Editing Fanwood, New Jersey (section)

===Local government===
Fanwood 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. The mayor is elected [[direct election|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. 98.</ref> The borough form of government used by Fanwood 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>

The borough council is Fanwood's legislative body and may pass, adopt, amend and repeal any ordinance or where permitted, any resolution, for any purpose required for the government of the municipality, and also controls and regulates the finances of the municipality. The council may investigate any activity of the municipality, remove any officer of the municipality for cause other than those excepted by law and shall have all the executive responsibilities of the municipality not placed by general law, in the office of the mayor. The mayor of Fanwood is responsible for serving as the chief executive officer of borough government. The mayor presides over the borough council, appoints various boards and committees, oversees borough administration, and serves as the borough's ceremonial head.<ref>[https://www.fanwoodnj.org/government/ Government], Borough of Fanwood. Accessed March 30, 2020. "Fanwood’s government consists of six elected Council members and an elected Mayor. All are paid $1 per year. Council members are elected for three year terms, at large, with the terms of two councilmen expiring at the end of each year. The Mayor’s term is four years and there are no term limits."</ref>

{{As of|2025}}, the [[mayor]] of Fanwood Borough is [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] Colleen M. Mahr, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the Fanwood Borough Council are Council President Patricia Walsh (D, 2027), Jeffrey Banks (D, 2026), Gina Berry (D, 2025), Anthony Carter (D, 2026), Erin A. McElroy-Barker (D, 2027), and Katherine Mitchell (D, 2025).<ref>{{cite web |title=Fanwood Councilwomen Sworn In at Borough's 2025 Reorganization Meeting |url=https://www.tapinto.net/towns/scotch-plains-slash-fanwood/sections/government/articles/fanwood-councilwomen-sworn-in-at-borough-s-2025-reorganization-meeting |website=TAPinto Scotch Plains/Fanwood |access-date=January 18, 2025 |date=January 9, 2025}}</ref><ref name=MayorCouncil>[https://www.fanwoodnj.org/government/mayor-council/ Mayor and Council Members], Borough of Fanwood. Accessed January 10, 2024.</ref><ref name=UnionOfficials>[http://www.unioncountyvotes.com/elected-officials/ ''Union County Elected Officials''], [[Union County, New Jersey]] Clerk. Accessed January 18, 2025.</ref><ref name=Union2024>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Union/122834/web.345435/#/summary General Election November 5, 2024 Official Results], [[Union County, New Jersey]], updated November 22, 2024. Accessed January 18, 2025.</ref><ref name=Union2023>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Union/119032/web.317647/#/summary General Election November 7, 2023 Official Results], [[Union County, New Jersey]], updated November 22, 2023. Accessed January 3, 2024.</ref><ref name=Union2022>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Union/116135/web.303253/#/summary General Election November 8, 2022 Official Results], [[Union County, New Jersey]], updated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 3, 2024.</ref>

In January 2019, Jeffrey Banks was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that had been held by Russell Huegel until he resigned from office to accept the position as the borough's municipal attorney.<ref>Mooney, John. [https://www.tapinto.net/towns/scotch-plains-slash-fanwood/sections/government/articles/big-changes-at-fanwood-s-reorganization-meeting "Big Changes at Fanwood's Reorganization Meeting"], TAP into Scotch Plains / Fanwood, January 1, 2019. Accessed March 30, 2020. "However, after Dan McCarthy stepped down as Borough attorney, Mayor Mahr tabbed Russ Huegel for the job, which meant that he would have to resign his seat on the Council. It was then up to the Mayor to select someone to serve the remainder of Huegel's unexpired term. She chose Jeff Banks to fill the spot."</ref>

====Fire department====
The Fanwood Fire Department is a volunteer fire department with 30 members that operate out of one fire station. The department has two engines, one quint and a chief's vehicle. The Fanwood Volunteer Fire Company predates the incorporation of the borough, having first been established in 1890 with its first firehouse constructed in 1897.<ref>[http://www.fanwoodfd.com/about-us/ About Us], Fanwood Fire Department. Accessed May 7, 2013.</ref>