The Hopewell Borough Council held its regular meeting on Thursday, February 6 at 7 p.m. in Borough Hall. From 5-7pm, the Council was in closed Executive Session for contract negotiations regarding the potential sale of the Borough’s water utility and negotiations in connection with hiring special counsel.
Water and Sewer System Updates
As in recent meetings, the Borough’s water and sewer system was the focal point for much of the evening. There are many steps the Council must take to fulfill requirements between now and November to put the sale of the water utility up for a public vote. Last month’s meeting covered that topic in more depth, and information can be found here.
Council members unanimously approved resolutions to move forward with the process by engaging professional services from the Dakota Law Firm in connection with the potential sale. In the meantime, the Council adjusted water rates in such a way that rate relief can be given to the biggest users in town – local businesses. Resolution 2025-36, which will allow the Council to make those rate adjustments, passed unanimously.
See also: Hopewell Borough Explores Future of Aging Water System at Community Discussion
Water System Next Steps
Councilperson David Mackie spoke on the current state of the water system and next steps in the process of bringing sale of the system to public vote. When Ordinance 894 was read (stipulating that food establishments must have their annual grease trap inspection completed by a certified plumber), Mackie explained how intertwined the water/sewer system is, and that when sewer clogs occur, grease is usually the culprit.
“The less people put down their drains, the better it is for our water and sewer system, for the residents and businesses, and for the water treatment plant itself,” he said.
A motion to introduce Ordinance 894 was passed unanimously. At next month’s meeting it will be open for public comment while being considered as a Resolution.
Ordinances 892 (tightening language of the Disabled Veteran Deduction on property taxes to ensure unlimited retroactive deductions wouldn’t bankrupt the town) and 893 (giving Council flexibility to adjust water and sewer rates) both passed unanimously with no public comment.
Later in the meeting, during Public Comment, resident Courtney Palmbush joined via Zoom and referenced a petition* authored by others in a group of concerned Borough residents with the assistance of Central New Jersey Food & Water Watch. The petition urged the Council to put selling the water system to a public Referendum. She shared concerns that the Council appeared to be going full-steam ahead as if the vote would be ‘Yes,’ and sought assurance that they were prepared with a plan in case the public voted ‘No’ to the sale.
See MercerMe’s coverage Petition Delays Water System Sale in Hopewell Borough
Mayor Ryan Kennedy and council person Mackie assured Palmbushthat they were carefully planning for either outcome. In the case of a No vote, there are grants to be tapped such as one the Department of Environmental Protection is holding for the town to be used in case the utility sale does not go through, they explained. Rates can also be raised, opportunities to repair the reservoir and to remediate Well 6 and bring it online can be explored, and possibly sharing services with Pennington to save funds could be an option.
“We’ve been holding off on some major capital projects so we don’t incur future debt, since the future is uncertain on water,” said Mackie.
Kennedy added, “Our goal is to provide the community with options in terms of prices, services, and benefits, so we can all decide together in November what is the best fit.”
Resolution for Hopewell 57 Redevelopment Plan
Resolution 2025-36 was also approved (unanimously with the exception of Kennedy, who recused himself) to engage the services of Phoenix Advisors Consulting Services. Phoenix will provide financial, physical, and technical support on the Hopewell 57 redevelopment plan. One of the objectives is to prepare presentations that will educate both the public and the Council on topics such as school and public services impact and potential tax revenue.
Sanctuary City Discussion and Community Guidance
During another period of public comment, Bobbi Fishman, owner of local bookstore The Bear and the Books, asked if the Council had any plans regarding Hopewell Borough’s status as a sanctuary city. Considering recent immigration enforcement activity in the nation, she suggested that residents and business owners might benefit from guidance or a status update. Kennedy agreed and shared that he already had an idea to hold a special information session for the community and hopes to implement that event in the near future.
Hopewell Youth Collective Relaunches
During another period of public comment, resident Aaron Twitchell stepped forward to announce that the Hopewell Youth Collective will be starting up again over the next few months. This group for young Hopewell Valley residents in grades 6-12 was started by the Hopewell Presbyterian Church to provide youth with fun trips and activities as well as public service projects.
“We tell our kids to be careful of too much screen time, too much social media,” Twitchell said, “but then we don’t give them much else to do locally. I want to plant the seed today that Hopewell Youth Collective is back and we have big ideas, big plans.”
Twitchell went on to cite studies that show children benefit from having a “third space” (an environment that is not home or school) where they can gather and form relationships with each other and with trusted adults. In years past, the Hopewell Youth Collective went on trips to the bowling alley, the beach, and the Quarry swimming club to name a few, and participated in many local service projects.
Councilperson Krista Weaver pointed out the potential to cross-pollinate by engaging the Youth Collective to help with problems like sidewalks, that must be shoveled by law, but are not because a resident may struggle with the physicality of the task.
There is a website still extant from the last incarnation of the Hopewell Youth Collective, where information can be found on past activities, but it is not yet updated to reflect future plans. Twitchell said meetings would again be held at Chubby’s restaurant, and are open to all Hopewell Valley youth in grades 6-12. Those with questions can email him at aaron@hopewellyouth.com.
More information on the Council meeting can be found on the Hopewell Borough website. Video of the meeting will be posted to the Borough’s YouTube channel “Hopewell Borough Updates.”
For more info, please see more of MercerMe’s coverage on the issue:
- Hopewell Borough Council Addresses Water System and Parking Dispute in Extended Session
- Hopewell Borough Council Discusses Water System Sale and Major Redevelopment Plans
- Hopewell Borough Council Considers Selling Water System
- HB Council Contemplates Selling Water System
Edit 2/16/25: Changes made to reflect that the resident was not the author of the petition but was authored by others in a group of concerned Borough residents with the assistance of Central New Jersey Food & Water Watch.
