SYLLABUS

(This syllabus is not part of the opinion of the Court. It has been prepared by the Office of the Clerk for the convenience of the reader. It has been neither reviewed nor approved by the Supreme Court. Please note that, in the interests of brevity, portions of any opinion may not have been summarized).

Middletown Township PBA Local 124 v. Township of Middletown (A-98-06)

Argued September 24, 2007 -- Decided December 3, 2007

LONG, J., writing for a unanimous Court.

On this appeal, the Court must determine the meaning of certain language in N.J.S.A. 40A:10-23 (section 23), a statute that authorizes the discretionary grant of health benefits to retirees.