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Residents urge council not to adopt state residency mandate for Trenton Water Works
Summary
Two residents spoke during public comment at the Sept. 10 Trenton City Council meeting urging the council to reject adopting a state residency requirement for Trenton Water Works, saying the city's ordinance already prioritizes Trentonians and that adopting the state rule would "deprioritize Trentonians."
Two residents used the public-comment period at the Sept. 10 Trenton City Council special meeting to urge council members not to adopt a state residency requirement for positions tied to Trenton Water Works, saying the city's existing ordinance already prioritizes Trentonians and that the state rule would be a step toward regionalization.
Caroline Clark of Riverside Drive told the council she opposed adopting the state residency statute and argued Trenton's ordinance already "does more than the State's statute." Clark said she believed adopting the state's requirement would "deprioritize Trentonians" and could be used as a step toward regionalization of city jobs. "The only reason to adopt the State's statute is to deprioritize Trentonians," she said.
Robin Vaughn, of Stuyvesant Avenue, echoed Clark and urged the council to prioritize Trentonians in hiring. Vaughn told the council that city residents face "the highest unemployment rates in the state of New Jersey, the highest unemployment across Mercer County," and urged the council to press other municipalities in the Trenton Water Works service area to change their residency rules so hiring benefits Trentonians as well.
Both speakers referenced Trenton's existing residency ordinance and recommended the council keep the local rule rather than adopting the state requirement; neither speaker asked the council to take a specific vote during the Sept. 10 meeting. Council members did not take formal action on the residency matter at the meeting.
Why it matters: Speakers framed the issue as a question of job access for Trenton residents and of local control over hiring for a municipal utility. Residents said Trenton's ordinance already covers the city and county service area and that adopting the state provision now could be a first step toward regionalizing jobs tied to local services.
What council members said: Several council members previously questioned the proposal at an earlier meeting, and Councilwoman Feliciano received specific thanks from a speaker for raising questions; no council vote or direction was recorded on Sept. 10.
