Editing Rockaway Township, New Jersey (section)

=== Local government ===
Rockaway Township is governed within the [[Faulkner Act]] (formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law) under the [[Faulkner Act (mayor–council)|Mayor-Council]] system of municipal government (Plan F), implemented based on the recommendations of a [[Charter Study Commission]] as of January 1, 1968.<ref>[http://www.dudley-2010.com/Faulkner%20Act%2046pages.pdf "The Faulkner Act: New Jersey's Optional Municipal Charter Law"], [[New Jersey State League of Municipalities]], July 2007. Accessed November 4, 2013. Incorrectly listed as Rockaway Borough, which operates under the Borough form of government.</ref><ref>[http://clerkshq.com/Content/Rockaway-nj/books/code/rockawayc02.htm Chapter II: Administrative Code], Rockaway Township Code. Accessed November 4, 2013. "Charter shall mean the provisions of the Optional Municipal Charter Law (P.L. 1950, Chapter 210, as amended) governing Mayor-Council Plan."</ref> The township is one of 71 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.<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 township council. The mayor is directly elected by the voters. The township council is comprised of nine members, with one member elected from each of six [[Ward (United States)|wards]] and three elected on an [[at-large]] basis. The members of the governing body are elected to staggered four-year terms of office on a partisan basis in odd-numbered years as part of the November general election, with the six ward seats up for vote together and then the three at-large and the mayoral seat up for vote together two years later.<ref name=DataBook>''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', [[Rutgers University]] [[Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy]], March 2013, p. 116.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=10 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"], p. 10. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

{{As of|2023}}, the [[Mayor]] of Rockaway Township is [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] Joseph Jackson, who was elected to serve the balance of a term of office expiring December 31, 2023.<ref name=Mayor>[https://www.rockawaytownship.org/228/Mayor Mayor], Rockaway Township. Accessed April 27, 2023. "The Township of Rockaway operates under the Mayor-Council Plan (NJSA 40:69A-31) of government. This form, also known as the 'strong mayor' form, provides for the direct election of the mayor, who serves a 4-year term."</ref> Members of the Township Council are Council President Howard Kritz (R, 2023; At-large), Council Vice President John J. Quinn Jr. (R, 2025; Ward 2), Douglas Brookes (R, 2025; Ward 3), Rachel Brookes (R, 2025; Ward 6), Emanuel "Manny" Friedlander (D, 2025; Ward 5), Mary Noon (R, 2025; Ward 1), Jonathan Sackett ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]], 2025; Ward 4), Adam Salberg (R, 2023; At-large) and Pawel Wojtowicz (R, 2023; At-large - elected to serve an unexpired term).<ref>[https://www.rockawaytownship.org/157/Township-Council Township Council], Rockaway Township. Accessed April 27, 2023.</ref><ref>[https://www.rockawaytownship.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/350 2023 Municipal Data Sheet], Rockaway Township. Accessed April 27, 2023.</ref><ref name=MorrisManual>[https://www.morriscountyclerk.org/files/sharedassets/clerk/v/3/manual/mc-manual-2024-web-040924.pdf#page=58 ''Morris County Manual 2024''], [[Morris County, New Jersey]] Clerk. Accessed May 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=MorrisOfficials>[https://www.morriscountyclerk.org/files/sharedassets/clerk/v/9/elections/2024-municipal-elected-officials-032224.pdf ''Morris County Municipal Elected Officials For The Year 2024''], [[Morris County, New Jersey]] Clerk, updated March 20, 2024. Accessed May 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=Morris2022>[https://www.morriscountyclerk.org/files/sharedassets/clerk/elections/past-results/2022-general-municipality-report-official.pdf General Election November 8, 2022, Official Results], [[Morris County, New Jersey]], updated November 28, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Morris2021>[https://www.morriscountyclerk.org/files/sharedassets/clerk/elections/past-results/2021-general-winners-121421.pdf General Election Winners For November 2, 2021], [[Morris County, New Jersey]] Clerk. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Morris2019>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Morris/98870/web/#/summary General Election November 5, 2019, Official Results], [[Morris County, New Jersey]], updated November 15, 2019. Accessed January 31, 2020.</ref>

In January 2022, Joseph Jackson was selected as mayor following the resignation of Michael Puzio from the term expiring in December 2023. In March 2022, Pawel Wojtowicz was appointed to fill Jackson's vacated at-large council seat, also expiring in December 2023.<ref>[[David Wildstein|Wildstein, David]]. [https://newjerseyglobe.com/campaigns/rockaway-mayor-resigns/ "Rockaway mayor resigns; Special election for unexpired term will be held this year"], New Jersey Globe, January 12, 2022. Accessed August 17, 2022. "Rockaway Township Mayor Michael Puzio has unexpectedly resigned to take a job with a pharmaceutical company causing a special elections for the second time in the last four years. Council President Joe Jackson will become acting mayor on January when Puzio’s resignation becomes effective."</ref><ref>Condon, Mike. [https://www.newjerseyhills.com/the_citizen/news/wojtowicz-joins-rockaway-township-council/article_7a49951f-4023-5e09-b316-65d8065d9a73.html "Wojtowicz joins Rockaway Township Council"], ''The Citizen of Morris County'', March 9, 2022. Accessed August 17, 2022. "It wasn’t a traditional swearing-in, but Republican Pawel Wojtowicz is now a member of the Township Council. He joins the council as an at-large member, replacing GOP Councilman Joseph Jackson, who was appointed Mayor after Mayor Michael Puzio, also a Republican, resigned to accept a job in January."</ref> Jackson and Wojtowicz served on an interim basis until the November 2022 general election when voters elected them to serve the balance of the term of office for both seats.<ref name=Morris2022/>

In July 2019, Republican Mary Noon was appointed to fill the Ward 1 seat expiring in December 2021 that had been held by Victor Palumbo until he resigned from office the previous month in the face of a pending recall effort.<ref>Cohen, Michael. [https://www.newjerseyhills.com/the_citizen/news/noon-named-to-rockaway-township-council-as-lawsuits-fly-back/article_628bf10d-9753-59c0-aec3-ec361d3a3783.html "Noon named to Rockaway Township Council as lawsuits fly back and forth"], ''The Citizen of Morris County'', July 29, 2019. Accessed March 4, 2020. "The township’s Republican County Committee has named First Ward resident Mary Noon to the Township Council, replacing former Councilman Victor Palumbo who resigned in June."</ref> In September 2019, the township council appointed Douglas Brookes to fill the Ward 3 seat expiring in December 2021 that had been held by Phyllis I. Smith until she resigned from office earlier that month; at the same meeting, the council removed Jeremy Jedynak from office due to excessive absence, after he had missed attending a string of meetings over a two-month period.<ref>Myers, Gene. [https://www.dailyrecord.com/story/news/local/2019/09/25/rockaway-twp-councilman-voted-out-after-extended-absence/2443972001/ "Rockaway Township councilman voted out because of extended absence"], ''[[Daily Record (New Jersey)|Daily Record]]'', September 25, 2019. Accessed March 4, 2020. "Jeremy Jedynak was voted off the Township Council on Tuesday night because of numerous unexcused absences, municipal leaders said.... The seat was vacated as a matter of necessity after an absence that lasted from June 11 through Sept. 9, said council President Jonathan Sackett.... The council also voted to accept Douglas Brookes as Ward 3 replacement for Councilwoman Phillis Smith, who resigned Sept. 8."</ref>

Jedynak was designated as acting mayor after the death of Mayor Michael Dachisen of a [[cardiac arrest]] in August 2018, pending the selection of an interim successor.<ref>Westhoven, William; and Wright, Peggy. [https://www.dailyrecord.com/story/news/2018/08/15/rockaway-township-mayor-michael-dachisen-dies-suddenly-57/1005206002/ "Rockaway Township Mayor Michael Dachisen dies suddenly at age 58"], ''[[Daily Record (New Jersey)|Daily Record]]'', August 15, 2018. Accessed August 22, 2018. "Mayor Michael Dachisen died Wednesday evening of a heart attack, just days after he had a stress test and was cleared by a doctor to go home, two friends said Thursday morning.... Council President Jeremy Jedynak will be acting mayor for at least 30 days, said John Inglesino, a former township mayor and attorney representing Jedynak against a lawsuit filed by Dachisen."</ref> At the appointment deadline in September 2018, Paul Minenna, a former councilmember, was selected to serve as mayor on an interim basis; the meeting had been pushed off and rescheduled for 10:30 PM after the site that had been originally designated for the special meeting was no longer available.<ref name=Minenna>Myers, Gene. [https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/morris/rockaway-township/2018/09/15/rockaway-township-late-fri-meeting/1304228002/ "Rockaway Twp. leaders fail to tamp things down at late Friday meeting"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', September 15, 2018. Accessed September 16, 2018. "Friday also was the deadline for the decision on interim mayor and former Councilman Paul Minenna was voted in.... Paul Minenna, who served 17 years on the Township Council, is sworn in as Rockaway Township's interim mayor until the November elections."</ref> In October 2018, a Superior Court judge ruled that all of the actions taken at the late-night meeting in September at which Minenna had been appointed were null and void as they violated the terms of the state's Open Public Meetings Act; Adam Salberg was designated by the judge to fill the mayoral vacancy on an interim basis until the November 2018 general election, when voters will select a candidate to serve the balance of Dachisen's term of office.<ref>Wright, Peggy. [https://www.dailyrecord.com/story/news/morris/morris-county/2018/10/01/rockaway-township-interim-mayor-chosen-adam-salberg/1484766002/ "Rockaway Township finally has official interim mayor after court decision"], ''[[Daily Record (New Jersey)|Daily Record]]'', October 1, 2018. Accessed October 15, 2018. "The question of which of Rockaway Township's two interim mayors is the official one has been answered: It's Adam Salberg, the court ruled. A Superior Court judge found that the Sept. 14 special Rockaway Township Council meeting was "illegal," therefore voiding all actions taken, including the council's appointment of interim Mayor Paul Minenna and Township Attorney John Inglesino."</ref>

Michael Dachisen was selected to serve as mayor in June 2012 after Louis S. Sceusi stepped down to take a position as judge in [[New Jersey Superior Court]],<ref>Balbi, Amanda. [http://www.northjersey.com/news/161529405_Dachisen_moves_to_mayor_s_seat__town_wins_lawsuit_over_closed_sessions_.html "Dachisen moves up to Rockaway Township mayor's seat"], ''Neighbor News'', July 11, 2012. Accessed July 13, 2012. "Michael Dachisen, Rockaway Township Council president, sat through the June 26 Council meeting with a different perspective. Instead of being at the head of the class, he sat quietly to the side, interjecting when called on. Recently, Mayor Louis Sceusi was appointed a Superior Court Judge. Therefore, Dachisen has temporarily taken over the mayor's duties."</ref> and was sworn in as mayor in July 2012.<ref>Staff. [http://www.northjersey.com/news/163141466_There_s_a_new_mayor_in_town__Michael_Dachisen.html "There's a new mayor in Rockaway Township: Michael Dachisen"], ''Neighbor News'', July 20, 2012. Accessed December 22, 2012. "With these words, "our work here is not over," President Michael Dachisen walked away from the Council and stepped into his new role as the mayor of Rockaway Township."</ref> In November 2012, Dachisen won a special election to serve the balance of Sceusi's term through 2015.<ref>Tamblyn, Ellen Fox. [http://www.northjersey.com/news/179232991_Rockaway_Twp__residents_retain_Dachisen_as_mayor.html "Rockaway Twp. residents retain Dachisen as mayor"], ''Neighbor News'', November 14, 2012. Accessed December 22, 2012.</ref> Jeremy Jedynak took office in June 2013, filling the at-large seat held by John DiMaria, who left office to relocate outside of the state. The term expires in 2015 and the remaining two years of the seat were up for vote in the November 2013 general election.<ref>Lusardi, Anthony. [http://newjerseyhills.com/the_citizen/news/rockaway-township-council-welcomes-new-member/article_50dbe15c-e99a-11e2-9e83-001a4bcf887a.html "Rockaway Township Council welcomes new member"], ''The Citizen of Morris County'', July 11, 2013. Accessed November 4, 2013. "When the Township Council met on Tuesday, June 25, new Councilman-at-Large Jeremy Jedynak was sworn into office.... He will have to run in November to fill the two-year unexpired term left when Councilman John DiMaria resigned. The term will expire at the end of 2015."</ref>