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MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF

THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

 

JULY 24, 2024

 

Allison Chris Myers, Chairperson

Dolores Gorczyca

Diomedes Tsitouras

Christina Mongon

  

JULY 24, 2024

 

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    A regular meeting of the Civil Service Commission was held on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., in Trenton, New Jersey.

 

    PRESENT: Allison Chris Myers, Chairperson; Members Dolores Gorczyca; 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 22, 2023, 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 July 3, 2024.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission adopted the minutes of its meeting of July 3, 2024.

 

WITHDRAWAL OF APPEALS

 

The following appeals were withdrawn and removed from the hearing calendar:

 

Jimmy Brooks, Human Service Specialist 1, Union County, Department of Human Services, return to previously held permanent title at the end of the working test period.

 

Stacey DuBose, Human Services Assistant, New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home – Paramus, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, release at the end of the working test period.

 

Tanasia Joseph, Human Service Specialist 1, Union County, Department of Human Services, release at the end of the working test period.

 

Victor Klymenko, Economic Development Representative 4, Roselle, Department of Administration and Executive, layoff.

 

Jennie Lilienthal, Clerk 1, Bergen County Board of Social Services, release at the end of the working test period.

 

William Maginnis, Senior Investigator, Parole and Secured Facilities, Mid-State Correctional Facility, Department of Corrections, suspension.

 

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

 

SECTION A – HEARING MATTERS

 

A-1    SETTLEMENTS

 

            Otis Hall

            Trenton Psychiatric Hospital

            Department of Health

          

            Virginia Rocha

            Ocean County

            Board or Social Services

 

            Juan Rodriguez

            Fair Lawn

            Police Department

 

            Crystal Rosario

            West New York

            Police Department

           

            Domenica Smith (consolidated)

            Atlantic County

            Department of Human Services

 

            ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission acknowledged the settlements.

 

A-2    JAMES KELLY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1491

 

James Kelly, Custodial Worker, Newark School District, removal, effective November 30, 2022, on charges of conduct unbecoming a public employee, inability to perform duties, incompetency, inefficiency or failure to perform duties 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-3    FRANKLIN SOSA – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-165

         

Franklin Sosa, County Correctional Police Officer, Hudson County, Department of Corrections, 75 working day suspension, on charges of insubordination, conduct unbecoming a public employee, neglect of duty and other sufficient cause.

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Grant the appellant’s motion for summary decision and reverse the 75 working day suspension.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission held this matter.

  

A-4    JUSTIN VARGA – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-584

 

Justin Varga, Police Officer, Clifton, Department of Public Safety, 60 working day suspension, on charges of incompetency, inefficiency or failure to perform duties, chronic or excessive absenteeism or lateness and neglect of duty.

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Uphold the 60 working day suspension. 

 

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

 

A-5    JUSTIN VARGA – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-585

 

Justin Varga, Police Officer, Clifton, Department of Public Safety, removal, effective August 23, 2023, on charges of incompetency, inefficiency or failure to perform duties, 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.

 

SECTION B – MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

 

B-1    TIMOTHY FRIEL – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-1899

 

            Timothy Friel, represented by Louis M. Barbone, Esq., appeals the decision to remove his name from the Fire Fighter (M2201D), Atlantic City, eligible list on the basis of an unsatisfactory driving record.

 

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

 

B-2    DYLAN ROWELL – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-1994

 

          Dylan Rowell, represented by Arthur J. Murray, Esq. appeals the decision to remove his name from the Fire Fighter (M2201D), Atlantic City, eligible list on the basis of an unsatisfactory driving record.

 

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

  

B-3    JEAN DIGUGLIELMO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-1113

 

          Jean DiGuglielmo appeals the bypass of her name on the Personnel Assistant 1 (PS2577H), Ancora Psychiatric Hospital eligible list.

 

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

 

B-4    GEORGE HAMILTON – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-1420

 

          George Hamilton appeals the bypass of his name on the Maintenance Supervisor (PC3106E), Bergen County Utilities Authority eligible list.

 

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

 

B-5    JUSTIN CARTER – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-1682

 

            Justin Carter appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services that he was ineligible for the promotional examination for Human Services Technician (PS3504H), Trenton Psychiatric Hospital based on an incomplete application.

 

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

 

B-6    SEAN HENDRICKS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-630

 

     Sean Hendricks, represented by Paul T. Gregory, Esq., requests a make-up examination for Coordinator, Employment and Training Programs (PS1105N), Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

 

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

 

B-7    MICHAEL BLAKELY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2285

 

            Michael Blakely appeals his score on the oral portion of the promotional examination for Fire Officer 1 (PM2389C), Jersey City.

 

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

  

B-8    WILSON CARRERA, SR. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2354

 

            Wilson Carrera, Sr. appeals his score on the oral portion of the promotional examination for Fire Officer 1 (PM2389C), Jersey City.

 

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

 

B-9    PHILLIP CORSILLO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2268

 

            Phillip Corsillo appeals his score on the oral portion of the promotional examination for Fire Officer 1 (PM2389C), Jersey City.

 

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

 

B-10   MATTHEW COSTELLO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2280

 

            Matthew Costello appeals his score on the oral portion of the promotional examination for Fire Officer 1 (PM2389C), Jersey City.

 

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

 

B-11   NICHOLAS DIGUILIO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2222

 

            Nicholas DiGuilio appeals his score on the oral portion of the promotional examination for Fire Officer 1 (PM2389C), Jersey City.

 

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

 

B-12   MATTHEW FADEN – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2475

 

            Matthew Faden appeals his score on the oral portion of the promotional examination for Fire Officer 1 (PM2389C), Jersey City.

 

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

 

B-13   JONATHAN JEDZINIAK – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2347

 

             Jonathan Jedziniak appeals his score on the oral portion of the promotional examination for Fire Officer 1 (PM2389C), Jersey City.

 

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

  

B-14   JOSEPH KELLY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2476

 

             Joseph Kelly appeals his score on the oral portion of the promotional examination for Fire Officer 1 (PM2389C), Jersey City.

 

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

 

B-15   VICTOR NEGRON, III – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2256

 

            Victor Negron, III appeals his score on the oral portion of the promotional examination for Fire Officer 1 (PM2389C), Jersey City.

 

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

 

B-16   BRETT PETILLO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2687

 

            Brett Petillo appeals his score on the oral portion of the promotional examination for Fire Officer 1 (PM2389C), Jersey City.

 

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

 

B-17   SAMUEL PORCH – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2351

 

            Samuel Porch, represented by Joseph A. Burke, Esq., appeals his score on the oral portion of the promotional examination for Fire Officer 1 (PM2389C), Jersey City.

 

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

 

B-18   JAVIER RIVERA – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2345

 

             Javier Rivera appeals his score on the oral portion of the promotional examination for Fire Officer 1 (PM2389C), Jersey City.

 

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

 

B-19   ARMANDO ROMAN, JR. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2324

 

            Armando Roman, Jr. appeals his score on the oral portion of the promotional examination for Fire Officer 1 (PM2389C), Jersey City.

 

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

 

B-20   MICHAEL SOMMA – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2419

 

            Michael Somma appeals his score on the oral portion of the promotional examination for Fire Officer 1 (PM2389C), Jersey City.

 

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

 

B-21   KEITH SUTHAMMANONT – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2448

 

            Keith Suthammanont appeals his score on the oral portion of the promotional examination for Fire Officer 1 (PM2389C), Jersey City.

 

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

 

B-22   DAIREN TORRES, III – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2371

 

            Dairen Torres, III appeals his score on the oral portion of the promotional examination for Fire Officer 1 (PM2389C), Jersey City.

 

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

 

B-23   J.G. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-964

 

            J.G., a former Cottage Training Technician with the Vineland Developmental Center, Department of Human Services (DHS), appeals the determination of the Assistant Commissioner, Office of Legal and Regulatory Affairs DHS, stating that the appellant failed to present sufficient evidence to support findings that she had been subjected to a violation of the New Jersey State Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace.

 

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

  

B-24   NEW JERSEY INVESTIGATORS ASSOCIATION – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-485

 

The New Jersey Investigators Association, FOP Lodge No. 174, represented by David Beckett, Esq., appeals the determination of the Director of the Equal Employment Division, Department of Corrections, stating that it failed to present sufficient evidence to support a finding that its members had been subjected to a violation of the New Jersey State Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace.

 

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

 

B-25   A.P. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-1423

 

            A.P., a Parole Lieutenant with the State Parole Board, appeals the determination of the Chairman, which found that the appellant failed to present sufficient evidence to support a finding that she had been subjected to a violation of the New Jersey State Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace.

 

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

 

B-26   L.R. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-530

 

          L.R., a Manager 3, Human Resources with the Department of Human Services, appeals the determination of a Deputy Commissioner, which was unable to substantiate that she was subjected to a violation of 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                (Yes)

                   Dolores Gorczyca                   (Yes)

                   Diomedes Tsitouras               (Yes)

                   Christina Mongon                  (Recuse)

 

B-27   NORHAN MANSOUR – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-484

 

            Jersey City, represented by Arthur R. Thibault, Esq., petitions the Civil Service Commission (Commission) for reconsideration and a stay of its decision in In the Matter of Norhan Mansour, Jersey City Police Department (CSC, decided August 2, 2023) in which the Commission reversed the removal of Norhan Mansour.  Additionally, Mansour, represented by Michael P. Rubas, Esq., petitions the Commission for enforcement.

 

          ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that the petition for reconsideration and stay be denied and the petition for enforcement be granted.

 

B-28   OMAR POLANCO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-814

 

            Jersey City, represented by Arthur R. Thibault, Esq., petitions the Civil Service Commission (Commission) for reconsideration and a stay of its decision in In the Matter of Omar Polanco, Jersey City Police Department (CSC, decided September 20, 2023) in which the Commission reversed the removal of Omar Polanco.  Additionally, Polanco, represented by Michael P. Rubas, Esq., petitions the Commission for enforcement. 

 

          ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that the petition for reconsideration and stay be denied and the petition for enforcement be granted.

 

B-29   VINCENT ANTENUCCI – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-2589

 

          Vincent Antenucci, a Sergeant, Field Operations with the Division of State Police, Department of Law and Public Safety, represented by Michael A. Bukosky, Esq., requests a waiver of repayment of a salary overpayment pursuant to N.J.S.A. 11A:3-7.

 

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

 

B-30   ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT (C1113D) AND (C0761E), BERGEN COUNTY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-2186

 

            Bergen County requests permission not to make an appointment from the November 2, 2023 certification for Accounting Assistant (C1113D) and (C0761E).

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission granted the appointment waiver and deferred selection costs.      

 

B-31   CLERK 3 (M0650E), BELLEVILLE – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-2220

 

            Belleville requests permission not to make an appointment from the October 10, 2023 certification for Clerk 3 (M0650E).

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission granted the appointment waiver and deferred selection costs.

 

B-32   ALEXANDRE GABLER – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-2155

 

            Alexandre Gabler requests the immediate discontinuation of the provisional appointment of U.T. to the title of Librarian 4 with Elizabeth Library.

 

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

 

B-33   RICHARD KURAPKA – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-1639

 

            Richard Kurapka requests relief regarding his salary and vacation leave entitlements.

 

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

 

B-34   JUAN MENDOZA – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2023-1053 AND 2024-838

 

            Juan Mendoza, a Sheriff’s Officer with Hudson County, represented by Michael L. Prigoff, Esq., challenges the appointments made from the May 27, 2022 (PL220793) certification of the Sheriff’s Officer Sergeant (PC2608V), Hudson County, eligible list.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that these appeals be denied.   

 

B-35   OVERTIME PROGRAM, DEPARTMENT OF LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY, DIVISION OF STATE POLICE – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-2651

 

            The Division of Agency Services, on behalf of the Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of State Police, Office of Forensic Sciences, requests that the provisions of N.J.A.C. 4A:3-5.3 be relaxed to provide individuals in the non-limited title of Forensic Scientist 3 cash compensation at one and one-half times the regular rate for hours worked in excess of 35 hours.

 

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

 

B-36   EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TITLES, MONMOUTH COUNTY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-27, ET AL.

 

The Division of Agency Services, on behalf of Monmouth County, requests that the Supervising Emergency Medical Technician, Senior Emergency Medical Technician, and Coordinator Emergency Medical Services titles be placed in the noncompetitive division of the career service on an interim basis.

 

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

 

B-37   OMBUDSPERSON HEALTH 1 AND OMBUDSPERSON HEALTH 2 – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-28

 

             The Division of Agency Services requests the establishment of new unclassified titles, Ombudsperson Health 1 and Ombudsperson Health 2, for use in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

 

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

 

B-38   PUBLIC INFORMATION SPECIALIST, DIGITAL CONTENT TITLE SERIES – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-26

 

The Division of Agency Services requests the creation of the local government title series of Public Information Specialist, Digital Content.

 

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

 

B-39   FISCAL YEAR 2024 SALARY REGULATIONS COMPENSATION COMPENDIUM EXTENSION

 

The Division of Agency Services requests that the Civil Service Commission record Supplement 1 of the Fiscal Year 2024 Salary Regulations Compensation Compendium, which calls for the extension of its provisions beyond FY 2024 until the FY 2025 Compensation Compendium is approved.  Supplement 1 has been approved by Allison Chris Myers, Chair/Chief Executive Officer, Civil Service Commission, and Tariq Shabazz, Acting Director, Office of Management and Budget.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission recorded Supplement 1.     

 

PUBLIC PORTION

 

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