§ 2049-gg. Transfer of officers and employees. Any officer or employee of the counties or any other municipality within the area of operation, under civil service, who is selected by the authority may, with the consent of the chief executive officer of the legislative body of the employing county or municipality, be transferred to the authority and shall be eligible for such transfer and appointment, without examination, to applicable offices, positions and employment under the authority. The salary or compensation of any such officer or employee, after such transfer, shall be paid by the authority. Any such officers or employees so transferred to the authority pursuant to this section who are members of or benefit under any existing pension or retirement fund or system shall continue to have all rights, privileges, obligations and status with respect to such fund or system as are now prescribed by law, but, during the period of their employment by the authority, all contributions to such fund or system to be paid by the employer on account of such officers or employees shall be paid by the authority. All such officers or employees so transferred to the authority who have been appointed to positions under the rules and classifications of the personnel officer of the county or other employing municipality shall have the same status with respect thereto after transfer to the authority as they had under their original appointment.