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Rahway residents and DPW workers press council for answers on contracts and water utility
Summary
At the May 4 council meeting multiple residents and a Department of Public Works worker urged faster action on a 14‑month‑delayed DPW contract, pressed for transparency on water bills and utility surpluses, and asked the city to pursue grant funding for infrastructure projects.
Multiple residents and municipal employees used the May 4 Rahway City Council public-comment period to press elected leaders for quicker action on long‑delayed labor negotiations, to question utility billing and budget choices, and to ask the administration to pursue grant funding for local infrastructure.
Joel Thomas, a longtime city employee, spoke on behalf of DPW staff and said “it’s been 14 months that these men been without a contract,” arguing that the workers who plow streets and maintain public property deserve prompt negotiations and fair pay. Thomas described low pay for some workers and urged council to act on contract talks.
Resident Ronald McCray criticized the council’s responsiveness to constituent issues ranging from veterans’ matters to water-bill complaints, saying the council “violate[s] your own oath and obligation” by failing to follow up on recurring concerns. McCray pressed that citizens repeatedly hear promises without substantive resolution.
Andrew Garcia Phillips asked for updates on several infrastructure items, including the Irving Street bridge and safety issues at the train station, and pressed the administration about the status of the city budget and water-utility finances. He asked whether prior surplus transfers from the water utility could be used to fix delayed maintenance and questioned whether Rahway had submitted shovel‑ready projects for federal grants.
Council members acknowledged the concerns during the meeting. The business administrator said negotiations are ongoing and encouraged council to allow the administration to lead collective bargaining under the Faulkner Act’s separation-of-powers framework. Council members requested that an attorney provide an update at the next meeting and asked for more frequent check-ins so members can remain informed about bargaining progress.
Next steps: Council members asked administration for an update on DPW negotiations by the next meeting and discussed monthly reporting until negotiations conclude. No formal change to bargaining authority or contract terms was made during the meeting.
