UPDATED: Unused Sick Time/Days Off Pay Locked In For Police Chief

The Township Committee voted 3-0 on Tuesday night to cap unused sick and personal time pay at $104,745 for Police Chief Brian Bobowicz, no matter how long he remains in his position.

Township Committeeman John Carpenter said the amount is fair because the police chief was the only township employee whose unused time-off pay—to be paid off after retirement—could not be rolled over into a fund for post-retirement medical benefits, as per a municipal plan set up last year.

As police chief, Bobowicz is a non-union employee, but a state regulation would have required the township to pay toward medical benefits for all police if the municipality contributed to medical costs for the chief, even indirectly, according to Carpenter and Township Administrator Bruce McArther.

"It was a matter of fairness," Carpenter said following the meeting. He also said the township wanted to try to protect the police chief's due time in case state officials try to reduce retirement payoffs to municipal employees. 

Carpenter said Bobowicz has been an "excellent police chief" for about two and a half years, and the Township Committee hopes he remains in the position even after he is eligible to retire.

McArthur said the Township Committee already voted last November to cap the unused sick and personal pay for the chief and other employees.

"He could collect it tomorrow if he retired," McArthur explained in an email earlier. However, he said the Township Committee had chosen to formally memorialize the understanding since officials want to retain the chief as long as possble.wants to retain the chief as long as possible.

The amount could conceivably be reduced, but in no case would it be higher than the November capped amount, McArthur said.

"In all other ways, the chief is treated as a non-union employee and subject to the always changing Employee Handbook, he added.

The proposed resolution on Tuesday night's agenda said the position of police chief is a "key position to ensure the safety and protection of the residents of Bernards Township and to effectively lead the Township’s law enforcement staff."

The resolution states that Bobowicz has "demonstrated highly effective performance in his role as chief of police for the Township of Bernards."

"The Township of Bernards desires to retain Chief Bobowicz’s service beyond the period of time when he may retire as he attained 50-percent pension eligibility as of August, 2007, and as he will attain full pension eligibility as of August 2012," the resolution said.

Bobowicz has expressed a present intention to remain with the township in the position of chief of police until at least July 2013, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the resolution said.

The resolution to enter into a memorandum of understanding with Bobowicz requires one vote by the Township Committee, rather than the two votes at separate meetings required for adoption of an ordinance.

Mayor John Malay and Committeewoman Carolyn Gaziano, along with Carpenter, supported the resolution. Committee members Scott Spitzer and Deputy Mayor Mary Pavlini were absent from the meeting.