N.J. Stat. § 40A:14-43: Appointment of volunteer firemen or other persons to newly established paid fire department

In any municipality where there is a volunteer fire company or force, maintained and controlled by the municipality, and the governing body of the municipality, by ordinance, shall provide for the establishment of a paid fire department, the appointments thereto shall be made from the members of the volunteer fire company or force who shall have served as active firemen for at least 2 years next preceding said appointment or from among the exempt firemen of the company or force. If no such member or exempt fireman is available for such appointment, any qualified person may be appointed thereto. Said appointees shall not be under 21 or over 40 years of age at the time of the appointment.

L.1971, c. 197, s. 1, eff. July 1, 1971.