Editing Northvale, New Jersey (section)

===Local government===
Northvale 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 a mayor and a 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 elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.<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> The borough form of government used by Northvale 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=September 24, 2014 }}, [[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 Northvale is [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] Joseph E. McGuire, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. Members of the Borough Council are Thomas R. Argiro ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]], 2023), John M. Hogan (D, 2023), Martin Mattessich (R, 2025), Kara McMorrow (R, 2024), Domenich Menafra (R, 2025), Roy Sokoloski (R, 2024; appointed to serve an unexpired term).<ref name=MayorCouncil>[https://www.northvalenj.org/mayor-and-council Mayor & Council], Borough of Northvale. Accessed March 14, 2023.</ref><ref>[https://www.northvalenj.org/_files/ugd/bfbd00_e5787ca7c2894171a04d30e0f9130186.pdf#page=20 2022 Municipal Data Sheet], Borough of Northvale. Accessed March 14, 2023.</ref><ref name=BergenCountyDirectory>[https://www.co.bergen.nj.us/images/About_Bergen_County/2024-county-directory.pdf#page=53 ''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 February 2023, Roy Sokoloski was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2024 that had been held by Joseph McGuire until he resigned from office.<ref>[https://www.northvalenj.org/_files/ugd/781362_619f11f9002f4a5cbea57374c249716e.pdf Mayor and Council Meeting Minutes for February 8, 2023], Borough of Northvale. Accessed March 14, 2023. "WHEREAS, there is a vacancy on the Borough Council as a result of the resignation of Joseph McGuire, who was a member of the Republican party, and... NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Governing body of the Borough of Northvale does hereby appoint Roy Sokoloski, who is one of the names submitted by the Republican Committee to fill the vacant seat as authorized by N.J.S.A. 40A:16-11."</ref>

In December 2015, the borough council selected Michael Small from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat vacated by Gloria Libby, who had left office earlier that month to follow her employer, Mercedes-Benz USA, which had relocated its headquarters from Bergen County to [[Atlanta]].<ref>Bahrenburg, Caitlyn. [http://www.northjersey.com/community-news/town-government/council-makes-pick-to-fill-vacant-seat-1.1474480 "Northvale taps candidate who lost election bid to fill vacant seat"], ''Northern Valley Suburbanite'', December 16, 2015. Accessed May 20, 2016. "On Dec. 8 the Mayor and Council appointed Michael Small to fill the unexpired three-year term of former Councilwoman Gloria Libby, who resigned on Dec. 1. Libby stepped down to continue her role as a senior campaign specialist for Mercedes Benz, which relocated its headquarters from Montvale to Atlanta, Ga. in July."</ref>

In March 2014, Mayor Paul Bazela resigned from office after being convicted of theft in his role as operations manager for the [[Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission]], after a jury found that he had used PVSC employees to repair the homes of individuals connected to him. Then-Borough Council President Ed Piehler was chosen to succeed him as acting mayor.<ref>Na, Myles. [https://www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/2014/03/northvale_mayor_convicted_of_theft_and_misconduct_applauded_at_resignation.html "Northvale mayor guilty of theft, misconduct applauded at resignation"], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], March 11, 2014. Accessed October 4, 2018. "Residents gave a tearful Mayor Paul Bazela a standing ovation Monday evening after he resigned at an emergency borough meeting, the Record reported. Bazela, 47, was an operations manager for the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission found guilty earlier Monday by a jury in Paterson on theft and misconduct charges. He and other officials assigned PVSC workers to fix the homes of friends and relatives."</ref>