subdivision applications. Minutes have not been published, so no outcomes are confirmed. Each application sought to divide one existing lot into two lots:

• **PB26-02**: 2633 Sheridan Avenue (Block 701 Lot 14).
• **PB26-03**: 592 Proposed Avenue (Block 1401 Lot 32).
• **PB26-04**: 2156 Chew Avenue (Block 303 Lot 1).

The agenda included presentations and public comment on each application.

Coming Up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. The next confirmed meeting on the calendar is the Agricultural Advisory Committee on September 14, 2026. Residents should check the township website for any newly scheduled meetings or special sessions.

Franklin roundup: Ag committee extends Ken's contract; Township Committee took up housing fees and 2026 budget

The Agricultural Advisory Committee extended Ken's contract through the end of 2026 at its July 13 meeting — the only board this week with official minutes published. The Township Committee, which met July 14, took up a slate of consequential items, including a proposed overhaul of affordable housing fees, introduction of the 2026 budget, and a grant contract for resurfacing Williamstown Road, but outcomes are not yet available because minutes have not been published.

Agricultural Advisory Committee (July 13)

The committee approved the minutes of its May 11, 2026 meeting by a unanimous vote. It noted that Ken's contract was extended through the end of 2026; no vote was recorded for that action. No other items were approved, denied, or tabled. The committee set its next meeting for September 14, 2026.

Township Committee (July 14)

The committee's agenda included a public hearing on several ordinances and resolutions. Because minutes are not yet published, outcomes cannot be confirmed. The items listed on the agenda:

• **Ordinance O-10-26:** Repeal and replace Chapter 138 on affordable housing fees and development charges.
• **Ordinance O-12-26:** Purchase of Block 4904 Lot 5, returning ownership to Franklin Township.
• **Ordinance O-13-26:** Renunciation of Block 2103 Lot 23, returning ownership to Franklin Township.
• **Resolution R-108-26:** Introduction of the 2026 Franklin Township budget.
• **Resolution R-111-26:** Approval to submit a grant application and contract with NJDOT for Williamstown Road resurfacing.

The agenda also listed renewal of alcohol beverage licenses and the creation of new compost-facility positions. Residents seeking confirmed outcomes should watch for the published minutes.

Communications Commission (July 8)

This meeting was agenda-only; minutes have not been published. Items listed for discussion included an ordinance update, an online OPRA request form, and Daniel's Law. The commission also planned to address website changes, including a rewrite of the main page and the addition of new sub-pages: Bids, Jobs, Business Directory, Places of Worship, Resource Directory, and Post Offices.

Library Board of Trustees (July 15)

This meeting was agenda-only; minutes have not been published. Motions listed on the agenda:

• Approve minutes from May 20, 2026.
• Approve the 2025 Audit.
• Abolish the Replacement Card Policy.
• Approve personnel committee minutes.
• Consider a Friends/Board Agreement.

The meeting also included a closed session.

Coming up

Planning Board — July 21. The board will hear presentations and public comment on three minor subdivision applications. Each applicant is seeking to divide one existing lot into two lots:

• **PB26-02:** 2633 Sheridan Avenue (Block 701 Lot 14)
• **PB26-03:** 592 Proposed Avenue (Block 1401 Lot 32)
• **PB26-04:** 2156 Chew Avenue (Block 303 Lot 1)