Independence Township approves one-time carryover of 2024 police vacation time

The Independence Township Committee voted 4–0 on Aug. 12 to approve a one-time exception letting officers of the Independence Police Department carry unused vacation time earned in 2024 into calendar year 2026. Mrs. Gesumaria moved to adopt Resolution 25-56; Mr. Stuber seconded, and Mayor Robert Giordano, Mrs. Kelsey and the two movers voted aye; Mr. Pennington was absent.

The resolution says the department “has experienced significant manpower shortages” during the past calendar year, which prevented many officers from taking scheduled vacation time. It authorizes that any unused vacation time earned in 2024 and remaining unused as of Dec. 31, 2025, may be carried into 2026 but must be used on or before June 1, 2026; any portion remaining after that date “shall be deemed permanently forfeited.” The resolution specifies it applies only to 2024 accruals and “shall not be construed as establishing any precedent or ongoing policy” for other years.

Committee members did not record additional debate in the meeting minutes; the motion passed without recorded opposition. No amendment to the measure was proposed, and the committee did not attach further implementation details beyond the June 1, 2026 use-by date.

The committee did not announce any follow-up reporting schedule or administrative steps, and no public comment was recorded on the item during the meeting. The resolution text and the committee vote were entered into the meeting record.