Editing New Milford, New Jersey (section)

===Local government===
New Milford is governed under the [[Borough (New Jersey)|borough]] form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.<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 the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected [[at-large]] on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members, who are elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in November.<ref name=DataBook>''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', [[Rutgers University]] [[Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy]], March 2013, p. 165.</ref><ref name=MayorCouncil/> The borough form of government used by New Milford is a "[[weak mayor]] / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can [[veto]] ordinances subject to an [[veto override|override]] by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.<ref>Cerra, Michael F. [http://www.njslom.org/magart0307_p14.html "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924045019/http://www.njslom.org/magart0307_p14.html |date=2014-09-24 }}, [[New Jersey State League of Municipalities]]. Accessed November 30, 2014.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=6 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"], p. 6. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

{{As of|2023}}, the [[mayor]] of New Milford is [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] Michael J. Putrino, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. Members of the borough council are Council President Frances Randi Duffie (D, 2025), Hedy Grant (D, 2024), Ira S. Grotsky (D, 2023), Lisa Repasky-Sandhusen (D, 2025), Matthew S. Seymour (D, 2023) and Thea Sirocchi-Hurley (D, 2024).<ref name=MayorCouncil>[https://www.newmilfordboro.com/page/180013952/180057743/Mayor-and-Council Mayor & Council], Borough of New Milford. Accessed March 14, 2023. "The Governing Body shall consist of the Mayor and six (6) councilpersons elected at large in the Borough, all of whom shall be elected and take office in the manner provided by law. The terms of office of the Mayor and Councilpersons shall commence on January 1 next following their election."</ref><ref>[https://www.newmilfordboro.com/home/180013952/180013952/Images/2022%20adopted%20budget.pdf 2022 Municipal Data Sheet], Borough of New Milford. Accessed April 26, 2022.</ref><ref name=BergenCountyDirectory>[https://www.co.bergen.nj.us/images/About_Bergen_County/2024-county-directory.pdf#page=52 ''2024 County and Municipal Directory''], [[Bergen County, New Jersey]], April 2024. Accessed April 15, 2024.</ref><ref name=Bergen2022>[https://www.bergencountyclerk.org/_Content/pdf/ElectionResult/Certified%20Statement%20of%20Vote%20Book%2011-21-22.pdf Bergen County November 8, 2022 General Election Statement of Vote], [[Bergen County, New Jersey]] Clerk, updated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Bergen2021>[https://www.bergencountyclerk.org/_Content/pdf/ElectionResult/Statement%20of%20Vote%2011-17-21(1).pdf Bergen County Statement of Vote November 2, 2021 Official results], [[Bergen County, New Jersey]], updated November 17, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Bergen2020>[https://www.bergencountyclerk.org/_Content/pdf/ElectionResult/NOV_2020_General_Precinct_Summary.pdf Precinct Summary Results Report - Combined 2020 Bergen County General Election - November 3, 2020 Official Results], [[Bergen County, New Jersey]], December 3, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref>

In January 2019, Matthew Seymour was selected from three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipalcommittee to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that was vacated earlier that month when he took office as mayor.<ref>[https://www.newmilfordboro.com/home/180013952/180013952/Images/approved%20minutes%201.14.19.pdf Borough Council Meeting Minutes for January 14, 2019], Borough of New Milford. Accessed October 3, 2019. "Council President Duffie made a motion to niminate Matthew Seymour.... The motion carries on a roll call vote as follows... Assemblyman Christopher Tully administered the oath of office to Mr. Seymour."</ref>

Democrats took control of the council in the November 2012 general election, as incumbent Austin Ashley won reelection while running mate and former council member Michael Putrino was elected again after having served two previous terms of office. Incumbent Republican Howard Berner and running mate Peter Rebsch, a former council member, fell short.<ref>Devencentis, Philip. [http://www.northjersey.com/news/179422781_Democrats_win_council_race_in_New_Milford.html "Democrats win council race in New Milford"], ''Twin-Boro News'', November 15, 2012. Accessed August 13, 2013. "The political makeup of the council will change, however, with the election of former Councilman Michael Putrino, a Democrat.... Putrino's running mate, Councilman Austin Ashley, received 2,956 votes to earn his first full term.... Republican council president Howard Berner and his running mate, Peter Rebsch, trailed in last week's election with 2,583 votes and 2,534 votes, respectively."</ref>

Celeste Scavetta had been appointed by the Borough Council on January 11, 2011, to fill the vacant seat of Ann Subrizi that expired at the end of 2011 when Subrizi was elected as mayor.<ref>Hayes, Melissa. [http://blog.northjersey.com/bergenbeat/1171/new-milford-council-pegs-celeste-scavetta-for-open-seat/ "New Milford council pegs Celeste Scavetta for open seat"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331105213/http://blog.northjersey.com/bergenbeat/1171/new-milford-council-pegs-celeste-scavetta-for-open-seat/ |date=2012-03-31 }}, ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'' Bergen Beat, January 11, 2011. Accessed August 29, 2011. "The New Milford Borough Council appointed Celeste Scavetta to serve the remainder of Mayor Ann Subrizi's council term."</ref> Peter Rebsch was appointed in June 2011 to fill the vacant seat of Council President Keith Bachmann, who had resigned from office; Rebsch served until November 2011, when voters chose a candidate to fill the balance of Bachmann's term that expired in 2012.<ref>Griffiths, Erin Patricia. [http://www.northjersey.com/news/123827934_Peter_Rebsch_appointed_to_the_New_Milford_Council.html "Peter Rebsch appointed to the New Milford Council"], ''Twin-Boro News'', June 14, 2011. Accessed August 29, 2011. "Peter Rebsch, New Milford resident and Republican council candidate for the November election, was appointed last night to fill the vacancy on the borough's governing body. He was appointed in a 4-1 vote, with Councilwoman Randi Duffie dissenting. Rebsch was one of three candidates put forth by the New Milford Republican Club for the open borough seat, which was left vacant with the resignation of Council President Keith Bachmann."</ref>

In the November 2011 general election, Democratic incumbent Randi Duffie and newcomers Austin Ashley and Hedy Grant won seats on the council, unseating incumbent Republicans Peter Rebsch and Celeste Scavetta. After counting absentee ballots, Duffie and Grant won the two three-year council seats, edging Republican Scavetta by 10 votes, and started their terms in January 2012. Ashley defeated Darren Drake by 39 votes for the remaining year on the unexpired term of Ann Subrizzi that had been filled on an interim basis by Peter Rebsch, and took office after the election.<ref>Piccirillo, Ann. [http://newmilford-nj.patch.com/articles/absentee-ballots-put-new-milford-democrats-on-top "Absentee Ballots Put New Milford Democrats On Top: A nail-biting race that came down to absentee ballots"], NewMilfordPatch, November 9, 2011. "Until all 185 absentee ballots were counted, the race in New Milford was too close to call, but when all the votes were tallied, the Democratic slate swept to victory, changing the face of New Milford's council. Democratic incumbent Randi Duffie and her running mates, Hedy Grant and Austin Ashley, beat out Republican incumbents Celeste Scavetta, Peter Rebsch and their running mate, Darren Drake."</ref>

The results of the election held November 2, 2010, were a Republican sweep. Republican challenger Ann Subrizi (2,433 votes) ousted 14-year Democratic incumbent, Frank DeBari (2,120). The Republican challengers for Council defeated both incumbents, with Dominic Colucci (2,328 votes) and Diego Robalino (2,285) unseating Democrats Michael J. Putrino (2,210) and Arthur E. Zeilner (2,115). These result gave the Republicans a 4–1 margin, with Ann Subrizi's seat on the Council left vacant.<ref>Kindergan, Ashley. [http://www.northjersey.com/news/106670628_New_Milford_s_GOP_majority_readies_cuts.html "Political change in New Milford"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', November 4, 2010. Accessed August 29, 2011.</ref>