In a leadership transition, Commissioner Farooqi was appointed as the new chairperson of the Franklin Sewerage Authority. His appointment was confirmed through a roll call vote following a nomination process. He called for continued support and engagement from fellow commissioners and acknowledged the efforts of the outgoing chairperson, Miss Treasure Ford, for her service. The committee also appointed a new vice-chair and Secretary Treasurer.

A notable topic of discussion was the solar initiative involving Schneider Electric. The committee approved a resolution selecting Schneider Electric through the Omnia cooperative membership to spearhead the facility’s solar project. The authority’s attorney was tasked with reviewing the developer’s agreement with Schneider Electric to identify potential issues. The project is expected to enhance the facility’s energy efficiency and reduce operational costs in the long run.

The committee also provided updates on various ongoing projects. The Brookline area sewer rehabilitation project has completed 33% of the main-to-house work and rehabilitated all manholes, although progress is slower than initially scheduled. Despite these delays, the project remains categorized as “green,” indicating that it is still on track. Meanwhile, the Western Canal pump station project is advancing, with CME conducting quality assurance and control work on permit plans. A meeting with PSNG is scheduled for February 5th, and CME is preparing to submit these plans to New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Infrastructure improvements continued to be a focal point, as highlighted by the discussion on repairs to manholes along South Middle Bush Road, authorized through a resolution amounting to $226,736.40. The resolution included negotiations for reimbursement from a private operator responsible for certain issues.

Financial updates revealed that year-to-date collections aligned with expected averages, with December expenditures recorded at $417,518.59. The committee noted a cash position showing an unrestricted balance of $1,522,278.84, a restricted amount of $1,465,306.30, and a designated fund total of $7,713,294.37. These figures culminate in a total cash net position of $23,840,613.84. The committee is also awaiting a check of about $1 million from the township related to municipal grants, with approximately half a million dollars remaining to be invoiced.

The meeting also addressed the completion of the 2025 budget, pending the actual certificate from the state. The committee praised the maintenance staff’s efforts in managing the aftermath of a significant snowstorm, which affected operations and led to the office closure for safety reasons. The committee reported no requests from the town for assistance with snow removal.

Additional resolutions passed during the meeting included appointing Goldman and Spitzer as bond council, NW Financial LLC as the financial consulting firm, and reappointing April Roach as the public agency compliance officer. The committee also confirmed appointments to various internal committees.