AmeriCorps

Public Housing

The Salem Housing Initiative AmeriCorps members have learned firsthand the issues many public housing residents face. Evidence of chronic administrative neglect, including severe rodent and pest infestations, black mold, crumbling structural integrity, and general disrepair in almost all public housing properties, have left many tenants seeking answers and, for many years falling upon deaf ears. Under New Jersey law, tenants can live in safe, sanitary housing with an “implied warranty of habitability.”

In late December of 2012, The Salem City Housing Authority (SHA) voted to suspend its executive director and enter into a shared-service agreement with the Millville Housing Authority, which allowed Millville’s management team to take over leadership of the SHA board of commissioners. Many residents have complained about the mismanaged shared service agreements.

Public housing has significantly deteriorated and raised public officials’ concerns. New housing commissioners were established earlier this year, and the shared-service agreement was soon ended. There has been slow progress as funding and staffing to maintain public housing properties will become the new focus for Salem Housing Authority.

Water & Sewer

Utility systems are supposed to be self-financed and supported by ratepayers by law. If it is not, the deficit must be appropriated in the general municipal budget of the subsequent year. After major corporations moved out and years of dwindling homeownership rates, the financial burden of the current water and sewer utility bill fell on the ratepayers and, eventually, the taxpayers. The Water Infrastructure Protection Act (WIPA) passed by the New Jersey Legislature in 2015 authorized owners of water or wastewater systems to enter a long-term lease contract or sell their water or wastewater assets to a capable entity without a referendum if Emergent Conditions exist. On July 17th, 2023, the City Council signed Ordinance 23-10 into legislation approving a sale agreement between The City of Salem and New Jersey American Water Company, INC.

Salem’s City Council determined that the bid submitted by NJ American Water Company for 18,000,000 was the highest responsible bid. A petition to allow residents to determine the approval of the sale was turned in with over 200 registered voters’ signatures. This will allow a referendum to be placed on the upcoming general election ballot. On November 7th, 2023, Salem City registered voters will have their opportunity to vote yes or no to the proposed question, “Shall the City of Salem, in the County of Salem, New Jersey, be authorized to sell its water and wastewater systems to New Jersey American Water Company, INC for the sum of $18,000,000?”

In the terms of the agreement, the City of Salem would sell all of its rights and interests in the land and improvements of the water and sewer systems and its new water treatment plant built in 2012. NJ American Water proposed a realistic and stable customer service rate increase over five years. Salem water and sewer ratepayers will freeze in the first two years of the sale’s closing before seeing a 3% increase annually over the following three years. Customers then roll into the NJ-American Water public utility model, where the Board of Public Utilities must approve all rate increases. It will also require NJ American Water Company to make substantial capital improvements, which has already promised to invest 50 million in capital improvements. The sale would free the City of ownership and maintenance responsibilities of our current systems, whose major components are estimated to be 40 years old. Since Salem provides water and sewer services to Mannington and Quinton Townships, New Jersey American Water must also obtain an agreement with both townships if Salem City registered voters approve the sale.

Combatting Crime

ShotSpotter is a gunshot detection technology that detects, locates, and alerts law enforcement agencies of illegal gunfire incidents in real-time. The digital alerts include a precise location on a map with corresponding data such as the address, number of rounds fired, type of gunfire, etc. It can also be delivered to any browser-enabled smartphone or mobile laptop device. Cameras will be placed in significant city hot spots, and Police will be equipped with automated plate readers.

How is local government organized?

The City Form of New Jersey municipal government dates back to a series of laws passed by the state legislature between 1897 and 1899. Under this form, the registered voter elects the mayor and council members.

The mayor serves for a term of three years. The mayor is the chief executive, may participate in council meetings, and can vote to break ties. The mayor can veto ordinances and serves as the head of the police department. Meanwhile, the council is the municipality’s legislative body and appoints most of the subordinate officials of the city. The Council consists of eight members, four from each ward, for staggered four-year terms. The terms of the Council persons are arranged so that the terms of two Council persons, one from each ward, expire at the end of each year.

Like the other traditional forms, a city may delegate all or a portion of the executive authorities to an administrator.

How to reach City Officials?

The Mayor and City Council members can be reached via email. Their email addresses are listed on the City Council page.

Attending a City Council Meeting

• Dates for all Council meetings can be found on the City Council page.
• Information on the next upcoming meeting that is coming up is found on the Next Council Meeting page.

Financial Literacy

Download these helpful resources:

• Expense Tracker
• Budget Sheet
• 52 Week Savings Challenge
• 52 Week Savings Random Challenge
• How to Request Your Credit Reports

Loan Packeting

Download these helpful resources:

• USDA, Rural Development 502 Single Family Housing Homeownership Application

Find Repair Resources

Download these helpful resources:

• USDA, Rural Development 504 Single Family Housing Home Repair Application