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Environmental commission declines Raritan Headwaters donation request, backs routing funds to Lower Raritan projects
Summary
The commission voted to decline a $1,000 donation request from Raritan Headwaters Association and preferred using Clean Communities funds for projects with the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership that directly benefit Franklin Township.
Franklin Township’s Environmental Commission on Feb. 24 voted to decline a $1,000 donation request from Raritan Headwaters Association and signaled preference to support projects within the Lower Raritan watershed partnership instead.
The request, received by the mayor and forwarded to the commission, asked for $1,000 from the township’s Clean Communities grant funds to support the Raritan Headwaters’ 35th annual stream cleanup on April 12. Commission members noted that while the Raritan Headwaters coordinates large-scale volunteer cleanups across multiple municipalities, Franklin is in the Lower Raritan watershed and the commission preferred directing Clean Communities funds toward watershed projects that directly benefit the township.
At the meeting a commissioner moved a resolution that the commission “find it unnecessary to donate to Raritan Headwaters Association since we are not in the Raritan Headwaters and would prefer to support a project of Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership.” The motion was seconded and passed on an ayes-only voice vote.
Commission members noted Clean Communities money is used locally for recycling programs, stormwater education and township stream cleanups (the commission has used the funds previously for Adopt-a-Drain and local cleanup events). Several members encouraged staff to follow up with the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership to identify eligible, project-specific proposals the township could fund with Clean Communities dollars. The commission asked staff to respond to Raritan Headwaters declining the request and to invite a project proposal from Lower Raritan partners.
Motion and vote: the commission recorded a formal motion (exact mover and seconder not specified in the transcript) to decline the donation request; members voted in favor and the motion carried.
