[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6533996,"mediaKeyId","3643088-a1a81cbab92a65361c5bc31ae3bb5bbd","parentId",3643088,"title","Trenton council introduces ordinance requiring landlords to give tenants utility notices, doubles repeat fines","audioSeconds",1739,"startMs",2038000,"endMs",3777000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3643088-a1a81cbab92a65361c5bc31ae3bb5bbd&start=2038&end=3777","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3643088-a1a81cbab92a65361c5bc31ae3bb5bbd/thumbnail_2038000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6533996/Trenton/Mercer-County/New-Jersey/Trenton-council-introduces-ordinance-requiring-landlords-to-give-tenants-utility-notices-doubles-repeat-fines","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6533996-77e11d482a39cde7d9f7400939bef549/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442927&Signature=ect3MUjldZdJEPwp0~m0fYG64VZPQdFKjpmOEOpH8wxO6IFIjkZfUpF~TyvxJO0Q~dmEuInUAC6at0g9c2VALg-Jz2rVTq1vE1IXI1kHIEsbUEl8bDz8UXtD4gdbuVgHPkIMEyTXe1CEP1xVuK2VKgyo7hBccp6WZWkN-cyt8FLBtBskFDhvJjs-HAKd70Y1zPbQhU6dG2YIZt9LnTQ5gk~9wPAee4Cow1LcmUEQafCvspKZcTy-O99nzBZoLsjXKZM7UOgjQPAZ9LFIk0Ij9fgpEoqtDg7odBZr8E300I6DM2HtAuFUEHFGBKjnX7OxB2BiBwKzHWBmwEUpYDW2Cg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Trenton","date","2025-06-04T00:30:08.8Z","article","Trenton City Council on first reading introduced Ordinance 25-63, requiring landlords or property owners to deliver copies of utility notices to tenants by personal service, certified mail with return receipt, electronic communication, or posting in a publicly accessible place, and doubling fines for repeat violations.

The measure matters because it aims to ensure tenants receive advance notice when utilities may be subject to shutoff or other enforcement actions — a protection council members said is intended to prevent residents from losing water, heat or electricity without warning.

Councilwoman Frances Frisbie pressed staff on how a landlord would verify delivery and suggested limiting posting to a publicly accessible location rather than only putting notices on tenants' doors. Edward Kolodzie, legislative counsel, summarized the ordinance's options as “it gives 4 options,” and counselors and staff agreed the intent was that any one of the listed delivery methods would satisfy the requirement. The council amended the draft to require that posting be both on the tenant's door and in a publicly accessible place in the building; that amendment passed unanimously on roll call.

City Attorney Wesley Bridges told the council any remedy that would let tenants unilaterally withhold rent would conflict with landlord–tenant law. “That's governed by landlord tenant statutes. We would not be able to put in legislation that would trump their obligations under landlord tenant,” Bridges said, and he advised enforcement should rely on inspection and complaint processes rather than creating a new private-withholding remedy.

Council members also agreed to raise the penalty for a second violation to $500 and for a third violation to $1,000. The ordinance was introduced as amended after the votes.

What the ordinance says and next steps: the introduced language requires landlords to provide copies of notices within three business days by one of the listed methods; posting must be in a publicly accessible area in addition to a tenant's door. Enforcement and remedies remain tied to existing municipal enforcement channels and state landlord–tenant law. The ordinance was introduced on first reading; it will return for a second reading and public hearing before any civil fines or enforcement actions under this local rule take effect.

A number of council members asked staff to draft related administrative or ordinance changes — for example, requiring municipal offices to send copies of relevant ordinances to owners or to require certain postings in common areas — to strengthen compliance and tenant awareness.

Votes and formal action: the council approved amendments and then voted to introduce Ordinance 25-63 as amended on a roll call vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Trenton City Council Combined Session, June 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Trenton City Council on first reading introduced Ordinance 25-63, requiring landlords to provide tenants copies of utility notices by one of several delivery methods and increasing fines for repeated violations.","taxTitle","Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey","taxId",2758,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6533981,"Council approves consent agenda including waterworks engineering contracts; CDM Smith and Suburban Consulting awarded walk-on contracts",236,1675000,1911000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3643088-a1a81cbab92a65361c5bc31ae3bb5bbd&start=1675&end=1911","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3643088-a1a81cbab92a65361c5bc31ae3bb5bbd/thumbnail_1675000.jpg","/articles/6533981/Trenton/Mercer-County/New-Jersey/Council-approves-consent-agenda-including-waterworks-engineering-contracts-CDM-Smith-and-Suburban-Consulting-awarded-walk-on-contracts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6533981-2a0172125c0186871217727c2e347ef5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442927&Signature=dyouWPJt4C5R8OAkCszamF4uQ8AR0NbXZOL3yJRrSZM1UiKbebwbowPhaQUC~8eJaE71uySNwWOlpI-3h8xPngCPwvkXJqVszYy9lggCKMVavxa0C17uqaAfPiP~xrznvMW3EFe8wmNgzbTV2zUJ26ekcbwYP4ClGAO~FJIqaMEQRmN-DaK9lCGJxBlSxwsX7GtwNkVXRLHW-3sEwZ~FXedQsKMSrcBpnwLmrgAvMzlVwVaZ2fmo2nZy9lg0PcRjtKIm1pav-5qcZBHDfzsmrr3DrH5pG6ENGrU6NECV6qbsl~T0gzEiQOPxGjwfPhUeqn4lB5ukVGKMM~~j1nQqWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Trenton City Council approved its consent agenda, which included a set of routine resolutions and two walk-on awards for the Department of Water and Sewer: a one-year engineering and consulting contract not to exceed $143,100 (RFP 2025-12) and a two-year engineering and construction management contract for Phase 5 lead service-line replacement not to exceed $2,997,335.

The contracts were read into the record as walk-ons (Resolutions 25-222 and 25-223) and included in the motion to approve the consent agenda. The consent package was carried on roll call.

Sean Semple, director of Water and Sewer, answered a council question about the evaluation process for the smaller engineering contract and said firms with prior experience on Trenton systems can have an advantage: “They have an advantage because they've worked within the system before for many years,” Semple said, describing why CDM Smith’s prior work could explain its competitive proposal. He also confirmed the utility’s evaluation process had rejected a late bid in a prior procurement.

Resolution 25-222 (award to CDM Smith) covers annual compliance, engineering and consulting services for Trenton Water Works in an amount not to exceed $143,100 for one year (RFP 2025-12). Resolution 25-223 awards competitive contracting for engineering services and construction management for lead service line replacement (Phase 5) to Suburban Consulting Engineers for up to $2,997,335 over two years.

Council took the consent vote after an item-by-item roll call; Resolution 25-208 was excluded from the consent agenda and will be considered separately. The council recorded the consent motion as carried.

Votes at a glance (selected items from consent motion):
- Resolution 25-222: Award contract (engineering/consulting) to CDM Smith; amount not to exceed $143,100 for 1 year — approved on consent.
- Resolution 25-223: Award contract to Suburban Consulting Engineers for Phase 5 lead service line replacement; amount not to exceed $2,997,335 for 2 years — approved on consent.
- Other resolutions included in consent: 206, 207, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 2202 and the walk-ons listed above; resolution 208 was held out.

Directors and council members said they expect staff to administer the contracts and return with updates as work begins on the water-line replacement and engineering tasks.","At a consent vote the council approved a package of resolutions including two walk-on contracts: a one-year engineering/consulting contract (RFP 2025-12) to CDM Smith not to exceed $143,100 and a two-year lead service line replacement engineering/CM contract to Suburban Consulting Engineers not to exceed $2,997,335.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6533986,"Council adopts ordinance creating Class 2 special law-enforcement officers; one abstention",45,661000,706000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3643088-a1a81cbab92a65361c5bc31ae3bb5bbd&start=661&end=706","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3643088-a1a81cbab92a65361c5bc31ae3bb5bbd/thumbnail_661000.jpg","/articles/6533986/Trenton/Mercer-County/New-Jersey/Council-adopts-ordinance-creating-Class-2-special-law-enforcement-officers-one-abstention","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6533986-26ea5a0337dd66712c7cd28b6fef1a71/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442927&Signature=cFKbcUGp5Jxls-eWVZF~yfGiJMhYCmewf--MKjRzluUAMQCJDeFk22j6FiMTsES3D~UtVNRbzK5tfZjH-DqoMDGE3-hKh818RyWFOgZuwzS6P2Vkv~8uzn8W9W2XFaUR~j6qO-0uhxr8AiQJB87GIcY4kndU-N6cubT3OJf~wJiCz1KnGyDtxbIxa8jNnB73tk-0FjdySBK17YAW4-Qk8pgXaN-dy0KeVPFRBYVPa2MM42fec2A0-VSJ40r4SiInT4DSI-2bG2X15vClj-4twdZnuNJYicI~IjxZFWZ3lQRbbdIrB7yFu428gOk0nADL0O5QrK3RKteoNXitLSMHyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Trenton City Council voted to adopt Ordinance 25-50, creating a classification of Class 2 special law enforcement officers in the city police department.

The ordinance, read by the clerk at the meeting's first business, was framed by supporters during public comment as a measure to supplement police services with trained, limited-authority officers. Cordelia Staton, a public commenter, said the proposal was “an excellent idea…to compliment our police force with these special officers” and urged adequate psychological training for officers.

After the clerk read the title and confirmed there were no public speakers on the ordinance at the time, the council moved and passed the ordinance on roll call. Councilwoman Frances Frisbie recorded an abstention; other voting members recorded yes votes and the ordinance was carried.

The measure establishes the classification; the ordinance text specifies training and duties for Class 2 officers. City staff indicated the second reading and adoption vote occurred at the meeting.","Trenton City Council voted to adopt Ordinance 25-50 establishing Class 2 special law enforcement officers in the police department; the measure passed with one abstention.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6533991,"Council amends internal rules to allow leaders two consecutive one-year terms",933,3817000,4750000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3643088-a1a81cbab92a65361c5bc31ae3bb5bbd&start=3817&end=4750","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3643088-a1a81cbab92a65361c5bc31ae3bb5bbd/thumbnail_3817000.jpg","/articles/6533991/Trenton/Mercer-County/New-Jersey/Council-amends-internal-rules-to-allow-leaders-two-consecutive-one-year-terms","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6533991-8f171ee0da9f82ebe6417742945fa3f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442927&Signature=LkjU--OnLIbjNm8ZDAC12ROhdpsHuhpnMTj0wfAMHVIdc1HvCbF2tG2Axuxg~vTfDXW882R99PFIZFsOiVLhgwhsWEc8oexuFyyq9hb1gIxbcXL6eksY6~hlfD2UbP~2-ZfBzLovuxdde0gWrfnSaCKrZxNs-bxGGUc-rYZpbLSwe2FGeS7zvvJHUjBtU9iv2uSs6RssNQZY9ZMOvfBuqHvMWIH90K4pmqGAdIYWLuPDW686hL3e15aAJ2aH7bZ1LwbBvgAnqIUCi35asjAI1mA6~zhrcgzp5DhVueoz5MAUc4u0n5cC~ERRh5cFOdPIXXBqfC26h9UzTrScNHlQMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Trenton City Council voted to amend its internal rules by introducing Ordinance 25-64 with changes that permit the council president and vice president to succeed themselves but limit either office to no more than two consecutive one-year terms.

The change is meant to balance rotation of leadership with continuity, council members said, after a lengthy debate about whether the presidency should be strictly rotated annually or allow incumbents to serve a second year.

Councilwoman Dianne Williams urged caution about allowing presidents to serve consecutive terms, saying annual rotation had helped ensure broader leadership opportunities. “I disagree with this,” Williams said during debate, arguing that annual rotation gives more members a chance to serve in the chair.

Councilwoman Frances Frisbie and Josie Feliciano said a two-year cap for leadership positions would allow leaders time to implement initiatives while preventing concentration of power. Frisbie had proposed limiting successive service to two terms; the body amended the draft to apply the two-term limit to both the president and the vice president. The amendment passed on a roll call, and the ordinance was introduced as amended.

Council members also cleaned up language on committee nominations and added a requirement that mayoral or council appointments appear before council, language some members said will improve transparency for ad hoc committees and appointments.

The ordinance was introduced as amended. Councilwoman Williams recorded an abstention on the final vote to introduce the ordinance as amended; other members voted to introduce.

The measure will return for a second reading and public hearing before final adoption.

Votes and formal action: the council adopted multiple amendments to Ordinance 25-64 and then voted to introduce the ordinance as amended.","Trenton City Council amended Ordinance 25-64 to permit the president and vice president to succeed themselves but limited both offices to no more than two consecutive one-year terms; the introduction passed after roll-call votes with one abstention on final vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Trenton council introduces ordinance requiring landlords to give tenants utility notices, doubles repeat fines

Council approves consent agenda including waterworks engineering contracts; CDM Smith and Suburban Consulting awarded walk-on contracts

Council adopts ordinance creating Class 2 special law-enforcement officers; one abstention

Council amends internal rules to allow leaders two consecutive one-year terms