Lambertville introduces 2025 budget as residents press city to act on PFAS contamination

Lambertville officials on Monday introduced the city's 2025 municipal budget and faced sustained public concern about suspected PFAS contamination on nearby hills, prompting the council to approve a consent agenda that includes hiring a technical reviewer and outside legal counsel.

The council presented the introduced 2025 budget, which the presiding official read into the record as (as stated) roughly "8,15,330" in total expenditures and described a municipal portion of 4,523,950 supported by 3,581,380 in other revenues. Presenters said the levy increase reflected in the introduction is 0.009, with an estimated tax impact of about $8.81 for every $100,000 of assessed value and an average residential assessment of $448,738. Council members said the budget increases fund city services, modest staffing changes and reserves for litigation and accumulated absences.

Why it matters: the budget sets priorities for municipal services and reserves, but it also must account for emerging liabilities and community health concerns. During public comment residents described what they said were widespread PFAS detections and urged the city to prioritize testing, remediation and legal strategy rather than simply defending against tort claims.

Residents who spoke during the hearing described a constellation of contamination concerns on local hills, including reports of private wells with elevated readings, historical dumping and health complaints. John Towns, a Hancock Street resident, told the council the problem extended beyond well water: "The PFAS is not just in the water, it's in the ground," and he urged the city to ensure environmental concerns are highlighted in legal filings so judges and other officials are aware of the scope.

Council leaders acknowledged the urgency and explained steps already underway. The mayor said the state agency responsible for environmental testing (referred to in the meeting as "D") plans to sample wells on Cottage Hill and Kana Hill and that outreach letters to affected residents were expected; the mayor also said the city is coordinating with the state and other entities on testing and remediation timetables.

To strengthen the technical and legal response, the council approved a consent agenda that included Resolution 80-2025 to retain Integral (a technical-assessment firm) to review publicly available PFAS data and Resolution 81-2025 to retain outside counsel to assist with the growing number of tort claims related to PFAS. The consent agenda (Resolutions 76-2025 through 86-2025) passed as a block.

Council members stressed that hired experts should work with affected residents and with neighboring municipalities where appropriate. A council member said the firm-to-be-contracted will provide an initial baseline study of available data and that legal counsel will assist in coordinating the city's defense and ensuring contamination concerns are brought forward in court proceedings.

What's next: the introduced budget will follow the municipality's scheduled public-review process (a second reading and public hearing are required before final adoption); the retained technical and legal teams will begin the preliminary work described in the adopted resolutions. Residents seeking specifics about testing schedules were told to await outreach from the state agency and the city's designated contacts.