Why some N.J. cops and firefighters might get to retire early with pensions
Updated Mar 04, 2021;
Nearly 8,000 New Jersey police and firefighters could become eligible to retire with a pension sooner than expected.
A bill (S1017) passed by the state Assembly and sent to Gov. Phil Murphy this week would allow public safety workers who reach 20 years of service within 25 months of the effective date of the bill to retire with a pension, regardless of their age.
Current law limits the early retirement benefit, the equivalent of half their salary, for public safety workers hired after January 2000 to those at least 55 years old. But unions say that’s because a 1999 law was misinterpreted by former Gov. Chris Christie’s administration.
Hunterdon Commissioner Van Doren elected secretary-treasurer of N.J. Association of Counties
Updated Feb 20, 2021;
Hunterdon County Commissioner Shaun C. Van Doren was elected secretary-treasurer of the New Jersey Association of Counties at the group’s annual re-organization, held remotely, on Jan. 29.
“NJAC is a vital organization for county governments,” Van Doren said. “The association is committed to advocating for legislation and policies at the state level that empower county governments to operate more efficiently and effectively.
“I look forward to working with the other members of the Executive Board in bringing the attention of state government to the needs of the people in the counties and in particular Hunterdon County.”
Some have criticized the move for complicating an already difficult situation but others are applauding it.
John Donnadio, the executive director of the New Jersey Association of Counties, said smaller counties that don’t have a megasite have limited vaccine supplies and they have to get those shots into the arms of older, vulnerable residents.
He noted the entire vaccine program has been a challenge from the beginning.
“There’s no uniform statewide system for distribution, so each county is left to their own devices to roll out the vaccine distribution,” he said. “And I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing.”
By JOEY NOVICK
Hunterdon County Clerk Mary Melfi
Hunterdon County Clerk Mary Melfi
Credits: Photo archive
Governor Murphy issued an executive order that the November 2020 selection would take place entirely with mail-in ballots,
Governor Murphy issued an executive order that the November 2020 selection would take place .
Credits: TAPinto.net File Photo
January 21, 2021 at 7:27 PM
Editor s Note: Due to a medical issue behind the scenes, the interview will not be live, but a recording will be streaming on Facebook after the interview that will be recorded Thursday at 7 p.m. Look for the recording by Friday of the interview, which will stream unedited after the interview is held!
Credit: (Governors Office /Tim Larsen; CC BY-NC 2.0)
Jan. 15, 2021: Linda Leeman gets vaccinated at the Edison Vaccination Facility.
In New Jersey, COVID-19 vaccines are now available at more than 160 locations including hospitals, pharmacies, community health centers and government-run clinics and four of the state’s planned six mega-sites are now immunizing eligible individuals.
But six weeks after the first New Jersey resident got her initial dose, the statewide operation continues to run at far less than full speed. Concerns include public confusion, a complex sign-up system, an initial workforce shortage in some places, and perhaps the biggest hurdle of all, not enough vaccines to meet the demand.