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Resident alleges contractor sold homeowner data after city‑lettered waterline inspection notice; council vows review
Summary
A Trenton resident told the council on Feb. 17 that after scheduling a state‑mandated third‑party waterline inspection he received a sales solicitation he believes came from city data; council members said staff will have the contract reviewed and the contractor has revised its initial letter.
David Headley, a Trenton resident, told the City Council on Feb. 17 he believes a third‑party contractor sold his contact information after he responded to a city‑branded notice to schedule a mandatory water‑service inspection.
Headley said he received an initial notice and then, about a week later, separate material from American Water Resources offering a home protection plan for water and sewer lines. “I believe that they sold my information,” Headley said, adding that the solicitation’s timing — seven to 10 days after he gave his information to the inspection vendor — “doesn’t sit well with me.” He asked the council to have the city attorney review the contract and to prevent contractors from selling resident data.
Mayor Rezeppa and staff acknowledged complaints about the original letter’s tone and said the contractor has produced a revised, less threatening draft. The mayor said staff contacted the contractor and would pursue steps to protect residents’ data. “We’ll certainly do whatever we can to look, to protect all of our residents’ data,” he said. City staff noted the inspections are part of a statewide mandate that will roll out over several years and said there may be many vendors doing outreach.
Headley also raised operational concerns: scheduling windows with long waits, limited weekend appointments and the prospect of unmarked vehicles at homeowners’ doors. Council members and staff said they would explore whether the city could perform inspections in‑house or obtain certification to reduce reliance on third parties, and would ask the attorney to review contract language about data use and resale.
No formal council action was taken during the public‑comment period beyond the pledge to review the contract and encourage improved contractor communication. The mayor asked staff to follow up with the resident and report back to council.
