Editing Franklin Lakes, New Jersey (section)

===Local government===
Franklin Lakes 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. 169.</ref> The borough form of government used by Franklin Lakes 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. [https://www.njlm.org/809/3982/Forms-of-Govt-Magazine-Article "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask"], [[New Jersey State League of Municipalities]], March 2007. Accessed November 29, 2022.</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> All council meetings are held at the Borough Hall located on DeKorte Drive, formerly Municipal Drive.

{{As of|2024}}, the mayor of Franklin Lakes is [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] Charles J. X. Kahwaty, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2026. Members of the Franklin Lakes Borough Council are Council President Gary H. Sheppard (R, 2026), Joel Ansh (R, 2025), Ardith Cardenas (R, 2025), Michelle M. DeLuccia (R, 2024; elected to serve an unexpired term), Gail A. Kelly (R, 2026) and Thomas G. Lambrix (R, 2024).<ref name=MayorCouncil>[https://www.franklinlakes.org/gb Mayor and Council], Borough of Franklin Lakes. Accessed May 17, 2024.</ref><ref>[https://portal.laserfiche.com/Portal/DocView.aspx?id=196881&repo=r-5d2b351c 2024 Municipal Data Sheet], Borough of Franklin Lakes. Accessed May 17, 2024.</ref><ref name=BergenCountyDirectory>[https://www.co.bergen.nj.us/images/About_Bergen_County/2024-county-directory.pdf#page=43 ''2024 County and Municipal Directory''], [[Bergen County, New Jersey]], April 2024. Accessed April 15, 2024.</ref><ref name=Bergen2023>[https://www.bergencountyclerk.gov/_Content/pdf/ElectionResult/District%20Canvass%20NEW.pdf Official Statement of Vote 2023 General Election - November 7, 2023 Official Results], [[Bergen County, New Jersey]], November 27, 2023. Accessed January 1, 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>

In July 2021, the borough council chose Susan McGowan to fill the seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Dennis Bonagura until resigned from office after the council implemented a nepotism policy that would impact the possibility that his son could have been hired by the borough as a police officer.<ref>Stoltz, Marsha A. [https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/franklin-lakes/2021/09/17/franklin-lakes-nj-former-councilman-ballot-2021-election/8352768002/ "Franklin Lakes councilman resigned, but now seeks remainder of his unexpired term"],''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', September 17, 2021. Accessed May 5, 2022. "If Dennis Bonagura was elected to a three-year council term last November, why is he on the ballot this fall for a two-year unexpired term — his own? Bonagura resigned his post July 6 after the Borough Council voted to strengthen its nepotism policy in reaction to his son's application for a police job."</ref><ref>[https://www.franklinlakes.org/index.asp?SEC=B0CD874C-01BF-479F-AC59-59026D02A515&DE=C299DC33-D1E2-45E0-8032-F3A27A552D61&Type=B_BASIC "Councilman Bonagura Resigns"], Borough of Franklin Lakes, August 30, 2021. Accessed May 5, 2022. "On July 6, 2021, Councilman Dennis Bonagura submitted a letter of resignation from his position on the Borough Council. By State law, the vacancy for the unexpired term (his term expires at the end of 2023) will be filled at the General Election in November of this year. There is a process for the Mayor and Council to fill the vacancy temporarily (until the General Election) by appointment. The Mayor and Council has not, as of yet, made a formal decision as to whether to fill the vacancy temporarily."</ref> Bonagura ran for office again in November 2021 and was elected to serve the balance of his own unexpired term.<ref name=Bergen2021/>
 
The borough administrator is Gregory C. Hart.<ref name=Admin/>

====Emergency services====
The Franklin Lakes Police Department is headed by Chief Mark McCombs.<ref>[https://www.franklinlakes.org/police Police Department], Borough of Franklin Lakes. Accessed October 2, 2019.</ref>

The Franklin Lakes Fire Department is an all-[[volunteer fire department]], founded in 1924. The FLFD has two locations, one known as "Headquarters" which is located off of Franklin Avenue, and the other is the "Southside" Firehouse, located on Franklin Lakes Road. The current chief of the FLFD is Chuck Bohny.<ref>[http://www.franklinlakesfire.com/ Franklin Lakes Fire Department]. Accessed Feb 7, 2020.</ref>

The Franklin Lakes Office of Emergency Management is located at 745 Franklin Avenue. The current Emergency Management Coordinator is Joe Barcelo.<ref>[http://www.franklinlakes.org/oem OEM]. Accessed February 7, 2020.</ref>