As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ANNUAL SICK LEAVE ALLOWANCE
The sick leave allowed under § 48-46.
DAY or DAYS
A working day or working days.
SICK LEAVE
The absence of a member for sickness.
SICK or SICKNESS
Illness or bodily injury arising from any cause, except illness or bodily injury incurred in the line of duty.
For the purpose of sick leave allowances granted under this article, "sickness" shall be defined as illness or bodily injury from any cause.
Allowance for sick leave shall be made only in accordance with the provisions of this article and the rules and regulations relating to sick leave.
Members of the Department shall be allowed 15 days of sick leave in each year, calculated on a calendar-year basis. Service as a member of the Department for any portion of a calendar year shall entitle such member to the 15 days' sick leave allowance in that calendar year.
During sickness on permitted sick leaves as provided in § 48-46 and during leave for illness or death in the family as provided in §§ 48-37 and 48-38, pay shall be at the full rate so long as the member's current and accumulated sick leave time has not expired; provided, however, that such sick leave with pay during permitted sick leaves provided in § 48-46 shall not continue for any period exceeding one year commencing from the date of such sickness or injury. In all cases of absence for personal sickness or injury, the Director of the Department may require the member, in order to qualify for sick leave at full pay, to present a statement signed by a physician employed by the Township or other approved physician, attesting to the fact that such member's absence from work was essential for the treatment and recovery from illness or bodily injury of such member.
No later than the fifth business day of each month, the Chief shall certify to the Township Manager all sick leaves taken by members of the Department during the calendar month immediately preceding. Such report, after approval by the Township Manager, shall immediately be forwarded to the office of the Chief Financial Officer.
A. 
In the case of a member suffering any illness or bodily injury compensable under the New Jersey Worker's Compensation Act, such compensation as may be prescribed by said Worker's Compensation Act during the period of his or her temporary disability shall not be charged against his or her sick leave. He or she shall receive full pay in accordance with § 48-47 and only the difference between full pay and the compensation received under the Worker's Compensation Act shall be charged against his or her sick leave.
B. 
If a member should be unable to perform his or her duties and shall be absent from work for a period greater than 10 consecutive working days by reason of temporary disability arising out of such a compensable injury or illness, which temporary disability is evidenced by the certificate of a physician employed by the Township or such other physician designated by the Township Council, the Council, by resolution, in its discretion may grant a special leave of absence to such member for any part or all of the period of his or her absence exceeding such ten-day period, without any charge being made against the sick leave of such member for the difference between his or her full pay and the compensation received under the Worker's Compensation Act.
C. 
In the event that a member's sick leave allowance has been exhausted, the Township Council may, by resolution, extend the period of full pay for such time as it may deem desirable, and for the period of such extension the amounts paid in excess of those covered by the Worker's Compensation Act allowance may be charged against the future sick leave allowance of the member.
D. 
In no case shall any member receive full pay for any period exceeding one year commencing from the date of such illness or bodily injury.
A. 
Annual sick leave allowances not used by a regular member of the Department may be accumulated during the first 12 years of service, including service during his or her probationary year as a probationary patrolman, up to and including 50% of the unused days of such sick leave allowance. Annual sick leave allowance not used for years subsequent to the first twelve-year period may be accumulated up to and including 75% of the unused days of such sick leave allowance. The total accumulation of unused sick leave shall not in any event exceed 225 days in the case of members whose employment with the Township commenced prior to January 1, 1963, and shall not exceed 130 days in the case of members whose employment with the Township commenced on or after January 1, 1963. No accumulation shall be permitted by a probationary patrolman who is not appointed a regular member of the Department.
B. 
For purposes of memorializing the unused days of annual sick leave allowance accumulated prior to May 2, 1950, a list shall be prepared under the direction of the Chief, setting forth the names of all regular members of the Department and the number of unused days of annual sick leave, if any, accumulated by each as of May 2, 1950. The list shall be signed by each member in a space provided opposite his or her name and accumulation. Said list, when duly signed, shall for all purposes establish the accumulation, if any, of each member prior to May 2, 1950.
Accumulation of unused annual sick leave allowance, as provided in § 48-50, shall be calculated or computed subject to the following provisions:
A. 
For the purpose of accumulating unused annual sick leave allowance in the first calendar year of service, sick leave shall be computed on the basis of 1 1/4 days per month for months actually served as a member, and the accumulation rate of 50% specified in § 48-50 shall be applicable only to such total of unused sick leave days.
B. 
In computing years of service for the purposes of the increased accumulation rate of 75% specified in § 48-50, service of less than six months shall be disregarded, and service of six months or more shall be regarded as one year's service.
C. 
For the purposes of computing the unused days of the annual sick leave allowance, fractions of days less than 1/2 shall be disregarded and fractions of 1/2 or over shall be treated as a full day.
D. 
In computing months of service as a member, service for any portion of a month shall be deemed to be service for the full month.
A. 
Any regular member of the Department who is in good health, is eligible for retirement and applies for retirement may convert his or her accumulated sick leave allowance into a terminal leave at full pay, to be taken immediately preceding the effective date of his or her retirement.
B. 
No vacation and no sick leave allowance shall accrue or be credited for or during any terminal leave period as above defined.
C. 
In the case of all absences on account of sick leave, other than those compensable under the New Jersey Worker's Compensation Act, and in all cases of terminal vacation, each period of seven consecutive days of absence or terminal vacation shall be charged as five days of sick leave or terminal vacation, as the case may be, exclusive of legal holidays falling upon or being celebrated upon a working day.
D. 
In no event shall any terminal vacation period, together with any other regular or special leave (including time-off days) to which a retiring member may be entitled, extend beyond 45 calendar weeks in the case of members whose employment with the Township commenced prior to January 1, 1963, or beyond 26 calendar weeks in the case of members whose employment with the Township commenced on or after January 1, 1963.