Special City Council Meeting set for New Year’s Eve to Resolve Time-Sensitive Legislation, Financial Obligations

Mayor Gusciora Requested Meeting to Address Concerns that City Employees May Not Be Paid On Time

Trenton, N.J. – Mayor W. Reed Gusciora today confirmed that the City of Trenton will have a special City Council meeting this Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, at 5:30 p.m. in order to close out critical and time-sensitive legislation and financial obligations before the year ends.

The Mayor is authorized under N.J.S.A. 40A:69-179 to call for a special meeting, which was deemed necessary after Council Leadership cancelled both the December 21 and December 23 meetings but took no action to schedule a replacement meeting before the end of the year. If the outstanding critical budget items are not addressed, the Administration is concerned the City may be unable to pay certain bills or make payroll the first week in January.

The Administration had originally asked for a special meeting on Dec. 30, 2021. However, Council Leadership did not respond, and it wasn’t until yesterday evening – after it was already too late to advertise a meeting – that the Administration received an email from the City Clerk denying the request. As such, the date is being moved to Dec. 31, 2021.

The City Clerk’s office has stated it would not be able to schedule a meeting for the new date. As a result, the Gusciora Administration has arranged additional personnel and logistical support to help run the meeting this Friday. The docket has also been shortened to include only the time-sensitive budget and cannabis items. City Council has been made aware of the new date and a quorum is expected to attend the meeting.

“We shouldn’t even have to do this,” said Mayor Gusciora. “Council leadership should have scheduled a special meeting before the end of the year as soon as they cancelled the last two meetings. That’s literally their job. Their fiduciary responsibility to Trenton and its people required nothing less. Yet they ignored us and didn’t respond until it was too late.”

“Shirking our financial responsibilities is simply not an option for us,” the Mayor continued. “We’re ready to do our part and believe a majority of Council will do the same. We need to show the people of Trenton that their well-being trumps all other concerns. That the Capital City makes every effort to pay what it owes, both to its business partners and to its employees. That the people elected to run it will actually show up and do their jobs.”