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MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF

THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

 

NOVEMBER 6, 2024

 

Allison Chris Myers, Chairperson

Dolores Gorczyca

Daniel W. O’Mullan

Diomedes Tsitouras

Christina Mongon

 

NOVEMBER 6, 2024

 

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    A regular meeting of the Civil Service Commission was held on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., in Trenton, New Jersey.

 

    PRESENT: Allison Chris Myers, Chairperson; Members Dolores Gorczyca; Daniel O’Mullan, Diomedes Tsitouras and Christina Mongon; Levi Klinger Christiansen, Deputy Attorney General; Shannon Dalton, Regulatory Officer 4, 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 October 16, 2024.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission adopted the minutes of its meeting of October 16, 2024.

VOTE:         Allison Chris Myers                (Yes)

                   Dolores Gorczyca                   (Abstain)

                   Daniel W. O’Mullan                (Yes)

                   Diomedes Tsitouras               (Yes)

                   Christina Mongon                  (Yes)

 

WITHDRAWAL OF APPEALS

 

The following appeals were withdrawn and removed from the hearing calendar:

 

Rebecca Boney, Atlantic County, Department of Public Safety, suspension.

 

Andres Mejia, Lawrence Township, Department of Public Safety, suspension.

 

Yanirys Pichardo, City of New Brunswick, Department of Statutory and Agencies, removal.

 

Julianna Randazzo, Middlesex County, Board of Social Services, suspension.

 

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

 

SECTION A – HEARING MATTERS

 

A-1    SETTLEMENTS

 

John May

Passaic County

Board of Social Services

 

Carelle Calixte

New Jersey Memorial Home, Menlo Park

Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

 

Keith Herrick

Hamilton

Department of Public Works

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission acknowledged the settlements.

 

A-2    MICHAEL BELL – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-1091

 

Michael Bell, Fire Lieutenant, Plainfield, Fire Department, 45 working day suspension, 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 – Modify the 45 working day suspension to a one working day suspension.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission modified the 45 working day suspension to a seven working day suspension.

 

A-3    BRIAN CRIMMINS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2228

         

Brian Crimmins, Fire Chief, Hoboken, Department of Public Safety, demotion to Fire Fighter, effective January 31, 2023, on charges of incompetency, inefficiency or failure to perform duties, inability to perform duties, conduct unbecoming a public employee, neglect of duty, misuse of public property and other sufficient cause.

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Reverse the demotion and impose a written warning. 

 

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

 

A-4    JEAN LORMINE – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-44

 

Jean Lormine, Painter, New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home – Menlo Park, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, 30 working day suspension, on charges of conduct unbecoming a public employer, insubordination and other sufficient cause. 

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Uphold the 30 working day suspension.

 

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

VOTE:         Allison Chris Myers                (Yes)

                   Dolores Gorczyca                   (Recused)

                   Daniel W. O’Mullan                (Yes)

                   Diomedes Tsitouras               (Yes)

                   Christina Mongon                  (Yes)

 

A-5    MACK RAGSDALE – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-171

 

Mack Ragsdale, Electronic Systems Technician 1, Atlantic City, Department of Municipal Utilities Authority, removal, effective July 6, 2021, on charges of inability to perform duties, incompetency, inefficiency or failure to perform duties, insubordination and neglect of duty.

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Modify the removal to a 10 working day suspension.

 

ACTION:    The Civil Service Commission reversed the removal.

 

A-6    SEAN WEEKS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-1915

 

Sean Weeks, Police Officer, Irvington, Department of Public Safety, six-month suspension, on charges of insubordination, conduct unbecoming a public employee and other sufficient cause.

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Modify the six-month suspension to a 60 working day suspension.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission modified the six-month suspension to a 10 working day suspension. 

 

SECTION B – MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

 

B-1    GREGORY R. LEONARDI – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-1052

 

            Gregory R. Leonardi appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services which found that he did not meet the experience requirements for the promotional examination for Program Specialist 4, Social/Human Services (PS2621K), Department of Human Services.

 

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

 

B-2    J.J. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-2409

 

            J.J., a Coordinator of Plant Services and Preventative Maintenance, Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital, Department of Health, appeals the determination of the Chief of Staff, which found that the appellant failed to present sufficient evidence to support a finding that he 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-3    CLERK 2 (M0342B), ELIZABETH PUBLIC LIBRARY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-461

 

            In In the Matter of Clerk 2 (M0342B), Elizabeth Public Library (CSC, decided April 27, 2022), the Civil Service Commission (Commission) granted the request of Elizabeth Public Library for an appointment waiver for the August 17, 2021, certification and ordered that no selection costs would be assessed at that time since there was a possibility that the eligible list could be utilized prior to its expiration.  However, the appointing authority did not utilize the subject eligible list and the matter of the assessment of costs is now before the Commission.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission assessed selection costs in the amount of $2,048.

 

B-4    VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER (C0413C), PASSAIC COUNTY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-465

 

            In In the Matter of Veterans Service Officer (C0413C), Passaic County (CSC, decided December 1, 2021), the Civil Service Commission (Commission) granted the request of Passaic County for an appointment waiver for the August 31, 2021 certification and ordered that no selection costs would be assessed at that time since there was a possibility that the eligible list could be utilized prior to its expiration.  However, the appointing authority did not utilize the subject eligible list and the matter of the assessment of costs is now before the Commission.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service assessed selection costs in the amount of $2,048.

 

B-5    COUNTY PARK RANGER – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-775

 

            The Division of Agency Services requests the reallocation of the County Park Ranger local government title to the noncompetitive division of the career service.

 

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

 

 B-6    DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION TRAINEE – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-784

 

            The Division of Agency Services requests the establishment of the noncompetitive title of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Trainee in accordance with N.J.A.C. 4A:3-1.2.

 

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

 

B-7    PRESIDING JUDGE TITLES, JUDICIARY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-830

 

            The Division of Agency Services requests the establishment of the unclassified Judiciary titles of Presiding Judge of the Superior Court, Presiding Judge of the Tax Court, and Presiding Judge of the Appellate Court.

 

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

 

PUBLIC PORTION

 

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