On May 29, nearly 20 members of the public attended a “Public Outreach Session on Potential Sale of Water Utility” hosted by the Hopewell Borough Council at Borough Hall on Broad Street. Council members shared an informational slide presentation with those in attendance and others watching online, followed by a Q&A with the audience.
“Our goal is to help everyone understand what their choice will be in November,” said Mayor Ryan Kennedy in opening remarks. The council plans to place a referendum on the November general election ballot asking whether to sell the borough’s water system to New Jersey American Water. That election, scheduled for Nov. 4, will also include the race for governor and potentially a school referendum.
The public outreach series is being conducted in three sessions, each focusing on a different topic. The May 29 session addressed Rate Analysis—reviewing historic rates, comparing current borough water rates with NJ American Water’s rates, and discussing the Board of Public Utilities’ role in future rate adjustments.
The next session is scheduled for Thursday, July 17, at 7:00 p.m., and will focus on Purchase Price, including the financial impact of a proposed $6.4 million sale, the potential retirement of more than $7 million in municipal debt, and possible community reinvestment. A third session, date to be announced, will address Capital Costs, which include $7+ million in needed maintenance and infrastructure upgrades, potential borough rate increases, and NJAW’s proposed capital and resiliency plans.
Multiple council members said they welcome public feedback and suggestions for what should be covered in upcoming sessions. Residents can contact the council via phone or email or attend Mayor Kennedy’s open office hours on June 11 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at Borough Hall.
Councilman David Mackie led the presentation, which he said was based on a review of more than 900 pages of data. He emphasized that water costs are expected to rise regardless of who owns the system, citing aging infrastructure and state-mandated upgrades. According to Mackie, projected community-wide water costs would total $860,000 annually under continued borough ownership, compared to $677,350 under NJAW—a 27% reduction.
Graphs shared during the presentation—available on the borough website—suggested that 95% of local customers would see lower future rates under NJAW. Mackie noted that NJAW benefits from economies of scale, including discounts on equipment and services. For the remaining 5% of users, who could see rate increases of roughly $10 per month, the borough may explore subsidies, similar to past support provided to small businesses during rate hikes.
The full slide presentation will be available at www.hopewellboro-nj.us/water. Additional fact sheets and future session materials will be posted there as they become available.
In closing, Mackie explained, “The driver here is not that we don’t want to take care of the water system anymore. It’s that we can’t keep rates low enough. Our water system is 125 years old, our reservoir is 110 years old. It needs maintenance and repair; the $8–10 million in capital costs are the real problem for rates in the future.”
During the public comment period, several questions focused on Mackie’s own role in past maintenance issues. He noted that his personal review of water data in 2023—stemming from what he called his “data geek” tendencies—led to the discovery of a major underground leak.
Resident Susan Pollara acknowledged the value of Mackie’s discovery but expressed frustration that the leak hadn’t been found earlier, and that some residents felt council members hadn’t taken responsibility. Mackie and other council members responded by accepting full accountability. Pollara thanked them, saying, “It helps us trust the numbers you’re presenting here, because in the past we haven’t heard that acceptance of responsibility.”
Council members and attendees agreed that leak detection isn’t typically the responsibility of elected officials, especially given that the borough’s public works staff consists of just one employee. They also noted that the leak was unusual and difficult to detect.
Other residents sought clarification on points from the presentation or raised broader concerns about relinquishing local control of the water system. Mayor Kennedy encouraged continued public engagement, urging residents to review materials on the borough website and reach out to council members before the July 17 session.
