Unless otherwise provided by law, all officers and employees of the
Township of Independence after the effective date of this chapter shall be
bona fide residents of the County of Warren or a county within the State of
New Jersey adjacent to Warren County (Morris, Hunterdon and Sussex Counties).
For the purpose of this chapter, a "bona fide resident" is a person having
a permanent domicile within said counties and one which has not been adopted
with the intention of again taking up or claiming a previous residence outside
of the counties.
All employees hired after the effective date of this chapter shall remain
bona fide residents of Warren, Sussex, Morris or Hunterdon Counties. Failure
of any such employee to maintain such residency shall be cause for removal
or discharge from service in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:9-1.5.
This chapter shall not affect the residency of persons presently employees
by the Township of Independence who are not residents of the designated area
as of the effective date of this chapter.