Lifetime health benefits for officers hired after Jan. 1, 2016 have been eliminated.
ROBBINSVILLE -- The township and the union that represents the police have agreed on a four-year contract that eliminates lifetime health benefits for officers hired after Jan. 1, 2016.
The contract moves away from step guides for new hires and replaces it with a 20-year pay scale with increases limited to 2 percent per-year, the township said in a statement.
New officers starting salaries was also increased.
Lifetime health benefits ended for all non-represented Robbinsville employees hired after January 1, 2006.
File photo "If you look around the state, continuing to give lifetime health benefits to employees is bankrupting our governments, both at the state and local level," said Mayor Dave Fried.
Fried said he worked with Business Administrator Joy Tozzi to help broker the deal with the union.
Policemen's Benevolent Association (PBA) local president Edward Vincent said the union was happy to forge an agreement with the town. "It once again shows our ability to work together, and allows us to refocus on everyone's primary goal - and that is to serve the residents of Robbinsville Township."
The contract runs through December 31, 2019.
Also, at Thursday's township council meeting, Police Chief Chris Nitti was sworn in by Fried.
At the meeting, the town recognized Police Officer Barbara Borges, who is retiring after 26 years. She worked her final patrol shift on Thursday.
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