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Deirdré L. Webster Cobb, Chairperson
Dolores Gorczyca
Daniel W. O’Mullan
Diomedes Tsitouras
November 24, 2020
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A regular meeting of the Civil Service Commission was held on Tuesday, November 24, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., in Trenton, New Jersey.
PRESENT: Deirdré L. Webster Cobb, Chairperson, Members Dolores Gorczyca, Daniel W. O’Mullan and Diomedes Tsitouras; Pamela Ullman, Deputy Attorney General; Christopher Myers, Director, Division of Appeals and Regulatory Affairs. All individuals listed participated via teleconference.
In accordance with L.1975, c.231, the Secretary to the Civil Service Commission opened the meeting with the following statement:
Notice of this meeting was filed with the Secretary of State and sent to the Trentonian, Trenton Times, Courier-Post and Star Ledger on November 13, 2019, and posted at the Civil Service Commission, 3 Station Plaza, Trenton, New Jersey.
All actions were by unanimous vote unless otherwise specified.
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION MINUTES
Submitted for adoption are the Civil Service Commission minutes of its meeting of November 4, 2020.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission adopted the minutes of its meeting of November 4, 2020.
WITHDRAWAL OF APPEALS
The following appeals were withdrawn and removed from the hearing calendar:
Erick Cruz, Laborer 1, City of Hoboken, Department of Environmental Services, layoff.
John DiTullio, Electrical Mechanic, Department of Transportation, removal.
Alisa Simmons, Supervising Health Care Evaluator/Nurse, Department of Health, return to previously held permanent title at the end of the working test period.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission noted the withdrawal of appeals without prejudice.
SECTION A – HEARING MATTERS
A-1 SETTLEMENTS
Adebola Aderibigbe
Hunterdon Developmental Center
Department of Human Services
Removal
Gloria Savoy
Ancora Psychiatric Hospital
Department of Health
Suspension
Jannis Wilson
Trenton Psychiatric Hospital
Department of Health
Removal
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission acknowledged the settlements.
A-2 PRECIOUS BONAPARTE-HUNT – CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-401
Precious Bonaparte-Hunt, Human Services Specialist 3, Hudson County, Department of Family Service, 60 working day suspension on charges of incompetency, inefficiency or failure to perform duties, inability to perform duties, conduct unbecoming a public employee and neglect of duty.
Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Modify the 60 working day suspension to a 30 working day suspension.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission affirmed the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge.
A-3 MILLARD HICKMAN – CSC DOCKET NO. 2019-1803
Millard Hickman, Operator, Refrigeration Services, South Woods State Prison, Department of Corrections, removal effective December 6, 2018 on charges of conduct unbecoming a public employee and other sufficient cause.
Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Uphold the removal.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission affirmed the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge.
VOTE: Deirdrè L. Webster Cobb (Yes)
Dolores Gorczyca (Recuse)
Daniel W. O’Mullan (Yes)
Diomedes Tsitouras (Yes)
A-4 KAREN SALES – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2018-3365 and 2018-3366 (Consolidated)
Karen Sales, Human Services Specialist 2, Union County, Department of Human Services, two removals effective July 16, 2014, on charges of insubordination, conduct unbecoming a public employee and other sufficient cause.
Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Uphold the removals.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission remanded the matter to the Office of Administrative Law.
SECTION B – MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS
B-1 J.G.A. - CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-779
J.G.A., represented by Michael L. Prigoff, Esq., appeals his rejection as a Correctional Police Officer candidate by the Department of Corrections and its request to remove his name from the eligible list for Correctional Police Officer (S9999U) on the basis of psychological unfitness to perform effectively the duties of the position.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted.
B-2 J.D. - CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-1999
J.D., represented by Giovanna Giampa, Esq., appeals the removal of his name from the eligible list for Police Officer (S9999U), City of Bayonne, on the basis of psychological unfitness to perform effectively the duties of the position.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be dismissed.
B-3 G.E. - CSC DOCKET NO. 2019-1935
G.E., represented by Joel M. Miklacki, Esq., appeals the removal of his name from the eligible list for Police Officer (S9999U), City of Passaic, on the basis of psychological unfitness to perform effectively the duties of the position.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be dismissed.
B-4 J.D.M. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-2058
J.D.M., represented by Michael L. Prigoff, Esq., appeals his rejection as a Fire Fighter candidate by Irvington and its request to remove his name from the eligible list for Fire Fighter (M1840W) on the basis of psychological unfitness to perform effectively the duties of the position.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted.
B-5 D.A.R. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-1443
D.A.R., represented by Michael L. Prigoff, Esq., appeals her rejection as a Police Officer candidate by Jersey City and its request to remove her name from the eligible list for Police Officer (S9999U) on the basis of psychological unfitness to perform effectively the duties of the position.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted.
B-6 I.A. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-265
I.A., represented by Michael L. Prigoff, Esq., appeals her removal from the eligible list for Sheriff’s Officer (S9988T), on the basis of falsification during the pre-employment process.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-7 A.C. - CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-2501
A.C. appeals her removal from the Correctional Police Officer (S9988A), Department of Corrections (DOC) eligible list on the basis of an unsatisfactory criminal record.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted.
B-8 N.D. - CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-2300
N.D. appeals the decision to remove her name from the Correctional Police Officer (S9988A), Department of Corrections eligible list on the basis that she lacked the requirements for the position.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted.
B-9 ANIKA ANDREWS - CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-280
Anika Andrews appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services that she did not meet the residency requirements for the open competitive examination for Executive Assistant 3 (S0982A), Statewide.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-10 RICKIE CAUDILL, JR. - CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-504
Rickie Caudill, Jr. appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services that he did not meet the experience requirements for the promotional examination for Supervising Engineer (PM2027B), Vineland.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted.
B-11 SHERRY TAYLOR - CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-2465
Sherry Taylor appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services, which found that she failed to meet the experience requirement for the open competitive examination for Supervisor of Patients Accounts 1 (S1043A), Statewide.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-12 ALBERT GARTH – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-524
Albert Garth requests to file a late application for the promotional examination for Maintenance Worker 2, Grounds (PC2803B), Atlantic County.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
B-13 TROY SOLOMON – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-499
Troy Solomon requests to file a late application for the open competitive examination for Senior Custodian (M0556B), Newark School District.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
B-14 GIANCARLO TELLO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-458
Giancarlo Tello requests to file a late application for the open competitive examination for Administrative Assistant 3 (M0602B), Newark School District.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
B-15 EDWARD DRZEWIECKI – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2021-225, ET AL.
Edward Drzewiecki, a Senior Correctional Police Officer, appeals an official written reprimand, a three working day suspension and a five working day suspension issued by New Jersey State Prison.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted in part.
B-16 KLEBER VERA – CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-2617
Kleber Vera, a former Building Maintenance Worker with the City of Hoboken, appeals the determination of his layoff rights by the Division of Agency Services.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-17 ERIK BLOUNT, ET AL. - CSC DOCKET NOS. 2021-391, ET AL.
The City of Newark, represented by France Casseus, Assistant Corporation Counsel, requests reconsideration of In the Matter of Erik Blount (CSC, decided June 17, 2020), In the Matter of Tashia Jones (CSC, decided June 17, 2020), In the Matter of Norberto Soares (CSC, decided June 17, 2020) and In the Matter of Michael Chirico (CSC, decided June 17, 2020) and In the Matter of Erik Blount, et al. (CSC, decided September 2, 2020) where Newark was ordered to provide back pay and either reinstate the employees or commence departmental hearings and pay fines of $4,000 for non-compliance.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that these requests be granted in part.
B-18 COORDINATOR, PRIMARY AND PREVENTATIVE HEALTH SERVICES – CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-2507
The Department of Health requests the revival and extension of the Coordinator, Primary and Preventative Health Services (PS5472H), Department of Health, eligible list.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
B-19 P.T. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2017-2946
P.T., an Auditor 2, Taxation with the Department of the Treasury (Treasury), represented by Howard A. Vex Esq., appeals the determination of Treasury’s Director of Administration and the Director of the Equal Employment Office & Affirmative Action Officer, stating that the appellant failed to present sufficient evidence to support a finding that she had been subjected to violations of the New Jersey State Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this matter be held.
VOTE: Deirdrè L. Webster Cobb (Recuse)
Dolores Gorczyca (Yes)
Daniel W. O’Mullan (Yes)
Diomedes Tsitouras (Yes)
B-20 HEATH BERNSTEIN – CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-18
Heath Bernstein, a former Manager 3, Human Services, with the Department of Children and Families, appeals his award under the Management Salary Program.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted in part.
B-21 CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION MEETING DATES FOR 2021
The proposed 2021 Civil Service Commission meeting dates are submitted for approval.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission adopted the Civil Service Commission meeting dates for 2021.
PUBLIC PORTION
No comments.
There being no further business before the Civil Service Commission, the meeting was adjourned to convene on Wednesday, December 16, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., at 3 Station Plaza, Trenton, New Jersey.