HomeMy Public PortalAboutr 22-054Pool tion of t4t �Rorvugh of dartexe#, 3C J,
No. #22 -54
Date of Adoption February 10, 2022
ENDORSING AND SUPPORTING A -2158 & S -1367 INCREASING
THE RETIREMENT AGE FOR MUNICIPAL POLICE CHIEFS
AND FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEFS
WHEREAS, A- 2158/S -1367 (the "Legislation ") provides for an increase in the mandatory retirement age
to 67 years for police chiefs of a municipal law enforcement agency and chiefs of a fire department.; and
WHEREAS, currently, a member of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System of New Jersey ( "PFRS")
is required to retire upon reaching the age of 65 years, while allowing PFRS members hired prior to
January I, 1987 to remain a member of the'system until the member attains 68 years of age or 25 years of
creditable service, whichever comes' first; and
WHEREAS, the Legislation would allow a police chief and fire department chief to remain a PFRS
member until the end of the calendar year in which the member reaches age 67, provided the member was
appointed as a police or fire department chief prior to attaining 65 years of age; and
WHEREAS, [lie Legislation only allows for this increase hr age where the municipal appointing authority
affirmatively approves of the increase by a vote of the majority of its members where appropriate; and
WHEREAS, the time, training and financial resources that local governments invest in their first
responders and, specifically, their police and fire departmental leadership, cannot be measured in simple
dollars and cents, but also must be measured in the comfort level of local governments and, most
importantly, the general public they serve, knowing that they have seasoned professionals at the helm of
these vital public safety departments; and
WHEREAS, passage of this Legislation would not only recognize the value of experienced leaders in
municipal emergency service departments and promote smoother transitions of leadership, but would also
eliminate forced retirements at an arbitrary age that is often times counter- productive for efficient
administration of public safety; and
WHEREAS, this Legislation provides local appointing authorities with the "home rule" discretion to make
this important decision based upon a case -by -case analysis, taking into account the best interests of the
local department(s) and residents.
�)W, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Carteret,
mnly of Middlesex, and State of New Jersey, does hereby endorse and support A- 2158/5 -1367.
d IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution of endorsement and support be forwarded
the Borough's Legislative Delegation, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and Senate President Nicholas
utari, the New Jersey League of Municipalities, the New Jersey Conference of Mayors and directly to
ier local officials for their consideration and adoption.
Adopted this 101^ day of February, 2022
and certified as a true copy of the
original on February it, 2022.
CARMELA POGORZELSKI, RMC
Municipal Clerk
RECORD OF COUNCIL VOTE
COUNCILMAN
YES
NO
NV
A.D.
COUNCILMAN
YES
NV
A.B.
BELLINO
X
JOHAL
X
DIAZ
X
DINASCIO
X
NAPLES
X
jNO
X- Indicate Vote AB- Absent NV -Not Voting XOR- Indicates Vote to OverrVeto
Adopted at a meeting of the Municipal Council
February 10, 2122
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