Hopewell Borough officials and community leaders are stepping up their support for the proposed sale of the Borough-owned water system to New Jersey American Water, while a separate group of residents continues to organize against the deal ahead of the November 4 referendum.
Council Member Krista Weaver and local business owner Otto Zizak have joined Mayor Ryan Kennedy, Council President David Mackie, Council Member Sheri Hook, Planning Board Chair Peter Macholdt, Economic Development Committee Member Ethan Unick, and former Council President Sky Morehouse in urging residents to vote yes.
Supporters argue that the $6.4 million in direct proceeds from the sale — combined with $7 million in planned infrastructure improvements — would provide a $13.4 million investment in the Borough’s water system. They say the agreement would reduce the average household water bill by about 36%, eliminate most Borough debt, fund lead service line replacements at no additional cost to homeowners, and address PFAS contamination.
“I believe selling the water system is the single most important thing we can do to support our businesses and increase affordability,” said Weaver. “High housing costs and taxes already make Hopewell unaffordable for many. Keeping the water system means unsustainable rate increases. I would not be a responsible fiduciary of the Borough if I didn’t support the sale.”
On Sunday, Oct. 5, a group of residents will make their case for the latter. The Hopewell Borough Public Water Alliance (HBPWA) will host a public meeting from 4 to 6 p.m. at First Calvary Baptist Church, 3 East Broad St. The session will outline what the group calls a “feasible alternative” to privatization. More information is available at savehopewellwater.com.
The referendum will appear on the November 4 ballot. More details are available at the Borough’s official site hopewellboro-nj.us/resources/water and the pro-sale campaign’s site voteyeshopewellwater.com.
