The Office of the Mayor

“The name’s LaGuardia – L-A-G-U-A-R-D-I-A!!!"

Who would believe that the name of a mayor would ring out from the stage of a Broadway theater? That a mayor would be the dynamic hero of a Broadway musical comedy?

The musical comedy Fiorello, which opened at the Broadhurst Theater on November 23, 1959, celebrated the New York City mayor, Fiorello LaGuardia, who took on the Tammany Hall political machine – and beat them! He did it by celebrating the diversity, the “melting pot,” of the great city whose hearts and votes he won. (It also gave the lyricist and composer, Harnick and Bock, the chance to write campaign songs in Yiddish and Italian!)

Most city and town mayors are not Fiorello LaGuardia. But they are important leaders of the municipalities, large or small, in which they hold authority.

So, What is a Mayor?

In the United States, the mayor is the head of government in municipalities such as cities, towns, boroughs, townships, villages, etc. The mayors have different levels of authority, depending on whether the system of local government is council-manager government or mayor-council government.

Council-Manager system- the mayor is a first among equals on the council, which acts as a legislative body while executive functions are performed by a professional manager. The mayor may chair the council but lacks any special legislative powers. The mayor and council serve part-time, with day-to-day administration in the hands of the professional municipal manager.

Mayor-Council system- the mayoralty and council are separate offices. This system may be of two types, either a strong mayor system or a weak mayor system. Under the strong mayor system, the mayor acts as an elected executive with the council exercising legislative powers. This form of mayor may select a chief administrative officer, similar to the professional manager, to oversee the different departments. This is the system used in most of the United States' large cities, primarily because mayors serve full-time and have a wide range of services that they oversee. New York City, Chicago, IL, and Los Angeles, CA are examples of large cities with a strong mayor system. In a weak mayor or ceremonial mayor system, the mayor may have appointing power for department heads, but is subject to checks by the council, sharing both executive and legislative duties with the council. This is common for smaller cities like Charlotte, NC, and Minneapolis MN.

The Faulkner Act, which was named for Bayard Faulkner, the former mayor of Montclair who headed a committee that established a number of new forms of government for New Jersey under legislation that was adopted in 1950.

Teaneck had originally operated as a township when it was established in 1895, and switched to the Municipal Manager form in 1930 before adopting the current council-manager form in 1988.

As in all communities governed under the Faulkner Act, Teaneck residents have the option of initiative and referendum, which allows voters to consider changes to the form of government, including direct election of a mayor, as well as changing the number of seats on the council or the timing of elections in May or November.

Every municipality has the opportunity to see how well it operates and use its neighbors as potential models.

Maplewood and the Township Form- Maplewood is governed under the township form of government, The governing body is a Township Committee, which is composed of five at-large members, who are elected directly by the voters. They serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis. At an annual reorganization meeting the township committee selects one of its members to serve in the largely ceremonial role as mayor for a one-year term, and another to serve as vice mayor, also for one year.

Dumont and the Borough Form- Dumont, with a population half that of Teaneck, is a typical example of a borough. The governing body in Dumont is composed of the mayor and a six-member borough council. All positions are elected at-large on a partisan basis in November in the general election. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough form of government used by Dumont features a weak mayor/strong council form of government. Council members act as a 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 override by a 2/3 majority of the council.

Montclair and the Council-Manager Form- Montclair voted to adopt the council-manager form of government under the Faulkner Act.

In the council-manager form, the council sets policy, which is implemented by a manager who oversees the day-to-day operation of the community. The mayor of Montclair is elected directly by the voters and serves a four-year term.

The Montclair mayor presides over the council and has a voice and vote in its proceedings. He appoints the Library trustees and the Board of Education. (Montclair is one of only 18 municipalities in the state where the mayor selects the Board of Education; The Teaneck BOE is elected). The mayor has no executive powers. Executive powers are vested in the Town Council. Elections are held every four years in May for the mayor and the council. The elections are non-partisan.

What Does The Mayor Do?

The responsibilities of the mayor are prescribed by the form of government. In a strong mayor-council system, the mayor essentially is the Chief Executive Officer. It is a full-time position, with a staff that handles the various administrative positions and responsibilities required to run the municipality. The mayor directs the administrative structure and appoints and removes department heads. Despite the council’s legislative powers, the key to the mayor’s strength is that the mayor has veto power. In a strong mayor-council system, the mayor is almost always elected by the municipal voters.

In a weak mayor-council system, the mayor primarily has a ceremonial role with no formal authority outside that of any council-member. This form of mayor has no veto power and no special influence over any vote. The weak mayor cannot appoint or remove department heads or any other employee. S/he runs the council meetings and may appear at various ceremonial events like ribbon cuttings and community celebrations. Some may conduct weddings. It is by force of personality that a weak mayor can accomplish desired goals. So, while most mayors are not LaGuardias, their personalities most definitely do shape the way they play their role and the way their public views them.

According To Kids | What does a Mayor do? | CBC Kids

And the Teaneck Mayor?

Teaneck has a council-manager form of government with a weak mayor, elected by a majority (4 members) of the council.

If you watch the Council meetings on zoom or on public access television, you know that the mayor plays an important role when presiding at meetings. But overall, as described above, the mayor has few assigned duties. It is the town manager who is responsible for hiring and removing department heads, overseeing the administration and the running of the town.

But does that mean the mayor has little influence?

In addition to presiding at meetings, the mayor is the Class I member of the powerful nine-member Planning Board, as designated by the Tonwship Code. The mayor also appoints a township official to the Planning Board. The council appoints the seven remaining members and two alternates of the Board.

Additionally, all bonds, notes, and contracts are executed by the Mayor on behalf of the Township.

The mayor also appoints members of the Library Board, presides at weddings and represents the Township at public events.

How is Teaneck's Mayor Elected?

E-mail Teaneck Voices!