Council tables Trenton Water Works rate ordinance, members cite state bill that could enable regionalization

The Trenton City Council on Jan. 6 voted to table Ordinance 26-001, which would introduce a rate increase for the municipally owned Trenton Water Works, until a presentation on Jan. 20 so council members could review details before first reading.

Council members expressed concern about the scale of the proposed rate changes and about state-level action. Councilwoman Edwards said a 60% increase would "cripple a lot of households" already facing higher costs of living, and she and others urged distributing increases over time. Edwards also warned about a state bill (identified in the meeting as bill 5980) that council members said could create a Citizens Fund Act permitting conveyance or transfer of revenue-producing municipal assets without a referendum. "This says that council can vote basically sell or transfer Trenton Waterworks into this Citizens Fund Act if we are not happy with what the administration is doing," she said, urging caution and more study.

Councilwoman Feliciano said she opposed regionalization that would remove local control, and she and Edwards said they plan to circulate a resolution proposing a Trenton Water Authority as a locally controlled alternative. The council voted to table the ordinance by roll call so members can view the scheduled presentation and receive additional information before taking a first reading.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to table Ordinance 26-001 (to allow council to hear presentation on Jan. 20): carried by roll call.

The council said it will revisit the ordinance after the presentation and further deliberation; no first- or second-reading action was taken at the Jan. 6 meeting.