Franklin Township News

2008 Spring Clean Up

June 14 at Municipal Garage – Asbury Broadway Rd.

Asbury Volunteer Fire Company

The Asbury Volunteer Fire Company is looking for new members. To learn more visit www.asburyfireco.com or contact Fire Chief George R. Young Jr. at Fire58Rescue@yahoo.com.

2008 Rabies Clinic

The 2008 Rabies Clinic will be held January 26th, 2 – 4 pm at the Township Garage.

Franklin Township Municipal Garage Brush Drop Off

Brush/leaves can be dropped off at the Municipal Garage during the following times:

Mondays: 11am - 1:30pm
1st. Saturday each Month: 9am - 1pm

Please do not drop off at other times - gate will be LOCKED!

Curbside Brush Pickup (trimmings only)

Last Monday in April 2008 and first Monday in October 2008.

Recycling Dates

Please bring clean recycling materials to the Franklin Township Recycling Center located at the Township Garage on Asbury-Broadway Road. Our recycling center is open the first Saturday and the third Wednesday of every month as follows:

Saturday: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

2008
4/5/08
5/3/08 
6/7/08
7/5/08
8/2/08
9/6/08
10/4/08
11/1/08
12/6/08

Wednesday: 12:30 PM - 4:30 PM

2008
4/16/08
5/21/08
6/18/08
7/16/08
8/20/08
9/17/08
10/15/08
11/19/08
12/17/08

The following materials are accepted at our site: newspapers string-tied in bundles only (not in plastic bags), glass containers (green, brown, clear), plastic containers (PET #1 and #2 only), aluminum and tin cans. Materials such as cardboard, junk mail, office paper, etc. are accepted at the Warren County Recycling Center at 500 Mt. Pisgah Ave., White Township. Call (908) 453-2174 for details. Items such as used batteries, old computer parts, hazardous waste, etc. are accepted at the County Recycling Center on selected dates only. Private sanitation companies in the township offer curbside pick-up of certain recyclables. Please contact your garbage hauler for details. If you have any questions regarding the Franklin Township Recycling Program please call our Recycling Coordinator, Roger Bulava after 5:00PM at (908) 689-4809. Thank you for your efforts in keeping Franklin Township "Clean and Green."

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

With the winter heating season upon us, low income New Jersey seniors face the reality of having to pay for their rising utility costs. With that in mind, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs is launching an effort to educate seniors about the energy assistance programs available through the state and how to apply for them.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps directly pay for heating costs while the Universal Service Fund (USF) helps make utility bills affordable by providing a monthly credit on electric or natural gas bills or both. Receiving assistance from either of these programs will not affect the Lifeline benefit some seniors already receive. In fact, qualified individuals can receive all three!

There is one application for both USF and LIHEAP which you can download here. The instructions cover how to complete the application and where to send it. There is an application deadline of March 31, 2007. Applicants can call DCA directly at 800-510-3102 with questions about the application process.

Dog Licensing Information 2008

All dogs must be licensed during the month of January -
$8.00 spayed/neutered
$11.00 not spayed/neutered
Proof of rabies must be provided and vaccination must be good through November 1st.

Rabies Clinic
January 26, 2008, 2 – 4 pm.
Asbury Broadway Rd., Franklin Township DPW Garage

Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act – Information

The Highlands Water Protection Act (Highlands Act) was enacted on Aug. 10, 2004 with the purpose of protecting the region’s great wealth of natural resources, including the waterbodies that supply drinking water to more than half of the state’s population. The Highlands Act defined both a Highlands Preservation Area and a Highlands Planning Area. The regulatory program established by the Highlands Act applies only to Major Highlands Development in the Highlands Preservation Area. An interactive map (i-map) of the Highlands Region is available at www.nj.gov/dep/highlands. The Highlands Special Adoption Rules were adopted on May 9, 2005 and became immediately effective.

For more information on the Highlands Act, visit www.nj.gov/dep/highlands

Highlands Council
100 North Road
Route 513
Chester, New Jersey 07930
(908) 879-6737
Fax (908) 879-4205

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Division of Watershed Management
Bureau of Watershed Regulation
P.O. Box 418
401 East State Street
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0418
(609) 984-6888

Well Water Testing

The New Jersey Private Well Testing Act (PWTA) requires that all private well owners involved in a real estate sale have their water tested in accordance with the Act.  The Act also requires landlords served by wells to test every 5 years with an initial test conducted before March 15,  2004. The Warren County Health Department recommends that all private well owners have their wells tested for the parameters listed under the PWTA to insure that the water is potable.

The Warren County Health Department strongly recommends that residents of Franklin Township have their wells tested for volatile organic compounds in the area referred to as the Pohatcong Valley. An EPA investigation of the area (Pohatcong Valley Superfund Site) has been ongoing since the early 1980’s.  A new study area has been identified by the EPA as Operable Unit 2 (OU2). All residents in Operable Unit 1 (OU1) should already be using public water.  Operable Unit 2 runs along the Pohatcong Valley in Franklin Township and runs into Greenwich Township. A map is available for review at the Warren County Health Department.  Many residents are aware of the contamination through reading newspaper articles, EPA Town Meetings and Warren County Health Department notifications as part of the PWTA. The chemicals of concern are trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE) which are common solvents used in industry and dry cleaning.

Nitrates are also a concern in Franklin Township due mainly to the geology of the area and the extensive use of fertilizer from agriculture. Fertilizers enter the groundwater easily through sinkholes in cavernous limestone.

If you contact a NJ State Certified Lab to test your well for the PWTA parameters make sure you explain that the test is for your knowledge and not a real estate transfer.    

If you have any questions about water sampling or have inquiries about the Superfund Site please feel free to contact the Warren County Health Department at 908-475-7960.

Private Well Testing Act Parameters in Warren County

1. Total Coliform Bacteria*                                                         
2. Nitrates
3. Volatile Organic Compounds (EPA Method 524.2)
4. Iron
5. Manganese
6. pH
7. Total Hardness
8. Lead**

*Total Coliform positive results must be identified further to rule out Fecal Coliform or E Coli contamination.

**Lead results above 10 ppb must be evaluated further to rule out improper sampling procedures or plumbing issues as the likely cause/source of the lead in the sample result.

Be a Good Neighbor - Be Bear Aware

New Jersey is home to all kinds of beautiful wildlife - including black bears.

Black bears are getting a lot of attention these days, for the wrong reasons. They're venturing too close to homes and into backyards, looking for food. Bears that look for food near your home or in your yard likely have learned bad habits from people who feed them intentionally, or unintentionally by carelessly leaving out food or garbage.

People who feed bears think they're helping them. But it only invites trouble. It can make them a nuisance or even aggressive. When that happens, the bears must be destroyed to protect your family and your neighbors. What's more, it's illegal to feed bears in New Jersey. Anyone who feeds bears could face a penalty of up to $1,000 for each offense.

Taking steps to avoid attracting bears with food or garbage is the best way to prevent them from becoming a nuisance near your home.

Bicycle Helmet Law

The New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety has asked us to remind you that, effective march 1, 2006 New Jersey's Bicycle Helmet Law will change. Young people under the age of 17 will be required to wear an approved helmet when cycling, roller skating, inline skating, or skateboarding. The law currently affects riders under the age of 14. For more information on the new law and other bicycle safety issues, please go to the Division's website at www.saferoads.com.

Warren County's government & tourism websites:

Mailboxes

Just a reminder to all residents, please be sure to clearly mark your homes/mailboxes with your house number so that it can be seen from roadside. It will help a firetruck/ambulance/cop find your home in case of an emergency!

Environmental and Open Space Commission

Meetings are held on the 4th Monday of the month at 7 p.m. in the Municipal Building

This Commission has been formed to conduct research into the use and possible use of the open land areas of the Township and may coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies organized for similar purposes. The Commission may advertise, prepare, print and distribute books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets which in its judgment it deems necessary for its purposes. It shall keep an index of all open areas, publicly or privately owned, including open marshlands, swamps and other wetlands, in order to obtain information on the proper use of such areas, and may from time to time recommend to the Franklin Township Land Use Board plans and programs for inclusion in the Township Master Plan and development and use of such areas. This commission recommends open space acquisitions to the Township Committee. All action is taken by the Township Committee.

Tax Rate

From Tax Assessor, Eloise Hagaman -- the tax rate for Franklin Township is now $2.23.

9-1-1 Emergency Message

With the winter months ahead and the hazards of this season's driving conditions around the corner, the State's 9-1-1 emergency system will be busy, more than ever, with increased calls. Thousands of calls regarding roadside emergencies and life-threatening accidents will pour into our 9-1-1 centers.

Last year, New Jersey residents placed more than two million emergency calls to 9-1-1 using wireless phones. But, wireless phones don't automatically provide 9-1-1 call-takers with all the information they need.

That's why it is important for all wireless users to remember to provide 9-1-1 call-takers with an exact location, type of emergency, who is involved, and a phone number. If driving, pull over to a safe place, and then provide as much specific information as possible. The more information you provide, the quicker we can help.

Thank you. Together, we can all help New Jersey's 9-1-1 system help you.

Charles S. Dawson
Chief Technology Officer

Members Needed

The Asbury and Franklin Twp. Fire Companies need new members. If you are interested in helping your community, we will provide all the training and equipment needed for you to become a valuable member of the fire company and your community. If you live in the Broadway or New Village area please stop in at the Franklin Fire Company on Second Street in New Village any Monday night. If you live in the Asbury area or the valley section of Bethlehem Township please stop in at the Asbury Fire Company on Old Main Street in Asbury any Monday night. We would be glad to talk to you and give you a tour of our equipment and facilities. If you are unable to become a member and would like to make a donation, also please stop in any Monday night.

Franklin Township Rescue Squad - Volunteers Needed

The Franklin Township Rescue Squad is seeking volunteers. Must be Township residents only. EMT classes and uniforms provided by the squad. If interested please call and leave a message at the squad building, 689-6909.

Franklin Township Ordinances

The Code of the Township of Franklin (ordinances) is now available on the Internet. You can view them by visiting www.generalcode.com or by clicking here.

Franklin Township Online!

We would like to express a hearty thank you to Christie Jacobsen, our webmaster, for a job very well done and for making this site possible. If you would like something added to these pages, please contact the Mayor or the Township Clerk with your request. We want this web site to reflect your interests and needs.

New Environmental Complaints Toll-Free Number

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has recently established a new toll-free telephone number, 1-877-WARNDEP (I -877-927-6337) for the reporting of environmental complaints and abuses including spills, discharges and emergencies. This toll-free hotline number will be operated on a 24-hour, 7-day/week basis.

Interested in Being a Board/Committee Member?

The Land Use Board and the Franklin Township Historic Committee are requesting names of persons interested in becoming a member.

No Dumping!

Please, NO DUMPING at the Franklin Township Municipal garage. This is not a dump and violators will be prosecuted. If you observe anyone attempting to dump please notify the municipal building and try to obtain a license number. The problem is so severe that the township is contemplating video surveillance of the scene. Refuse is accepted by the Warren County Landfill. For more information call 908- 453-2174.

Open Space Tax

This year .06 will be applied to the "Open Space Tax" for preservation of open space within the township. Anyone interested in being on a committee is welcome to contact the Clerk or Mayor Larry Adams.

    Franklin Township Warren County - P.O. Box 547 Broadway, NJ 08808
Municipal Building - 2093 Rt. 57, Broadway, NJ 08808