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MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF

THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

 

DECEMBER 18, 2024

 

Allison Chris Myers, Chairperson

Dolores Gorczyca

Daniel W. O’Mullan

Diomedes Tsitouras

Christina Mongon

 

DECEMBER 18, 2024

 

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    A regular meeting of the Civil Service Commission was held on Wednesday, December 18, 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; Zachary Aboff, 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 November 27, 2024.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission adopted the minutes of its meeting of November 27, 2024

 

WITHDRAWAL OF APPEALS

 

The following appeals were withdrawn and removed from the hearing calendar:

 

Anthony Brown, Cumberland County, Department of Corrections, removal.

 

Jaylene Luciano, Camden City, Municipal Court, release at the end of the working test period.

 

Chad Smith, Department of Transportation, suspension. 

 

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:

 

Willie Lopez, Hunterdon Developmental Center, Department of Human Services, removal.

 

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

 

 

SECTION A – HEARING MATTERS

 

A-1    SETTLEMENTS

 

Mark Eggert

Lawrence

Department of Public Safety

 

Akinbami Gbadimosi

Department of Environmental Protection

 

Anita Nutakor

Hunterdon Developmental Center

Department of Human Services

 

Jason Spates

Orange Township

Police Department

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission acknowledged the settlements.

 

A-2    R.C. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-357

 

R.C., Program Support Specialist 2, Assistance Programs, Department of Community Affairs, appeals the determination which found that she failed to present sufficient evidence that she had been subjected to a violation of the New Jersey State Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace.

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Deny the appeal. 

 

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

 

A-3    SAMUEL DOHERTY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-630

         

Samuel Doherty, County Correctional Police Officer, Ocean County, Department of Corrections, 90 calendar day suspension, on charges of insubordination, neglect of duty and other sufficient cause.

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Uphold the 90 calendar day suspension. 

 

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

 

A-4    JIMMY MERCADO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-1124

 

Jimmy Mercado, Police Officer, Pennsauken, Police Department, removal, effective June 13, 2023, on charges of incompetency, inefficiency or failure to perform duties, conduct unbecoming a public employee, neglect of duty and violation of various departmental rules.  

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Uphold the removal.

 

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

 

A-5    ANDREA PANERA – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-76

 

Andrea Panera, Senior Correctional Police Officer, South Woods State Prison, Department of Corrections, removal, effective June 29, 2021, 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-6    EQUINA TAYLOR – CSC DOCKET NO. 2019-1945

 

Equina Taylor, Cottage Training Technician, Vineland Developmental Center, Department of Human Services, removal, effective August 13, 2013, on charges of violating departmental policies regarding falsification, divulging confidential information and actual or attempted theft of State property.

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Uphold the removal.

 

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

VOTE:         Allison Chris Myers                (Yes)

                   Dolores Gorczyca                   (Yes)

                   Daniel W. O’Mullan                (Yes)

                   Diomedes Tsitouras               (Yes)

                   Christina Mongon                  (Recused)

 

SECTION B – MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

 

B-1    J.H. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-162

 

            J.H., represented by Nicholas J. Palma, Esq., appeals her rejection as a County Correctional Police Officer candidate by the Morris County Sheriff’s Office and its request to remove her name from the eligible list for County Correctional Police Officer (C0205D).

 

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

 

B-2    K.K. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-684

 

            K.K., represented by Gregg L. Zeff, Esq., appeals his rejection as a Fire Fighter candidate by Winslow Township Fire District 1 and its request to remove his name from the eligible list for Fire Fighter (M2277D).

 

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

 

B-3    NADINE DOWNING – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2024-2386

 

            Nadine Downing appeals the removal of her name from the Substance Abuse Counselor (S0777C), Department of Health eligible list.

 

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

 

B-4    CALVIN ANDERSON – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2024-181 AND 2024-1294

 

            Calvin Anderson appeals the appointment of Maurice Boyd to the unclassified title of Director of Public Safety with East Orange.  Additionally, the appellant, represented by Patrick P. Toscano, Jr., appeals the bypass of his name on the Deputy Police Chief (PM2303E), East Orange, eligible list.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Services Commission dismissed the administrative appeal and referred the bypass appeal to the Office of Administrative Law for a hearing.

 

B-5    TYEFA STALLINGS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-1076

 

            Tyefa Stallings appeals the bypass of her name on the County Correctional Deputy Police Warden (PC4858D), Camden County, eligible list.

 

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

 

B-6    SASHA KIMIATEK – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-2218

 

            Sasha Kimiatek appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services which found that she was not eligible for the open competitive examination for Graphic Artist 1 (M1019E), Jersey City.

 

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

 

B-7    MADELEN LEMOINE – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-2163

 

            Madelen Lemoine appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services which found that she did was not eligible for the promotional examination for Social Work Supervisor (PC4213E), Passaic County.

 

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

 

B-8    ANDREA PORTOVEDO HOLLEN – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2024-1974 AND 2024-1975

 

            Andrea Portovedo Hollen requests a make-up examination for the promotional examination for Administrative Analyst 4 (PS1264K) and Program Specialist 4 (PS1280K), Department of Human Services.

 

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

 

B-9    STEVEN CARUSO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-2679

 

            Steven Caruso appeals the promotional examination for Sheriff’s Officer Lieutenant (PC4266E), Mercer County.

 

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

 

B-10   AARON COOPER – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-1060

 

            Aaron Cooper appeals his score on the oral portion of the promotional examination for Fire Captain (PM5018D), Camden.

 

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

 

B-11   THOMAS FLORES – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-1101

 

            Thomas Flores appeals his score on the oral portion of the promotional examination for Fire Captain (PM5018D), Camden.

 

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

  

B-12   EDWIN GONZALEZ – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-2672

 

            Edwin Gonzalez appeals the promotional examination for Sheriff’s Officer Captain (PC4270E), Hudson County.

 

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

 

B-13   J.H. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-770

 

            J.H., an Employment and Training Specialist 1 with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, appeals the determination of a Chief of Staff, 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.

 

B-14   ALBERT SALINA – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-1422

 

Albert Salina requests reconsideration of In the Matter of Albert Salina, Battalion Fire Chief (PM3390C), Paterson (CSC, decided December 20, 2023), which denied the appeal of his score on the promotional examination for Battalion Fire Chief (PM3390C), Paterson.

 

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

 

B-15   CHAZ DUNTON – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-652

 

            Chaz Dunton, a former Clerk Typist, Department of the Treasury, appeals his removal and resignation not in good standing, effective December 26, 2023.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied for lack of jurisdiction.

 

B-16   EMPLOYEE BENEFITS SPECIALIST (M0939F), PARSIPPANY-TROY HILLS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-647

 

            Parsippany-Troy Hills requests permission not to make an appointment from the August 19, 2024 certification for Employee Benefits Specialist (M0939F), Parsippany-Troy Hills.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted and assessed selection costs in the amount of $2,048.

 

B-17   CANNABIS LABORATORY EVALUATOR, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-956

 

            The Division of Agency Services, on behalf of the Department of the Treasury, requests the creation of a new title series, Cannabis Laboratory Evaluator, in the competitive division of the career service and the reallocation of the title series to the noncompetitive division of the career service on an interim basis.

 

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

 

B-18   CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVE TRAINEE, PUBLIC UTILITIES – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1076

 

            The Division of Agency Services requests the reactivation of the Customer Representative Trainee, Public Utilities title in the non-competitive 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.

 

B-19   MOSQUITO IDENTIFICATION SPECIALIST TRAINEE – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1135

 

            The Division of Agency Services, on behalf of the Mosquito Extermination Commission, Ocean County, requests the creation of the noncompetitive title of Mosquito Identification Specialist Trainee 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

 

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