§ 64-1. Intent.

A. 

The Town Board deems it important to review how the Town, as an employer, can assist its employees who mobilize into active military service.

B. 

All Town employees enjoy the rights and privileges afforded by the Uniformed Servicemember's Civil Relief Act (USCRA), the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), and New York Military Law § 242. However, it is the intent of the Town Board to go beyond what is required by these statutes. We wish to provide our employees benefits that will help them stay focused on their duties while deployed and create an atmosphere in the Town workplace that develops a sense of loyalty and pride among service members employed by the Town of Brookhaven.

C. 

The Town Board feels the legislation contained herein is necessary and proper to help Brookhaven Town employees cope with the expenses often associated with deployment into the Armed Forces. All of the Town's residents benefit from the security provided by the United States Armed Forces. Therefore, Town employees who volunteer to participate in that function deserve the help made available by this legislation.

D. 

This legislation is in no way intended to afford any employee benefits he or she would not be entitled to "but for" their military service. It is the intent of this legislation to provide Town employees with at least the same benefits they would have enjoyed had they not been deployed. Therefore, if the employer makes any changes to the benefits described herein during an employee's absence due to military service (for example: change in medical benefits plan, changing or dropping of an employee benefit fund, etc.), it shall be the policy of the employer to treat the deployed employee as if the deployed soldier was here at work. The employer shall provide or retract such new or amended benefits from the deployed employee in the same manner the employer has done to all of its other employees in the same class as the deployed employee.