’h°Fra n kl in news recorD $4.50 a year/15 cents per copy Phone: (201) 725-3300 Thursday, August 3, 1978 Second class postage paid at Manville, N.J. 08835 Vol. 26, No. 31 Twosections, 36 pages Create race to file ballot question Republicans seek study by Charter Commission by Steve Goodman proposition has been properly filed However, the League was unable to Managing Editor with the county clerk. get the required numberof signatures The earliest a public hearing on the to complete the petitions. The race has begun and the winner ordinance can be held is Aug. 17. At The League’s attempt to change the will get to ask Franklin Township that time, council can vote to approve election date drew criticism from voters to choose in the upcoming the ordinance on second reading and township Republicans. Some critics November election if they are file its action with the county clerk had charged the Democrats were dissatisfied with the present within 60-days prior to the election. behind the League’s petition drive. municipal government structure and The Democrats also face the 60-day Now, in 1978, the Republicans are desire a change. deadline for filing their peti.tions. attempting to stop the Democrats’ Franklin is currently organized as a proposition which would effect the Council/Manager Plan D government FRANKLIN’S ADOPTION of change in government in 1979. A as provided for in the 1950state statute Council/Manager Plan D resulted Charter Commission would study the called the Faulkner Act. from a 1958 Charter Commissionstudy matter for nine months and the Two weekends ago a group of recommending the change from the earliest a commission recommended residents began a door-to-door petition existing committee government. A change could occur is 1980. campaign aimed at acquiring the second Charter Commissionreport in If the five-member commission is signatures of 20 percent of the town- 1968 reaffirmed the desirability of elected this Novemberthe group will ship’s registered voters. Coordinated Plan D. conduct public hearings and author a by second ward Democratic chair- In 1975 the Franklin Township report. If a change of government is womanMarita Clickner, the petition, if League of WomenVoters circulated properly filed, will put a proposition to petitions to change to Plan F. See CHARTER.page 12-A change from Plan D to Council /Manager Plan F on the November ballot. According to the Democrats, the Test data says Franklin only change would be creating par- tisan council elections and including the local candidates on the general falls near national mean election ballot each November.Under Plan D, council elections are non- The Franklin Township school Achievement Test (CAT) provides partisan and held in May. district test results are out. Students’ both an achievement and an aptitude individual scores were sent home to profile, according to Mrs. Radian. WARYOF the speed with which the parents before schools closed for Administered in March to the OFFTO A FLYiNG"S’TART, participants in last Sunday’s RAFTJunior Marathon begin their one-mile race. John Helms, 8, of Somerset took first place in the 8 and 9- summervacation, according to school district’s Kindergarten through llth year old age troup with a time of 7:37. Democrats’ proposal, if approved by township voters, could disrupt the officials. grade students, the CATtest measures make-upand continuity of the existing Detailing district-wide achievement knowledge of understanding in Burke, Helm, council, boards and commissions, the and aptitude testing results, the school reading, mathematics, language, Republicans are attempting to place a administration presented the Board of spelling and reference skills¯ Holmes win in Charter Commission question on the Education a 70-page document at its "The tests are designed with 10 Novemberballot. July 20 conference session¯ overlapping levels so that one com- Controlling the council voting bloc, Prior to releasing the information to pletely articulated test series RAFT Marathon 6-2, the Republicans called a special the press on Wednesday, July 26, measures achievement growth from meeting of the governing body last School Superintendent Ronald Whyte ¯ Kindergarten through grade 11," Dr. Albert Burke, 12, Robert Holmes,10, night intending to introduce an or- and district K-8 supervisor Maria Whyte said. and John Helm, 8, were victorious in dinance to place the Charter Com- Radian condensed the testing data into "The basic purpose of the CATtest the first Junior Marathon sponsored mission question on the ballot. a form suitable for publication. Two is to provide information for use in by the Recreation Association of The timing is crucial for both summarytables are at the end of this making educational decisions leading Franklin Township (RAFT). Ap- political parties since the Faulkner article¯ to Ihe improvementof instruction in proximately 50 children entered the Act stipulates an attempt to place a the basic skills," he explained¯ July 30 marathon races at Colonial government change question on the (;IVEN FORthe first time in the Park. election ballot is nullified oncethe first Franklin school district, the California See TEST DATA.page 12-A Burke (15:25l placed first in the two mile distance for 12 and 13 year olds. James McDonald, 13, and Steve McDermott,12, were second and third with the times of 17:05 and 17:45. IIolmes (11:12) took top honors the one and a half mile run for 10 and 11 year olds. Leith Burke, 10, and AnthonyOliva, 11, followed him across ¯ the finish line in 11:22 and 11:23. Helm (7:37) triumphed in the one mile race for eight and nine year olds by one second over nine-year-old Scott Donie. Glen Gadson, also nine, achieved third place with the clocking of 7:43. The top three in each race received iill either a gold, silver or bronze medal for their performances. All entrants received a flying foot pin. Describing the competitors as "extremely enthusiastic," RAFT executive committee member Vivian Cottrell explained, "A lot of their limes were much better than we hought." No preliminaries were held. LEITHBURKE of Somersetproudly displays the silver medal 10 and 11-year-olds. "It was set up where they would do heearned for finishing secondin the 1 V=-milecompetition for (Joni Note photos) their running at home and then come ready to race," she added. RAFT, formed this past winter, hopes to aid in the establishment of a recreation center for Franklin. "If is extremely needed in this Franklin’s 180th birthday township to have a center for everyone to meet -- not just kids, but adults too," Mrs. Cottrell emphasized. "Wehaven’t really decided upon a location, but we hope it will be in celebration is canceled Franklin," she continued. "The main thing right now is to get ourselves known." by Janet Fillmore organizations greeted the committee’s officers are often installed at this Mrs. Cottrell is also hoping township Staff Writer efforts¯ time. council will be supportive of RAFT’s "A lot of organizations said, ’We’ll "I was hoping that some enthusiasm efforts. Franklin will celebrate its 18Oth get itwolved, we’ll get involved,’ but it could be generated," he said. "En- RAFTplans to sponsor a five mile birthday this year, but no one will be was coming down to the last 60 days thusiasm is always good for a com- run for township residents in mid- Ihere to blow out the candles. A special and there were no commitments made nmnity." September to bring attention to their committee, that began meeting in except for two," the chairman em- The celebration was to be a com- cause¯ March. has been unable to organize a phasized. nmnity wide picnic for all township Other members of the RAFT Iownship-widecelebration so plans for "There were a lot of different residents. executive committee include Janice the Sept¯ 16 party were officially suggestions, but there was nobody "It was just trying to get the people Gagliardi, Jack Kozielec and John canned at its meeting last month. there to do it," he continued. "Wejust of the entire township together for a Herbert. "The Rec Council for the last couldn’t do it alone." day so they could identify with each several months has held special It seemed a lack of participation other," Mr. Tapp emphasized. meetings to Iry to organize a birthday "One of the events that sort of did was also evident in the nine-member Franklin Park celebration," said Parks and recreation council. Mr. Badessa in- the same was the Industrial Fair and Recreation Director Tim Tapp. dicated that only Florence van Pelt we wanted to extend it," he added. The Industrial Fair, called "Info Franklin residents delay ¯"S." ’% ’ ’~’ "Two or three interested and himself regularly attended the organizations attended each of the meetings. ’78," was held last May at the meelings and were enthusiastic," he municipal building and was the "We’re getting some new people in, filing court suit :’ continued. "Several other so maybe it will be different," he .rganizations showed temporary See BIRTHDAY,page 12-A remarked. A suit naming several Franklin inlerest. Township representatives that was "At the meeting last month, I guess OTllER FACTORScontributed to expected to be filed last Friday in all who showed, including the Rec Ihe celebration’s demise. The "180!h" and inside... Somerset County court by Richard Council and two other organizations, name may have been one of the ¯ , decided the interest was lacking and Millett, an attorney representing a deciding factors. arts ............. 9-A, 10-A, 11-A coalition of Franklin Park they opted not to have it or to put it "A lot of lhe organizations were balloons take off ...........