Franklin Committee Tackles Deer Hunting and Open Space Issues

Overview: The Franklin (Somerset County) Open Space Advisory Committee recently engaged in a multifaceted discussion addressing the town’s deer hunting program, the use of electric mowers for environmental conservation, and concerns regarding the financial health of The Meadows Foundation. The committee sought to reconcile discrepancies in financial reports and debated the practicality of lawn maintenance practices under trees, as well as deliberated on the management of open spaces and historic properties.

Franklin Committee Tackles Open Space Budget and Maintenance Concerns

Overview: The Franklin Open Space Advisory Committee recently held a meeting where the primary focus was the financial management and maintenance of the town’s open spaces. An in-depth analysis of the open space trust fund budget was conducted, revealing a discrepancy between the revenue collected and the costs associated with maintaining open space properties. Members examined tax revenue collected from 2016 to 2024, which totaled $50,823,000, with salary charges accounting for 6.94% of this revenue. The maintenance costs were noted to far exceed the funds allocated to the open space trust.

Franklin Committee Elects New Chair and Tackles Open Space Challenges

Overview: The Franklin Open Space Advisory Committee recently convened to address a series of concerns related to local open space management, financial oversight, and community engagement. Notably, the committee underwent a reorganization, resulting in the election of new officers. Robert Puskus has been appointed as the chair, alongside an individual named Ary as the vice chair, and Bill Connell as the secretary.