Camden City Council: February 2024

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by Julio Dagand

The City of Camden held its monthly council meeting onTuesday, February 13th, and focused on local issues such as the initiative by American Water of New Jersey (NJAW) to update their water service lines and remove all the lead and galvanized steel, elements that have proven negative health effects, from their service lines by 2031. NJAW has put out an interactive map of their service areas that includes the affected service lines where customers can search by address to see if they will need to have the work done. Representatives from American Water Denise Venuti Free, Sr. Director of Communications & External Affairs and Chelsea Kulp, Sr. Manager of Government & External Affairs, stressed that no charge will be placed on the affected customers and that this initiative is being funded by the surcharges – averaging around $1 a month depending on water usage – that all NJAW customers already pay. When referring to the data provided by American Water, the facilities and dormitory buildings of Rutgers Camden were not available on the map. For more information on the drinking water quality of NJAW systems and to use their interactive map, visit https://www.amwater.com/njaw/Water-Quality/Lead-and-Drinking-Water/.

Additionally, a citizen representing a fledgling urban dirt bike course and rental business named Dirty Jersey came forward to request $100,000 from the city in funding but was denied.

Other ground covered by the city council this month included the increase of the allotted food truck licenses in the city of Camden from 12 to 16, meaning Rutgers Camden students may see the widening of their culinary horizons sometime soon.

The City of Camden’s Council Meetings are held every second Tuesday of the month and are open to the public. They take place at Camden’s Melvin Primas City Hall, located at 520 Market Street. The meetings cover many different matters concerning the city, and citizens are encouraged to speak to the council on any pressing issues that they think need to be brought forward.

^{*Image 1(top-left)- Denise Free & Chelsea Kulp. *Image 2 (top centre)-Dirty Jersey Pitch. *Image 3(top right)- President Fuentes/VP Valdez/CounselMcCoach. *Image 4(bottom-left)-Council Chamber 2. *Image 5(bottom-right)-council chamber 1.}