One Step Forward

Well, what do you know? Yesterday the city canceled its Spring Furlough plans because, among other reasons,  the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) objected to having Trenton Water Works (TWW) facilities unmanned one day of the week – a consequence of TWW workers being part of the City’s Department of Public Works. If one part of DPW is furloughed, everyone is.

Today, the docket for next Tuesday’s City Hall Meeting (5:30 PM March 1 at City Hall) contains an item for what is labeled Ordinance 11-08.  This is what I was talking about yesterday: an ordinance written by former Trenton City Attorney George T. ObiWan Dougherty, and presented to City Council members last week. This would reorganize several City divisions and create a City Department of Water and Sewer, (DWS). As part of a separate department, TWW workers would not be subject to, among other things, any planned furloughs imposed on other city departments. Even though no one wants to see such unpaid days off, they could at least proceed without affecting TWW or interrupting any vital water and sewer services. A very good thing.

Beyond that most immediate effect, a separate DWS would be better positioned to be run as what it is: a publicly-owned utility working with a business model fundamentally different from the rest of the city of Trenton, financed by customer fees, professionally serving a customer base throughout Mercer County.

This Ordinance isn’t a cure all. It won’t balance the City’s budget. It won’t prevent any furloughs or layoffs.

What it is, is one step forward in a direction that will help us remove TWW as a political football from the larger financial crisis in the city. It will help reassure customers in the suburban Townships that we intend to restore TWW as a dependable, boring public utility providing uninterrupted professional service and quality drinking water.

It’s a good step forward. I am glad that City Council is taking up the matter so quickly. Thanks to George Dougherty for presenting it to Council.

I support it, and hope you will too. Tell your Council members over the weekend or, if you can, show up to City Council on Tuesday evening and speak up then! One Step Forward!