A mayor was removed from office in one Bergen County town after objecting to the raising of a Pride flag at town hall.

Rochelle Park Mayor Perrin Mosca was ousted last week when council members from both parties voted to remove him from office.

It all stems from a contentious May 24 Rochelle Park Council meeting when Mosca objected to the town flying a Pride flag outside of town hall for Pride Month.

“A majority had agreed that as a township we would not put up any flags that singled out one group over another group. That should have been the end of the issue,” Mosca said.

But instead, it was the end of the line for the Republican mayor, and last week the three other Republicans on the committee joined the lone Democrat who promoted the Pride flag – Councilwoman Linda Boniface – to force Mosca out of the mayor’s chair. Those Republican council members have also accused Mosca of missing council meetings.

Mosca is still on the ballot for November but will be running for office without support from the Rochelle Park GOP.

Rochelle Park residents had differing opinions surrounding the controversy over the Pride flag.

“That’s not right, everybody’s entitled to their opinion. I say live and let live but everybody has a right to their opinion,” said one resident.

“I think that’s fine. I have no problem with it whatsoever and I think it’s become an unwarranted political football,” said another.

Deputy Mayor Jennifer Appice is now in charge as acting mayor.

The Rochelle Park Council will select a replacement to serve the rest of Mosca’s term within the next week and a half. He could still be returned to office after November’s election.