Editing Vernon Township, New Jersey (section)

===Local government===
In a November 2010 referendum, 70% of voters approved a change from the [[Faulkner Act (council–manager)]] form of government to the [[Faulkner Act (mayor–council)|mayor–council]] form. Under the new plan, a mayor [[direct election|directly elected]] by the voters oversees the day-to-day operation of the township with the aid of a business manager, subject to the oversight of a five-member Township Council. The Mayor and Council took office after elections in May 2011, replacing the previously existing council.<ref>Molnar, Phillip. [http://www.njherald.com/story/news/03VERNONRESULT "Vernon votes for change in form of government"]{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''[[New Jersey Herald]]'', November 2, 2010. Accessed July 25, 2011. "A May election will now decide an elected mayor and a new five-person council. The new Township Council will be seated July 1, and would appoint a new township administrator. Vernon's current Faulkner Act council-manager form of government, in which the township manager makes most decisions for the township (after council approval), will now become a mayor-council form, in which an elected mayor will be the executive in the township."</ref> The township is one of 42 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.<ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/inventory_of_municipal_forms_of_government_in_new_jersey.pdf ''Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey''], [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> Under the terms of an ordinance passed in August 2011, the township's elections were shifted from May to November, with the council citing savings from eliminating the standalone municipal election.<ref>[http://www.vernontwp.com/government/ordinances/n11_19/ Ordinance No. 11-19], Vernon Township. Accessed October 29, 2014. "An ordinance establishing the Vernon Township municipal elections on the same day as November general elections held and extending the terms of office for the existing mayor and council members pursuant to law."</ref>

The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the five-member Township Council, who are directly elected by the voters on an [[at-large]] basis to staggered four-year terms of office on a [[non-partisan democracy|non-partisan]] basis, with either two or three seats up for election in odd-numbered years as part of the November general election. Three council seats come up for election together and the two other council seats and the mayoral seat are up for vote together two years later.<ref name=DataBook>''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', [[Rutgers University]] [[Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy]], March 2013, p. 109.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=10 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"], p. 10. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> Under the current plan, Vernon has a "[[strong mayor]]" system of government in which the mayor heads the [[executive branch]], overseeing township functions, enforcing all ordinances and other regulations, appoints department heads and prepares a budget, with the assistance of a business administrator. The Township Council is the [[legislative branch]], responsible for enacting ordinances, approving the mayor's department head appointments, can remove employees for cause and can modify the mayor's budget by majority vote, though budget increases require a two-thirds majority. The mayor has the option to attend and speak at council meetings but is not given a vote.<ref>[https://www.vernontwp.com/index.php/government/about-town-hall About Town Hall], Vernon Township. Accessed June 7, 2022. "On July 1, 2011, following a November 2010 referendum, Vernon Township’s form of government changed from a Faulkner Act council-manager form of government to a nonpartisan Faulkner Act mayor-council form. Under this form of government, also known as the “strong mayor” form, voters directly elect a mayor who serves as the chief executive.... The township council serves as the legislative branch of the township. Jointly, its five members are responsible for all policy-making, such as enacting ordinances, approving the mayor’s appointments and appointment of the township clerk."</ref>

{{As of|2024}}, the Mayor is Anthony L. Rossi, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027.<ref name=Mayor>[https://www.vernontwp.com/index.php/government/mayors-office Mayor's Office], Vernon Township. Accessed February 1, 2024. "Under Vernon’s mayor-council form of government, the mayor is elected directly by the voters and serves as the township’s chief executive."</ref> Members of the Vernon Township Council are Council President Patrick Rizzuto (2025), Council Vice President Natalie Buccieri (2025), Jessica DeBenedetto (2025; elected to serve an unexpired term), William J. Higgins (2027) and Bradley D. Sparta (2027).<ref name=Council>[https://www.vernontwp.com/index.php/government/township-council/about Township Council: About], Vernon Township. Accessed April 23, 2023. "The township council is the elected governing body responsible for legislative functions in Vernon Township. It is comprised of five members, all of whom are elected at-large. Subsequent to the implementation of Vernon’s new form of government on July 1, 2011, initial council terms are staggered—three members serve for two years and two members serve for four years. Going forward, all will serve for a term of four years."</ref><ref>[https://www.vernontwp.com/images/2024_introduction_budget.pdf#page=9 2024 Municipal Data Sheet], Vernon Township. Accessed May 24, 2024.</ref><ref name=Sussex2023>[https://sussexcountyclerk.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Nov-7-2023-GE-OFFICIAL-summary-rpt-with-write-ins-suppressed.pdf Summary Results Report Official Results November 7 2023 General Election], [[Sussex County, New Jersey]], November 22, 2023. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=Sussex2022>[https://sussexcountyclerk.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/NOV-8-2022-GE-Official-County-Summary.pdf Sussex County, New Jersey General Election November 8, 2022, Official Results Summary Report], [[Sussex County, New Jersey]], dated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Sussex2021>[https://sussexcountyclerk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/official-11-22-21.pdf Summary Results Report November 2, 2021 General Election Official Results], [[Sussex County, New Jersey]], updated November 22, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref>

In February 2023, Peg Distasi was appointed to the seat expiring in December 2025 that had been held by Bryan Lynch; the seat will come up for election in November 2023 for the balance of the term.<ref>Zummo, Mike. [https://www.advertisernewsnorth.com/news/local-news/distasi-chosen-to-fill-vacant-council-seat-YG2392247 "Distasi chosen to fill vacant council seat"], ''Advertiser-News North'', February 13, 2023. Accessed April 23, 2023. "Peg Distasi was appointed to fill a vacant seat on the Vernon Township Council at its Feb. 6 meeting. Former council president Brian Lynch resigned his seat in January.... Voters will elect a candidate in November to fill the rest of Lynch’s term, which ends Dec. 31, 2025."</ref> In the November 2023 general election, Jessica DeBenedetto was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref name=Sussex2023/>

In November 2022, the council appointed Joe Tadrick to fill the seat expiring in December 2023 that had been held by Harry Shortway the previous month due to health issues.<ref>Zummo, Mike. [https://www.advertisernewsnorth.com/news/local-news/shortway-resigns-from-vernon-council-EA2244017 "Shortway resigns from Vernon council"], ''Advertiser-News North'', October 17, 2022. Accessed April 23, 2023. "Vernon Township Councilman Harry Shortway on Oct. 15 officially resigned his position due to health reasons."</ref><ref>Zummo, Mike. [https://www.advertisernewsnorth.com/news/local-news/tadrick-appointed-to-vernon-council-FE2273502 "Tadrick appointed to Vernon council"], ''Advertiser-News North'', November 14, 2022. Accessed April 23, 2023. "The Vernon Township Council on Nov. 10 appointed Joe Tadrick to fill the vacancy created by last month’s resignation of Councilman Harry Shortway. Shortway resigned his seat on Oct. 15 after announcing he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer for the second time. Tadrick will fill the remaining term, which is set to expire on Dec. 31, 2023."</ref>

In October 2021, the Township Council selected Michael Furrey to fill the seat expiring in December 2023 that had been held by Kelly Weller until she stepped down from office earlier that month after announcing that she was moving out of the township.<ref>Zummo, Mike. [https://www.advertisernewsnorth.com/news/local-news/utilities-chair-mike-furrey-fills-vacancy-on-vernon-council-YB1829652 "Utilities chair Mike Furrey fills vacancy on Vernon council"], ''Advertiser-News'', October 22, 2021. Accessed June 7, 2022. "Mike Furrey will replace Kelly Weller on the Vernon Township Council until the next general election next year.... Weller submitted her resignation on Oct. 1. She is moving out of Vernon Township.... Furrey will fill Weller’s seat until Nov. 8, 2022, when voters will elect the person who will fill the remainder of her term, set to expire on Dec. 31, 2023."</ref> Furrey served on an interim basis until the November 2022 general election, when Bradley D. Sparta was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref name=Sussex2022/>

The Township Council selected Toni Cilli in January 2021 to fill the seat held by Jean Murphy running to December 2021.<ref>Zummo, Mike. [https://www.advertisernewsnorth.com/news/local-news/toni-cilli-to-fill-jean-murphy-s-seat-on-vernon-council-YG1484809 "Toni Cilli to fill Jean Murphy’s seat on Vernon council"], ''Advertiser-News'', January 22, 2021. Accessed June 7, 2022. "The Vernon Township Council on Jan. 11 unanimously appointed Toni Cilli to fill the remainder of former Councilwoman Jean Murphy’s term. Murphy, who announced her resignation via a letter read by Township Council Vice President John Auberger on Jan. 1, was scheduled to serve until Dec. 31."</ref>

Andrew Pitsker took office in July 2020 after being chosen to fill the seat expiring in December 2021 that had been held until Mark Van Tassel left office the previous month.<ref>[https://www.njherald.com/story/news/2020/07/14/vernon-appoints-andrew-pitsker-to-open-council-seat/42256025/ "Vernon appoints Andrew Pitsker to open council seat"], ''[[New Jersey Herald]]'', July 14, 2020. Accessed June 7, 2022. "The Township Council appointed Andrew Pitsker to its open seat Monday night following a 30-minute discussion, two nominations and the reading of private emails that put a council member at odds with the mayor. Pitsker fills the seat left empty by Mark Van Tassel’s resignation last month with a 3-2 vote."</ref> Pitsker served on an interim basis until the November 2020 general election, when he was elected to serve the remainder of the term.<ref name=Sussex2020>[https://sussexcountyclerk.org/docs/elections/2020/General/Official/Amended-SUMMARY.html Election Summary November 3, 2020 General Election Official Amended Results], [[Sussex County, New Jersey]], updated December 10, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref>

Four members of the governing body were elected in May 2011 and took office on July 1, 2011, Jean Murphy was elected in November 2014 just beating Edward Dunn.<ref name=Sussex2013>[http://sussexcountyclerk.org/docs/elections/2013/EL45A-SUMMARY-OFFICIAL.HTML Sussex County General and School Election November 5, 2013 Summary Report Official Results], [[Sussex County, New Jersey]] Clerk, updated November 7, 2013. Accessed August 1, 2016.</ref><ref>Molnar, Phillip. [http://www.njherald.com/story/news/vernon-polls-close "Marotta wins Vernon race for mayor"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808115123/http://www.njherald.com/story/news/vernon-polls-close |date=August 8, 2011 }}, ''[[New Jersey Herald]]'', May 10, 2011. Accessed July 25, 2011.</ref><ref name=Sussex2011Vernon>[http://www.sussexcountyclerk.com/election_results/Faulkner%20Munic%20Election%20Results/Vernon%205-10-11%20OFF%20RSLTS.pdf Vernon Municipal Election - May 10, 2011] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115105043/http://www.sussexcountyclerk.com/election_results/Faulkner%20Munic%20Election%20Results/Vernon%205-10-11%20OFF%20RSLTS.pdf |date=November 15, 2012 }}, [[Sussex County, New Jersey]] Clerk, run date May 11, 2011. Accessed February 26, 2013.</ref>

====Emergency services====
Vernon Township is serviced by the Vernon Police Department, one ambulance squad and four fire departments.  All of the emergency services are made up of volunteers, except for the police department.

Vernon Fire Department covers a significant portion of "the Valley", Highland Lakes Fire Department covers "the mountain", McAfee Fire Department covers the Pleasant Valley Lake area and Pochuck Valley covers most of the Glenwood section.<ref>[http://www.vernontwp.com/public_safety/fire_department/ Fire Department], Vernon Township. Accessed February 26, 2013.</ref>

Since 2024, Vernon Emergency Medical Services (formed from the merger of the Vernon Township Ambulance Squad and the Glenwood Pochuck Volunteer Ambulance Corps) is split between three stations buildings situated to best serve the township.<ref>[https://www.vernontwp.com/index.php/public-safety/ambulance-squad Ambulance Squad], Vernon Township. Accessed February 19, 2024. "Vernon Emergency Medical Services (VEMS) is the unified organization that has evolved from the merger of two volunteer-run ambulance squads—Vernon Township Ambulance Squad (VTAS) and the Glenwood Pochuck Volunteer Ambulance Corps (GPVAC)—as of 2024.... Strategically positioned across the township, VEMS operates three stations to optimize response times and coverage."</ref>