Commission advances youth appointment, compost pilot and Sustainable Jersey push; notes growth in township tree fund

The Franklin Township Environmental Commission voted to authorize up to two nonvoting student participants and reviewed several community initiatives including a volunteer curbside compost pilot, the town's Sustainable Jersey recertification schedule and a volunteer-run "Save the Mow" outreach campaign.

Appointment of student members

The commission voted to allow the commission chair to appoint up to two nonvoting student members (typically drawn from local high schools or county VoTech programs) for overlapping terms (a junior's term extending through graduation). The motion was moved by Arnie and seconded; commissioners voted in favor. The appointment process described at the meeting follows the model used by other township boards where nonvoting junior members are selected by the commission chair with school guidance-office input; the commission recorded a residency requirement for student appointees.

Compost pilot and curbside interest

Commission members reported ongoing work with a volunteer nonprofit (high-school/college students) proposing curbside food-waste pickup for neighborhoods such as Canal Walk. Volunteers asked vendors about liability and auto insurance; the program is not fully operational while the group's insurance and additional documentation are finalized. Commission members said they had contacted waste-processing partners, including a Trenton anaerobic digestion facility (Trenton Biogas) that handles food-waste feedstock.

Sustainable Jersey recertification and other programs

The commission is preparing a Sustainable Jersey submittal with a May 16 first submittal window and asked participants to return draft narratives by May 8. The commission's green-team coordinator said reviewer feedback is rigorous and the township will have additional submittal rounds in July and September if needed.

Tree fund and Shade Tree Commission

When residents asked about the impact of a recent fee increase for the tree fund, commissioners said the fund now holds "a lot more money." Stan (Environmental Commission member) said the Shade Tree Commission requested a review of the fee schedule and noted the township ordinance calls for an annual review of tree fees; the commission said the last formal review had been overlooked in 2024 and would be revisited.

Save-the-Mow campaign, volunteer outreach and PurpleAir monitors

Volunteers presented a funded sign and outreach campaign to discourage early-season mowing; a volunteer-built website and QR-code outreach were shown to the commission and the group plans to distribute printed signs and brochures with sponsor credits. Commissioners also discussed the township deployment of PurpleAir particulate monitors at municipal sites and schools; residents can view readings online to understand localized air-quality variations, and commissioners suggested expanding monitoring in corridors with heavy truck traffic.

Electric vehicle equipment and grants

Staff reported initial outreach to a company marketing an electric front-loader (off-road heavy equipment) and said the equipment may be eligible for replacement grants; the town is investigating funding availability and whether off-road equipment is eligible for specific state incentives.

Ending

The commission approved the student-member appointment authorization and agreed to monitor the compost pilot's insurance status, Sustainable Jersey draft materials, and volunteer outreach logistics. Commissioners asked staff to follow up on tree-fund fee review and on mapping air-quality monitors to areas of concern.