Franklin Township Council Meeting: YMCA Donation, Franklin Day Festival Announcement & More

SOMERSET, NJ - Several community initiatives, including securing funding for a new YMCA facility and recognizing student achievements were discussed during Tuesday night's council meeting.

The highlight of the meeting was a $750,000 check presentation from Assemblyman Joe Danielsen to the Franklin Township YMCA.

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"For this to be a reality, no one organization can afford to pay 30, $40 million it's going to be a multi-level partnership, starting from the state, then the county, and then the municipality, and then, of course, donations from the community," Danielsen said.

The YMCA project is estimated to cost between $30-40 million, and Danielsen pledged to continue lobbying for state funding to support the initiative.

"You can expect me to be lobbying for money from the state every year until its proportionate investment is completed," Danielsen told the council.

The funding boost from the state legislator was celebrated by YMCA representatives and local officials, who have been working to bring the facility to Franklin Township for years.

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The council also recognized the achievements of the Central Jersey College Prep Charter School Model UN team, which has won numerous awards for its performance in international competitions. School officials and students expressed gratitude for the community's support.

Additionally, the police department awarded scholarships from the Garden State Track Club to five local high school graduates who have been involved in various community programs.

Franklin Township Police Department Detective Robert Brown spoke about the significance of the scholarships and the students' achievements.

"Guys, I just want to say, you know, from the bottom of my heart, we appreciate having young people like you in town doing positive things, not just once in a while but on a consistent basis. It says a lot about you, your families, and how you're raised, and we're proud to call you one of our own," Brown said.

The council approved a traffic study of the Hamilton Street corridor with Township Manager Robert Vornlocker providing details on the project.

Vornlocker explained that the study will build upon a previous 2019 analysis conducted by Somerset County, which focused on safety and traffic improvements along the Hamilton Street corridor. The township's study will take a more in-depth look at current and future parking demands, both on-street and off-street, as well as the impact of future development in the area.

"This is a traffic study and a parking study, not a planning study," Vornlocker said, clarifying the scope of the project. “The portions of this study that relate to zoning and development are related to parking, because that's what was requested.”

The upcoming Franklin Day Festival was also discussed.

Vornlocker announced that the Gillis organization, led by President and Founder Margaret "Marty" Gillis, has agreed to be the premier sponsor for this year's festival. Gillis is a prominent community leader and philanthropist, with a history of supporting various organizations through donations, sponsorships, and scholarships.

"Marty supports many community organizations through donations, sponsorships, scholarships and fundraisers, she has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships to high school and college students," Vornlocker said.

The Franklin Day Festival, which is scheduled for Sept. 28 in Colonial Park, is expected to draw thousands of attendees. Vornlocker noted that vendor spaces for both food and exhibitors have been completely sold out, indicating strong interest and participation from the community.

In addition to the festival's entertainment and activities, Vornlocker also discussed a special opportunity for residents. The township's construction department will be on-site to provide consultations and assist homeowners in obtaining the necessary permits for any unpermitted work done on their properties.

"This is an opportunity to bring your house into compliance and make it all legitimate," Vornlocker said, explaining that there will be no penalties assessed for residents who take advantage of this amnesty program.

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