N.J. Stat. § 43:13-2
For the purposes of this article the words "municipal employee" or "employee" mean and include any employee of a city of the first class holding a position of permanent employment and recognized as a permanent appointee, it being the intent to exclude from the operation of this article transient, seasonal or temporary employees, workers or laborers and all officers, employees or workers not entitled to the benefits of any tenure of office act; provided, however, that any person who heretofore was, now is, or hereafter shall be an employee of such city and has continued to occupy an employment, position, or office of any kind, or any of them, in or under the government of said city and who has at any time become a member of the pension fund established for employees of said city shall be considered a "municipal employee" or an "employee" for the purposes of this article. The words "municipal employee" or "employee" shall not include a member of the fire or police department, employee of a local board of health eligible to apply for membership in the pension corporations or associations which have been or may hereafter be formed under chapter eighteen of this Title (s. 43:18-1 et seq.), or any employee of a street or water department eligible to apply for membership in the pension corporations or associations which have been or may hereafter be formed under chapter nineteen of this Title (s. 43:19-1 et seq.). The appointing board or officer appointing an employee of a city of the first class may determine whether or not the employment of any employee as aforesaid is permanent within the meaning of this article.
N.J.S. § 43:13-2