[Printable PDF Format]

MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF

THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

 

MARCH 15, 2023

  

Allison Chris Myers, Acting Chairperson

Dolores Gorczyca

Daniel W. O’Mullan

Diomedes Tsitouras

 

*******************************************************************

 

    A regular meeting of the Civil Service Commission was held on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., in Trenton, New Jersey.

 

    PRESENT: Allison Chris Myers, Acting Chairperson; Members Dolores Gorczyca, Daniel O’Mullan and Diomedes Tsitouras; Brian Ragunan, Deputy Attorney General; Nicholas F. Angiulo, Director, Division of Appeals and Regulatory Affairs; Annemarie Ragos, Commission Secretary.  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 23, 2022, 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 February 22, 2023.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission adopted the minutes of its meeting of February 22, 2023.

 

WITHDRAWAL OF APPEALS

 

The following appeals were withdrawn and removed from the hearing calendar:

 

Danielle Lloyd, Human Services Specialist 2, Ocean County, Board of Social Services, removal.

 

Candra Tillman, Security Guard, Hudson County, Sheriff’s Department, suspension.

 

Timothy Wallace, Police Officer, Lawrence, Police Department, removal.

 

Robin Young, Construction Official/Director of Inspections, Millville, Department of Public Affairs, removal.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission noted the withdrawal of appeals without prejudice.

 

 

DISMISSAL FOR FAILURE TO APPEAR

 

The Civil Service Commission dismissed the following cases without prejudice for failure to appear at the scheduled hearing before the Office of Administrative Law:

 

Lorenza McNair, Custodial Worker, Newark School District, release at the end of the working test period. 

 

Brenda Vanegas, Burlington County Board of Social Services, release at the end of the working test period. 

 

ACTION:    The Civil Service Commission noted the dismissal of appeals without prejudice.

   

SECTION A – HEARING MATTERS

 

A-1    SETTLEMENTS

 

Keith Aiello

Independence

Police Department

Removal

 

John Bentz

Department of Transportation

Suspension

VOTE:         Allison Chris Myers                (Yes)

                   Dolores Gorczyca                   (Recuse)

                   Daniel W. O’Mullan                (Yes)

                   Diomedes Tsitouras               (Yes)

 

Sherelle Deans-Bryant

Woodbine Developmental Center

Department of Human Services

Removal

 

Gissel Feliz

New Jersey State Prison

Department of Corrections

Suspension

 

Danica Ford

Department of Human Services

Removal

 

Jamie Van Syckle

Department of Children and Families

Suspension

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission acknowledged the settlements.

 

A-2    TYRELL BAGBY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-207

 

Tyrell Bagby, County Police Sergeant, Camden County, Police Department, removal, effective July 19, 2021, on charges of incompetency, inefficiency or failure to perform duties, inability to perform duties, conduct unbecoming a public employee, neglect of duty and other sufficient cause.

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Modify the removal to a 30 working day suspension and demotion to County Police Officer.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission upheld the removal.

 

A-3    MARK GRIFFITH – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2021-1717, ET AL. (CONSOLIDATED) 

 

Mark Griffith, County Correctional Police Officer, Mercer County Correction Center, 10, 15 and 20 working day suspensions, on charges of chronic or excessive absenteeism or lateness, conduct unbecoming a public employee and other sufficient cause.    

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Uphold the 10 working day suspension, reverse the 15 working day suspension, and modify the 20 working day suspension to a 15 working day suspension.  

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission affirmed the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge.

 

A-4    MARYBETH HARRELL – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-235

 

Marybeth Harrell, Clerk 2, Camden County Board of Social Services, removal, effective July 22, 2021, on charges of conduct unbecoming a public employee, discrimination 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.

 

A-5    EDWARD MCMAHON – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-2054

 

Edward McMahon, Public Safety Telecommunicator, Gloucester County, Department of Emergency Response, removal, effective January 31, 2022, on charges of incompetency, inefficiency or failure to perform duties, insubordination, conduct unbecoming a public employee, neglect of duty 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.

 

A-6    MIOSHA SOREY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2019-1886

 

Miosha Sorey, Security Guard, Newark School District, removal, effective January 7, 2019, on charges of chronic or excessive absenteeism or lateness, neglect of duty 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.

 

A-7    SHANNON THOMAS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-30

 

Shannon Thomas, Family Service Worker, Essex County, Department of Citizen Services, removal, effective May 21, 2021, on charges of chronic or excessive absenteeism or lateness, 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.

 

SECTION B – MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

 

B-1    N.W.M. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-1338

         

N.W.M., represented by Mark Gulbranson, Jr., Esq., appeals his rejection as a Police Officer candidate by the Trenton and its request to remove his name from the eligible list for Police Officer (S9999A) on the basis of psychological unfitness to perform effectively the duties of the position.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.

 

B-2    WILLIAM NIELSEN – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1205

         

William Nielsen appeals the decision to remove his name from the County Correctional Police Lieutenant (PC1331A), Cape May County Sheriff’s Office eligible list on the basis of an unsatisfactory employment record. 

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.

 

B-3    RODNEY WILLIAMS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-795

         

Rodney Williams appeals the removal of his name from the eligible list for Battalion Fire Chief (PM2163W), Plainfield, on the basis that he failed to respond to the certification notice. 

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted in part.

 

B-4    CARYN BRIDGEWATER – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1317

         

Caryn Bridgewater appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services, which found that she did not meet the experience requirement for the promotional examination for Office Supervisor (PS8055I), State Parole Board. 

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied, and the matter of the appellant’s position classification be referred to Agency Services for review.

 

B-5    HANA HAMEED – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1284

         

Hana Hameed appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services that she did not meet the experience requirements for the promotional examination for Human Services Specialist 4 (PC5164D), Hudson County. 

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.

  

B-6    MICHAEL SIMMONS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1361

         

Michael Simmons appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services which found that he did not meet the experience requirement for the open competitive examination for Program Specialist 3 Social/Human Services (S1086D), Statewide.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied, and the matter of the appellant’s position classification be referred to Agency Services for review.

 

B-7    APRIL TORRES – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-3182

 

April Torres appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services which found that she did not meet the experience requirements, per the substitution clause for education, for the promotional examination for Program Specialist 1, Social/Human Services (PS6930H), Department of Health. 

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.

 

B-8    PHEMA WOODSON – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1226

 

Phema Woodson appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services which found that, per the substitution clause for education, she did not meet the experience requirement for the open competitive examination for Paralegal Technician (C0887D), Mercer County.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that the appeal be held over.

 

B-9    JONATHAN AROCHO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-187

         

Jonathan Arocho requests a make-up for the open competitive examination for Sheriff’s Officer (C0218D), Essex County.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be denied.

 

B-10   ALEXANDER MEJIA – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-185

         

Alexander Mejia requests a make-up for the open competitive examination for Sheriff’s Officer (C0213D), Bergen County.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be denied.        

 

B-11   KAMELAH WILLIAMS-BETANCOURT – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-186

         

Kamelah Williams-Betancourt requests a make-up for the open competitive examination for Sheriff’s Officer (C0218D), Essex County.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be denied.

 

B-12   WILLIAM CHILDS, JR. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-483

         

William Childs, Jr., appeals his score for the oral portion of the promotional examination for second-level Fire Captain (PM2331C), Irvington. 

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.

 

B-13   KENYATTA COLLINS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1553

         

Kenyatta Collins appeals her score for the physical performance portion of the examination for Fire Fighter (M1813W), Clifton.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.

 

B-14   THOMAS PERRY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-441

         

Thomas Perry appeals his score for the oral portion of the promotional examination for second-level Fire Captain (PM2331C), Irvington. 

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted in part.

 

B-15   LAUREN SAMUELS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1539

         

Lauren Samuels appeals her score for the physical performance portion of the examination for Fire Fighter (M1880W), West Orange.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.

 

B-16   J.S. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1336

         

J.S., a Senior Correctional Police Officer with the Garden State Youth Correctional Facility, Department of Corrections, appeals the determination of an Acting Managing Attorney, Equal Employment Division and Ethics Unit, that her allegations do not touch the New Jersey State Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.

VOTE:         Allison Chris Myers                (Abstain)

                   Dolores Gorczyca                   (Yes)

                   Daniel W. O’Mullan                (Yes)

                   Diomedes Tsitouras               (Yes)

 

B-17   D.E.M. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1344

         

D.E.M. requests reconsideration of the final decision of the Civil Service Commission, rendered on November 2, 2022, which upheld the removal of his name from the eligible list for Fire Fighter (M1809W), City of Camden, on the basis of psychological unfitness to perform effectively the duties of the position. 

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be denied.      

 

B-18   MIGUEL FIGUEROA – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1564

         

Miguel Figueroa, a Sheriff’s Officer with the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office, represented by Peter B. Paris, Esq., petitions the Civil Service Commission for interim relief regarding his immediate suspension. 

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this petition be denied.

 

B-19   UNCLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES, OFFICE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2023-1732 AND 2023-1733

         

The New Jersey Governor’s Office of Employee Relations and the Communications Workers of America request that various titles be placed in the noncompetitive division of the career service on an interim basis in order to permanently appoint 25 individuals within the Office of Information Technology and the Board of Public Utilities. 

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that these requests be granted.

 

B-20   GOVERNOR’S FELLOW – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1885

         

The Division of Agency Services requests the establishment of the unclassified title of Governor’s Fellow for use in State government.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.

 

B-21   PUBLIC POLICY SPECIALIST – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1886

         

The Division of Agency Services intends to reactivate and rename the title of Government Affairs Specialist, Office of Business Advocacy to Public Policy Specialist and requests that the title be reallocated to the noncompetitive division of the career service in accordance with N.J.A.C. 4A:3-1.2.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.

  

PUBLIC PORTION

 

No comments.