TEANECK, N.J. — The increasingly bitter Teaneck Township Council race has taken another turn, with at least half a dozen residents who displayed campaign signs supporting Hillary Goldberg receiving calls from a sitting Council member demanding they take them down, BC News Now has learned.

The Council member is not up for reelection this November.

One resident described the call as “uncomfortable,” while another characterized it as “possibly intimidating.”

There is no indication that residents were explicitly threatened. But in at least one case, the call prompted a resident to remove not only the pro-Goldberg signs but also all “One Team, One Teaneck” signs from the lawn in protest.

It remains unclear how many residents received calls or whether additional residents will come forward.

The reported calls add a new dimension to a campaign that has increasingly spilled beyond the candidates themselves, with political allies using Facebook to attack opponents over campaign contributions, alleged conflicts of interest and conduct at Council meetings.

Goldberg, an incumbent seeking reelection, has long been a critic of the current Township leadership and has challenged members of the administration in court (and won) over their attempts to evade government transparency laws. Her clashes with Mayor Mark Schwartz and his political allies have become part of the backdrop to this year’s election.

The three-candidate “One Team, One Teaneck” slate of Avi Berliner, Sharon Kolb and Amrit Ramjattan has received Schwartz’s public endorsement and Schwartz is actively campaigning on their behalf online. Goldberg and Deputy Mayor Denise Belcher are also seeking reelection, with overall nine candidates competing for four seats.

BC News Now has reached out to the Goldberg campaign for comment on the allegation.

The reports raise questions about the boundaries between political advocacy and pressure on residents exercising their right to support candidates of their choice.

As the race towards Election Day continues, more residents may experience similar calls.