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MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF

THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

 

OCTOBER 11, 2023

 

Allison Chris Myers, Chairperson

Daniel O’Mullan

Diomedes Tsitouras

Christina Mongon

  

OCTOBER 11, 2023

 

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    A regular meeting of the Civil Service Commission was held on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., in Trenton, New Jersey.

 

     PRESENT: Allison Chris Myers, Chairperson; Members Daniel O’Mullan, Diomedes Tsitouras and Christina Mongon; Levi Klinger-Christiansen, 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 September 20, 2023.

 

ACTION:      The Civil Service Commission adopted the minutes of its meeting of September 20, 2023.

 

WITHDRAWAL OF APPEALS

 

The following appeals were withdrawn and removed from the hearing calendar:

 

Matthew D’Alton, Police Officer, Deptford, Police Department, removal.

 

Jacqueline Hardney-Ricks, Principal Payroll Clerk, East Orange, suspension.

 

Jonathan Smallwood, Tree Maintenance Worker 2, Ewing, Department of Administration, Finance and Public Works, removal.

 

Edwina Vixamar, Investigator, Judiciary, Union Vicinage, return to previously held permanent title at the end of the working test period.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission noted the withdrawal of appeal 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:

 

Alicia Barrett, Nurse’s Aide, Passaic County, Preakness Healthcare Center, removal.

 

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

 

SECTION A – HEARING MATTERS

 

A-1    SETTLEMENTS

 

Chimene McNeil

Newark School District

Removal and resignation not in good standing

 

Victor Obiefuna

Ancora Psychiatric Hospital

Department of Health

Removal

 

Acherlious Page

Mercer County Corrections Center

Removal

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission acknowledged the settlements.

 

A-2    HOMERO ALMANZAR – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-3090

 

Homero Almanzar, County Police Sergeant, Union County, Department of Public Safety, nine working day suspension, 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 nine working day suspension to a six working day suspension.

 

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

 

A-3    GERARD CIANDELLA, ET AL. – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2020-2575, ET AL.

 

Gerard Ciandella, Deputy Registrar of Vital Statistics, Hoboken, Department of Human Services, layoff for reasons of economy or efficiency, effective May 7, 2020.  

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Grant the motion for partial summary decision and reverse the layoff.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission remanded the matter to the Office of Administrative Law.       

  

A-4    SHANAYA HENDERSON – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-2828

 

Shanaya Henderson, Senior Correctional Police Officer, Edna Mahan Correctional Facility, Department of Corrections, removal, effective April 20, 2022, 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.

 

A-5    CARMINE SANTA – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-26

 

Carmine Santa, Mechanic, Parsippany-Troy Hills, Department of Public Works, removal, effective June 7, 2021, on charges of inability to perform duties.      

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Modify the removal to a six-month suspension.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission remanded the matter to the Office of Administrative Law.

 

A-6    CHRISTOPHER SAUNDERS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-2083

 

Christopher Saunders, Repairer, Vineland Developmental Center, Department of Human Services, removal and resignation not in good standing, effective September 23, 2021, on charges of job abandonment. 

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Grant the appointing authority’s motion for summary decision and uphold the removal and resignation not in good standing. 

 

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

 

A-7    TIMOTHY VREELAND – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-811

 

Timothy Vreeland, Sewer Repairer 1, West Milford, Department of Public Works, removal, effective September 22, 2022, on charges of on charges of incompetency, inefficiency, or failure to perform duties, insubordination, conduct unbecoming a public employee, neglect of duty, misuse of public property and other sufficient cause.

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Dismiss the appeal.

 

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

 

A-8    DUNCAN WILLIAMS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-1056

 

Duncan Williams, Emergency Medical Technician, Lawrence Township, Department of Public Safety, removal effective September 23, 2019, on charges of incompetency, inefficiency or failure to perform duties and neglect of duty. 

 

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    RALPH ANGOLEMMO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2329

 

Ralph Angolemmo appeals the determination of the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office to remove his name from the eligible list for Sheriff’s Officer (S9999A), on the basis that he failed to respond to the certification notice.

 

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

 

B-2    LYNETTE SHAW – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-71

 

Lynette Shaw appeals the decision to remove her name from the Judiciary Clerk 2 (S1462D), Vicinage 15, Gloucester/Cumberland/Salem eligible list on the basis of falsification.

 

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

 

B-3    LOUISE GROSS – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2024-150 AND 2024-151

 

Louise Gross requests to file late applications for the promotional examinations for Cottage Training Supervisor (PS8244K), and Senior Cottage Training Technician (PS7333K), Woodbine Developmental Center.

 

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

 

B-4    SUH GRUPPUSO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2872

 

Suh Gruppuso appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services that she did not meet the experience requirements for the open competitive examination for Judiciary Clerk 3 (S0044E), Statewide.

 

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

 

B-5    MAZZETTA MATTHEWS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1389

 

Mazzetta Matthews appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services that she did not meet the experience requirements for the open competitive examination for Human Services Specialist 1 (C1491D), Hudson County.

 

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

 

B-6    RASHIM CARTER – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1860

 

Rashim Carter appeals his score on the promotional examination for Deputy Fire Chief (PM5159C), East Orange.

 

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

 

B-7    TERRENCE THORNTON – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1859

 

Terence Thornton appeals his score on the promotional examination for Deputy Fire Chief (PM5159C), East Orange.

 

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

 

B-8    A.C. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-18

 

A.C., an Environmental Specialist 1 with the Department of Environmental Protection, appeals the determination of the Director of Administration, Department of the Treasury, which was unable to substantiate that she was subjected to sexual harassment in violation the New Jersey State Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission remanded the matter to the Department of the Treasury for further investigation.

  

B-9    P.P. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2364

 

P.P., a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 1, Deaf Language Specialist with the Department of Human Services, appeals the determination by an Assistant Commissioner which was unable to substantiate that he was subject to discrimination in violation of the New Jersey State Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace.

 

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

 

B-10   J.R. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2570

 

J.R., a Technical Support Specialist 2 with the Office of Information Technology, represented by Patricia A. Villanueva, Esq., appeals the determination of the Chief of Staff, which found that the appellant was not subjected to disability discrimination under the New Jersey State Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace.

 

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

 

B-11   P.B-H. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-70

 

P.B-H. requests reconsideration of the Civil Service Commission’s June 7, 2023, decision which denied her challenge to her score on the Human Services Specialist 4 (PC5164D), Hudson County promotional examination.

 

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

 

B-12   EMIL IMBRIANO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-158

 

Emil Imbriano, represented by Michael L. Prigoff, Esq., requests reconsideration of the final decision of the Civil Service Commission, rendered on June 7. 2023, which upheld the removal of his name from the Fire Fighter (M1855W), New Brunswick, eligible list on the basis that he falsified his application.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission granted reconsideration but reaffirmed its prior decision upholding the appellant’s removal from the list.

 

B-13   YVONNE ZIRRITH – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-189

 

Yvonne Zirrith, represented by Daniel J. Zirrith, Esq. requests reconsideration of In the Matter of Yvonne Zirrith (CSC, decided June 7, 2023) where the Civil Service Commission denied her appeal of the bypass of her name on the Sheriff’s Officer Lieutenant (PC1557A), Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office eligible list and ordered that certification PL221601 be amended to indicate that her name had been removed from the subject eligible list.

 

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

 

B-14   FIRE OFFICER 4 (PM3382E), JERSEY CITY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-594

 

Jersey City, represented by Arthur R. Thibault, Jr., Esq., appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services which denied Jersey City’s request to reduce the one-year service requirement in the title of Fire Officer 3 to the completion of the working test period for the promotional examination for Fire Officer 4 (PM3382E), Jersey City.

 

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

 

B-15   ALEXANDRE GABLER – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1848

 

Alexandre Gabler appeals his non-appointment to a provisional position as a Librarian 4 with the Union Township Library.

 

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

 

B-16   MARCO ROVELO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1864

 

North Bergen, represented by Drew D. Krause, Esq., requests that the Civil Service Commission, acknowledge a settlement agreement which provides for the retroactive appointment of Marco Rovelo to Police Captain.

 

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

 

B-17   CALVIN WILLIAMS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2145

 

Calvin Williams requests relief with respect to his appointment from the eligible list for Fire Fighter (M1556T), Newark.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission dismissed this request for lack of jurisdiction.

  

PUBLIC PORTION

 

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