Governing Body

South Orange Village operates under a special charter granted by the New Jersey Legislature. It is governed by a Mayor and a six‑member Village Council, all serving four‑year terms without compensation. Council positions are staggered—three seats are up for election every two years in odd‑numbered cycles

Roles & Structure

The Village Council serves as the legislative branch. It sets municipal policies, adopts ordinances (which become part of the Village Code), and approves resolutions for spending and program authorizations.
The Mayor, as the head of the executive branch, oversees day‑to‑day municipal operations. Working closely with the Village Administrator, the Mayor manages the implementation of policies through various departments.

Current Leadership

Mayor: Sheena Collum (term ending May 17, 2027)

Councilmembers: Braynard “Bobby” Brown, Bill Haskins, and Stephen Schnall (terms ending in 2025); Jennifer Greenberg, Summer Jones, and Olivia Lewis‑Chang (terms ending in 2027)

Board Professionals:

Julie Doran, Village Administrator
Peter Travers, Deputy Village Administrator
Steve Rother, Village Counsel
Ojetti Davis, Village Clerk

These board professionals support both policy-making and day-to-day administration.

Meeting Schedule & Public Participation

The Village Council meets generally on the 2nd and 4th Mondays at 7:00 PM (virtually or in person). If a holiday conflicts, meetings are shifted to the following Wednesday. All sessions are open to the public under New Jersey's “Open Public Meetings Act” (Sunshine Law). See the Village Calendar for specific dates and meeting information.
Public Comment is allowed twice per meeting: at the start and the end. Each person is allotted a 3-minute speaking slot, with respectful dialogue expected. While the Mayor may respond after comments, the primary goal is to ensure community voices are heard.