The Borough would like to clarify misinformation recently published in the Florham Park Eagle and discussed by the public at council meetings regarding police retiree health benefits.

This matter is an ongoing legal and contractual issue and is entirely unrelated to pension benefits. No officer is “losing their pension” or having their pension affected in any way. The Borough has not and will not take any action affecting pension rights.

The Borough did not “change policy” regarding retiree health insurance. The Borough merely enforced contract language that the officers’ union, the PBA, freely agreed to. The PBA contract entitles eligible retirees to receive Borough health insurance coverage at taxpayer expense until they reach age 65. Retirees who had “lifetime” coverage after age 65 were receiving an improper benefit at taxpayer expense that they were not entitled to.

Both an arbitrator and a Superior Court judge upheld the Borough’s actions. But because related legal proceedings remain ongoing, the Borough will continue to address this matter through the appropriate legal process rather than through additional media responses.