Editing Oakland, New Jersey (section)

===Local government===
Oakland 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 during 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 Oakland 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><ref>[https://www.oakland-nj.org/mayor-council/pages/guide-borough-council-meeting Guide to a Borough Council Meeting], Borough of Oakland. Accessed May 31, 2024. "Oakland is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The Governing Body consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprised of six members who are elected at-large on a basis. The Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The six Borough Council members serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year during the November General Election."</ref>

{{As of|2024}}, the [[mayor]] of the Borough of Oakland is [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] Eric Kulmala, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the Oakland Borough Council are Council President Steve Saliani ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]], 2024), John J. McCann (R, 2025), Pat Pignatelli (R, 2023), Kevin F. Slasinski (R, 2025) and Russ Talamini (R, 2023), and Jodi Goffredo (R, 2024).<ref name=MayorCouncil>[https://www.oakland-nj.org/mayor-council Mayor & Council], Borough of Oakland. Accessed January 9, 2024. "The Governing Body consists of the Mayor, who is elected for a four-year term, and six (6) Councilmembers who are elected for three-year terms. The Mayor is considered the CEO and only votes in the case of a tie."</ref><ref>[https://www.oakland-nj.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif1026/f/uploads/2022_adopted_budget_0.pdf#page=7 2022 Municipal Data Sheet], Borough of Oakland. Accessed May 3, 2022.</ref><ref name=BergenCountyDirectory>[https://www.co.bergen.nj.us/images/About_Bergen_County/2024-county-directory.pdf#page=54 ''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], [[Bergen County, New Jersey]], November 22, 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 February 2021, the borough council selected Kevin Slasinksi from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the vacant seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Robert Knapp until he resigned from office the previous month.<ref>[https://www.oakland-nj.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif1026/f/minutes/minutes-february_24_2021.pdf Borough Council Regular Meeting Minutes for February 24, 2021], Borough of Oakland. Accessed May 3, 2022. "WHEREAS, Robert Knapp resigned as a Council member on February 2, 2021; and WHEREAS, on February 16, 2021 the Republican County Committee submitted the names of three nominees for a successor to fill Mr. Knapp’s vacancy; and WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Oakland has considered the nominees and desire to make an appointment in accordance with N.J.S.A.40A:16-11; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Oakland that Kevin Slasinksi is hereby appointed Council person for the Borough of Oakland as successor to Robert Knapp"</ref>

====Emergency services====
The Oakland Fire Department is an all-volunteer squad established in 1909 that came under the supervision of the borough in 1911. There are three firehouses in Oakland. The central station is located on Yawpo Avenue just off Ramapo Valley Road in downtown Oakland.<ref>[http://www.oaklandfd.org/content/department/ History], Oakland Fire Department. Accessed October 4, 2019. "It needs to be noted that the initial formation of the fire department in 1909 was a serious but informal affair and would not be officially associated with Oakland for another 2 1/2 years. In December, 1911 the Oakland Volunteer Fire Department was officially born with the passage of an ordinance by the mayor and council establishing it as a formal part of this borough."</ref>

There is one police station and it is located on Ramapo Valley Road across from the intersection with Walnut Street.<ref>[https://www.oakland-nj.org/police-department Police Department], Borough of Oakland. Accessed October 4, 2019.</ref>