These policies cover nonunion employees. They also cover union
employees to the extent that their collective bargaining agreements
do not cover these issues.
Reference Code of Township of Ocean § 57-34.
The Township currently provides all regular full-time employees
and other officials certain health benefits. All such individuals
have an option to select an alternate to the current standard health
benefit package offered by the municipality. The Township Clerk maintains
all information with respect to health to health benefits provided
to employees; however, it is not the responsibility of the Township
Clerk or the Township's governing body to personally advise each and
every employee of any changes made with respect thereto. It is the
responsibility of the employee to be fully familiar with all such
coverages.
A. Health benefits selection program. Reference Code of Township of Ocean § 57-35. Establishment of a Health Benefits
Selection and Buyback Program. The Health Benefits Selection and Buyback
Program allows an eligible individual to voluntarily select health
benefits that best suit his/her individual need by voluntarily declining
certain or all of the health benefits accorded that individual as
provided by the Township. For those benefits that the individual declines,
he/she shall be compensated according to this policy. This policy
covers all employees and officials who are eligible to receive health
benefits.
B. Benefits continuation (COBRA). Reference Code of Township of Ocean § 57-16.
(1) The federal Consolidation Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)
gives employees and their qualified beneficiaries the opportunity
to continue health insurance coverage for a limited time under the
Township's health plan when a "qualifying event" would normally result
in the loss of eligibility. Some common qualifying events are resignation,
termination of employment or death of an employee; a reduction in
an employee's hours or a leave of absence; an employee's divorce or
legal separation; and a dependent child no longer meeting eligibility
requirements.
(2) Under COBRA, the employee or beneficiary pays the full cost of coverage
at the Township's group rates plus an administrative fee. The Township
provides each eligible employee with written notice describing rights
granted under COBRA when the employee becomes eligible for coverage
under the Township's health insurance plan. The notice contains important
information about employee's rights and obligations.
Reference Code of Township of Ocean § 57-34.
The Township of Ocean currently provides to all eligible individuals
group dental coverage with various deductibles relating to individuals
and/or families. "Immediate family" means the spouse of an individual,
and/or the minor child of the individual, or child of an individual
who is over 18 years of age, but under 23 years of age, who is currently
residing in the individual's home and must be enrolled in full-time
college.
Reference Code of Township of Ocean § 57-34. The Township of Ocean currently provides a prescription plan for
eligible individuals which includes individual and/or family coverage
as defined in this article. Current coverages provides for prescription
card service requiring minimal copays for employees. It is anticipated
that the minimal copay will increase in the near future.
Reference Code of Township of Ocean § 57-34. The Township of Ocean currently provides certain vision care for
eligible individuals. The individual may use this benefit for any
member of his or her immediate family. "Immediate family" means the
spouse of an individual, and/or the minor child of the individual,
or child of an individual who is over 18 years of age, but under 23
years of age, who is currently residing in the individual's home.
Retirement insurance benefits.
Reference Code of Township of Ocean § 57-36.
A. The Township of Ocean shall assume the cost of insurance coverage
for those employees, inclusive of their dependents, in the same manner
for which such benefits are provided to regular full-time Township
employees, who retire after 25 years or more of service credit in
state pension system and a period of at least 25 years of employment
with the Township of Ocean or for those employees who have retired
and reached the age of 65 years of age with 25 years or more of service
credit in a state or local administered retirement system and a period
of 25 years with the employer at time of retirement.
B. Those employees who retire with 25 years or more service credit in
the state pension system and a period of at least 25 years of employment
with the Township of Ocean and/or the former Ocean Township Municipal
Utilities Authority are included within the terms of this section.
C. Employees of the Township of Ocean with 25 years or more of credit
in the state pension system may be eligible to include any years of
service in the Armed Forces of the United States to be counted toward
his/her 25 years of service with the Township in the same manner as
he/she may receive credit for such military services under the state
pension system in order to meet the 25 years of employment with the
municipality.
Requests to attend a conference or seminar must be approved
by a Committee member. Requests shall be made sufficiently in advance
to take advantage of discounts for early registration, and must be
submitted to the department head at least 30 days before the event.
Requests must be in writing including the conference schedule, registration
information and estimated costs. The department head is responsible
to detail all training requests during the budget formulation process.
Approval of any conference or seminar request is conditioned upon
the availability of funds.