Any municipality not subject to the terms of Title 11, Civil Service, of the Revised Statutes, may reappoint a former member of its police or fire department who has resigned in good standing provided (1) the employee's request for reinstatement shall have been made within 2 years after the date of his resignation, and (2) the appointing authority has recommended that, because of the employee's record of past performance, reinstatement shall be in the best interests of the service.
N.J.S. § 40:47-11.1