Township Council — July 14, 2026

What was decided

Eight members were present: Mr. Anbarasan, Ms. Francois, Deputy Mayor Kharazi, Mayor Kramer, Mr. Onyejiaka, Ms. Uddin, Mr. Vassanella and Mr. Wright. Mr. Singh was absent. Every vote below was 8-0: ayes Anbarasan, Francois, Kharazi, Kramer, Onyejiaka, Uddin, Vassanella and Wright; no nays; Singh absent.

• Adopted on second reading, each with no public comment at its hearing:
  • Ord. 4509-26, amending Chapter 112 “to Implement Various Recommendations of the 2026 Re-Examination of the Township Master Plan and Development Regulations Adopted by the Planning Board in February 2026” (mover Francois, second Anbarasan). See master plan reexamination.
  • Ord. 4510-26, updating planning and zoning fees and escrow deposits (mover Anbarasan, second Uddin);
  • Ord. 4513-26, to acquire by purchase or condemnation, for open space, Block 508.02, Lot 11, 287 Cedar Grove Lane (mover Vassanella, second Uddin);
  • Ord. 4514-26, the capital ordinance for that acquisition, appropriating $5,460,000.00 from the Open Space Trust Fund (mover Vassanella, second Kharazi). See open space and farmland.
• Ord. 4515A-26 introduced (mover Vassanella, second Francois). Mayor Kramer announced that it is “a substitute for prior Ordinance No. 4515-26”; it rescinds and replaces Chapter 92, Cannabis. A motion to amend its fees passed (mover Anbarasan, second Vassanella): Class 1 cultivator tiers combined and reduced to $2,500 (Tiers 1 and 2), $5,000 (Tiers 3 and 4) and $10,000 (Tiers 5 and 6), and Class 2 manufacturer fees reduced to $7,500 up to 10,000 sq. ft. and $10,000 above. The roll call on 4515A-26 was 8-0. The hearing was set for August 11, 2026.
• Ord. 4516-26 introduced, creating a new Chapter 315, Short Term Rentals (mover Francois, second Uddin), with the hearing set for August 11, 2026.
• Consent agenda (Res. #26-291 to #26-319; mover Kharazi, second Uddin). It included:
  • Ford Police Interceptor Utility Vehicles, not to exceed $89,821.00, and a Ford F-150 police vehicle, not to exceed $49,854.70 (#26-303, #26-304), with outfitting and patrol rifle accessories (#26-305, #26-302);
  • rejection of the bids for the East Millstone water main installation as over budget (#26-308);
  • two COPS grant applications (#26-309, #26-310);
  • the 2026-2027 hunting program on township open space, September 12, 2026 to February 20, 2027 (#26-311);
  • a “Stand Still Agreement (Regulatory Agreement)” for The Grove Somerset, whose affordable housing deed restriction dates from 2012, in connection with a lender’s loan to the new owner (#26-318);
  • insertion of a $93,479.87 recycling tonnage grant into the 2026 budget (#26-319).
• Voted separately, Res. #26-320 (transfer of a plenary retail consumption license, 1714 Easton Avenue) and #26-321 (MCCi document imaging of construction, planning, zoning and engineering records, not to exceed $80,000.00) (mover Francois, second Anbarasan).
• Also approved: the June 23, 2026 minutes (mover Francois, second Uddin) and warrants of $4,793,988.04 (mover Anbarasan, second Kharazi).

Presentations. Harry Degado (Delgado on the agenda), Director of NJSACOP, presented Public Safety Director Lloyd Fredericks with the Police Department’s fifth re-accreditation certificate. The Human Relations Commission proposed a “Hometown Heroes” veteran banner program, with about 32 banner locations at the municipal complex at about $205 to $210 a banner, funded by families and fundraising; the Council gave its nod for the Special Projects Manager to work with the Commission.

Public Discussion

Mayor Kramer announced that the earlier cannabis ordinance had been withdrawn and replaced, and that comments on the cannabis and short-term rental ordinances would be taken during the general Public Discussion.

Short-term rentals. Several Coppermine Road residents spoke on the short-term rental ordinance.

• Denise Smith of Coppermine Road, praised the ordinance’s primary-residency requirement and asked how the Township distinguishes a short-term rental from an event venue, citing large gatherings with DJs, parking and septic capacity.
• Matt Pencak of Coppermine Road, asked that the ordinance prohibit or restrict noise from DJs and bands.
• Doc Cunningham, South Court, raised noise and parking from large gatherings.
• Meg Pollan of Coppermine Road, asked that the ordinance include strict financial penalties for repeat offenders.
• An unnamed speaker of Coppermine Road, questioned a maximum occupancy of 65 guests for a five-bedroom house and raised parking, septic drainage and the lack of sidewalks on a narrow road.
• Guy Prochak of Coppermine Road, raised septic capacity for gatherings of 60 to 150 people a week and runoff into neighboring yards.
• Ahmed Yearwood of Coppermine Road, raised safety on the narrow, unlit road and the lack of fencing between properties.

Cannabis license fees.

• Aaron Epstein, COO of Fresh Grow, a cultivation facility, objected to the proposed $20,000 annual license fee, cited the existing 2% transfer tax, and asked for a fiscal analysis, arguing that “regulation should pay for regulation”.
• Trent Brinkoff, co-founder of Blue Harvest, a micro-cultivator, said the $20,000 fee would be prohibitive for a micro-business and asked for a tiered fee structure.

Other. Shanique Davis of Blake Road, asked about online payment for the Brush Pass at the Community Convenience Center, longer center hours, and how the Township coordinates with neighboring towns on large redevelopments, citing the Parker Senior Living project on Easton Avenue in New Brunswick.

Answers. The minutes record that the Manager said online card payments are part of a website replacement due by the end of 2026, and that longer convenience-center hours were not in the 2026 budget but will be considered for 2027. Officials said New Jersey is a “home rule” state in which towns plan and zone independently.

Council comments

• Mr. Vassanella said he was interested in a formal process for communicating with neighboring towns on development projects.
• Mr. Anbarasan said the Sewerage Authority had selected a new operations manager.
• Ms. Uddin said an educational presentation on portable solar systems was being developed.
• Mayor Kramer said the Council listens to residents’ concerns about pools and short-term rentals.

The Manager reminded residents that the Council meets once in July and once in August.

Records

• Minutes (approved August 11, 2026) · Agenda · Packet
• Video on Granicus (2:58). Granicus publishes no captions for Franklin meetings; this page follows the Clerk’s minutes.