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Trenton council adds US 1 to notice list and changes meeting date amid print-paper transition
Summary
Council amended its public-notice resolution to add the US 1 newspaper as a potential publication and approved a date change for a 2025 meeting after discussion about the Trenton Times ceasing print publication.
The Trenton City Council voted on Jan. 2 to amend a public-notice resolution to include US 1 newspaper as a potential official publication and approved a change to the council—s 2025 meeting schedule, following discussion about the Trenton Times ceasing its print edition.
Council members said they had learned that the Trenton Times planned to stop its print publication at the end of the month and asked staff whether other publications met statutory requirements for official notice. Municipal Clerk Brandon Garcia and City Attorney Wes Bridges said they would confirm whether US 1 met the legal standard for paid and circulated publications under state law.
"The official newspapers are defined by NJSA 10:4 ... paid, published and circulated," Bridges said while reviewing the statute language in the meeting. He told the council he would research the circulation and paid subscription status of US 1 and other options and expected to have an answer within 15 to 20 minutes.
Councilwoman Jennifer C. Williams asked that US 1 be added to the resolution as a potential source. After a short discussion and a motion to amend Resolution 25-002 to include US 1, the council approved the amendment by roll call. The council then approved the consent agenda as amended and voted to change the June meeting date from June 5 to June 3, 2025, to accommodate the primary election schedule.
Bridges and several council members noted that recent trends in print journalism and pending state legislation about electronic notice are affecting how municipalities provide public notice; the council asked staff to confirm statutory compliance before relying on any new publication.
Actions recorded included the amendment to Resolution 25-002 to add US 1 as a potential official paper and approval of the amended resolution and meeting-date changes. The clerk and city attorney will follow up with written confirmation about whether US 1 satisfies the requirements of NJSA 10:4.
