Editing Lodi, New Jersey (section)

===Local government===
Lodi operates under the [[1923 Municipal Manager Law]] form of New Jersey municipal government. The borough is one of 7 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> The governing body is comprised of five members who are elected [[at-large]] on a [[Non-partisan democracy|non-partisan]] basis as part of the May municipal election to serve four-year terms of office on a concurrent basis.<ref name=DataBook>''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', [[Rutgers University]] [[Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy]], March 2013, p. 160.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=9 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"], p. 9. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> A mayor and deputy mayor are selected by the council from among its members.

The council is an exclusively legislative body, with responsibility for day-to-day operation of the borough assigned to a manager who acts as the municipal chief executive and executes laws and policies, prepares the budget for council consideration and attends and participates at meetings with a voice, but no vote. The manager recommends improvements and implements those approved, as well as oversees contracts and franchises and reports violations. It is the responsibility of the manager to appoint and remove department heads and make all additional appointments not made by the council.<ref name=Manager/>

{{As of|2024}}, members of the Lodi Township Council are Mayor Scott A. Luna, Deputy Mayor Vincent Martin, Emil Carafa Jr., Joseph P. Leto IV and Bruce T. Masopust, all of whom were initially elected in May 2019, and serve terms of office that expire on June 30, 2027.<ref name=Officials>[https://www.lodi-nj.org/p/mayor-council Mayor and Council], Borough of Lodi. Accessed June 4, 2024.</ref><ref>[https://www.lodi-nj.org/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=5a36a7c8-5b16-4583-b305-627688f71c7f#page=14 2023 Municipal Data Sheet], Borough of Lodi. Accessed June 4, 2024.</ref><ref name=BergenCountyDirectory>[https://www.co.bergen.nj.us/images/About_Bergen_County/2024-county-directory.pdf#page=49 ''2024 County and Municipal Directory''], [[Bergen County, New Jersey]], April 2024. Accessed April 15, 2024.</ref><ref>Cattafi, Kristie. [https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/lodi/2023/05/09/lodi-pride-nj-ticket-election-lower-voter-turnout/70201818007/ "Unopposed Lodi Pride ticket takes council election amid low voter turnout"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', May 10, 2023. Accessed June 4, 2024. "The only nonpartisan council election in Bergen County brought in low voter turnout for the Lodi Pride ticket. Incumbents Mayor Scott Luna, Deputy Mayor Vincent Martin and Councilmen Emil Carafa Jr. and Joseph Leto IV will return for four more years, and joining them is former Councilman and Borough Manager Bruce Masopust."</ref><ref>[https://www.lodi-nj.org/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=b8002f80-02d0-4253-a05c-7777ead2536d Reorganization Meeting Minutes July 1, 2023], Borough of Lodi. Accessed June 4, 2024.</ref>

Marc N. Schrieks was appointed to a two-year term as Municipal Manager on September 1, 2021.<ref>Sobko, Katie. [https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/lodi/2021/08/19/former-lodi-nj-mayor-schrieks-hired-borough-manager/8185146002/ "Former Lodi Mayor Schrieks returns to borough as manager on two-year deal"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', August 19, 2021. Accessed October 6, 2022. "Former Mayor Marc Schrieks will be returning to borough government as municipal manager, filling the role Vincent Caruso is expected to vacate at the end of the month. Schrieks has been hired through August 2023."</ref>

In January 2016, the Township Council appointed Albert DiChiara to fill the seat vacated by Bruce Masopust when he took office as Borough Manager; DiChiara will serve until a special vote held as part of the November 2016 general election.<ref>Clark, Susan Joy. [http://www.northjersey.com/community-news/town-government/new-councilman-is-appointed-1.1500790 "New councilman appointed in Lodi"], ''Community News'' (Lodi Edition), January 28, 2016. Accessed June 19, 2016. "The Lodi Council has selected Albert DiChiara to fill a vacancy on the governing body. He will fill the seat of Bruce Masopust, who gave up his position when he was appointed as borough manager."</ref>

In February 2015, the township council selected Emil Carafa Jr., to fill the vacant council seat of Mayor Marc Schrieks, who left office to take a position in the administration of County Executive James J. Tedesco III, while Bruce Masopust was chosen to succeed Schrieks in his role as mayor.<ref>Clark, Susan Joy. [http://www.northjersey.com/news/former-councilman-is-joining-the-governing-body-again-1.1274104 "Former Lodi councilman joining the governing body"], ''Community News (Lodi edition)'', February 19, 2015. Accessed July 2, 2015. "Emil Carafa was appointed to the Lodi Council.Former Mayor Marc Schrieks stepped down from his position as mayor and from the council to take a job in Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco's office. The council voted Bruce Masopust to replace Schrieks as mayor."</ref>

Schrieks was elected by the council as mayor on July 1, 2008, and served until June 30, 2009, making him the youngest person to ever serve as its Mayor.<ref>Clark, Susan Joy. [http://www.northjersey.com/news/121323518_Nine_looking_to_fill_five_seats_on_borough_council.html?page=all "Nine looking to fill five seats on Lodi Council"], ''Community News'', May 5, 2011. Accessed December 19, 2011. "Schrieks has served three terms on the council. 'First and foremost, I'm humbled every year that the residents think enough of me to re-elect me three times. I think I'm the longest serving consecutive public servant in Lodi. I know I was the youngest serving mayor.'"</ref> Karen Viscana was the first woman in Lodi history to serve as mayor when she was sworn into office in 2008.<ref>Maglionico, Artie. [http://lodi.bccls.org/OLLViscana-July2007.html "One Life in Lodi: Mayor Karen Viscana"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708090504/http://lodi.bccls.org/OLLViscana-July2007.html |date=July 8, 2008 }}, Lodi Memorial Library, July 2007. Accessed July 8, 2008. "As a child growing up on Garden Street in Lodi, Karen Viscana remembers a warm, family oriented community where neighbors looked out for one another and the sights and sounds of youngsters at play echoed in every household. Karen, who recently became her Borough's first woman Mayor, has carried this same warmth and caring into adulthood."</ref>