New Jersey American Water

One resident wanted to hear about reasons NOT to vote for the measure, but Village and NJAW officials said rejecting the sale will result in a 74% rate increase.

This town hall is live and in person at The Baird.

Two more town halls are scheduled for Sept. 25 (virtual) and October 9 (at the Baird) ahead of the Nov. 5 referendum. New Jersey American Water has bid to buy the South Orange water utility.

Town halls are scheduled for Sept. 11 and Sept. 25 (virtual) and October 9 (at the Baird). New Jersey American Water has bid to buy the utility.

Voters will decide on Nov. 5 if South Orange should move forward in negotiating the sale of its water utility to NJ American Water.

“I totally welcome public engagement and public participation, and the public has a right to vote,” said Councilmember Olivia Lewis-Chang.

The virtual meeting is scheduled for July 29 at 7 p.m. The village has received an offered to from NJAW to purchase its water utility for $20M and perform $50M in infrastructure upgrades over the next 10 years.

Village Council votes 4-2 to put the question of the nearly $20-million sale to NJ American Water on the ballot in November. “This is just a starting point,” said Mayor Collum.

NJ American Water, which already supplies South Orange’s water, has bid $19.7M for the utility. The township council must now vote on an ordnance to put the sale to a referendum.

Starting the week of February 20, Maplewood residents may notice “a slight taste and…