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MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF

THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

 

FEBRUARY 26, 2025

 

 

Allison Chris Myers, Chairperson

Dolores Gorczyca

Daniel W. O’Mullan

Diomedes Tsitouras

Christina Mongon

 

FEBRUARY 26, 2025

 

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    A regular meeting of the Civil Service Commission was held on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, 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; 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 27, 2024, 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 5, 2025.

 

ACTION:      The Civil Service Commission adopted the minutes of its meeting of February 5, 2025.

 

WITHDRAWAL OF APPEALS

 

The following appeals were withdrawn and removed from the hearing calendar:

 

Jean Allen, Salem County, Sheriff’s Department, removal.

 

Marissa Charles, Willingboro, Department of General Government, release at the end of the working test period.

 

Richard Cummins, Jackson, Department of Public Works, removals (2).

 

Lanor Henry, East Jersey State Prison, Department of Corrections, suspension.

 

Deja McKeever-Reeves, Judiciary, Middlesex Vicinage, release at the end of the working test period.

 

Renato Olaya, Bergen County, Department of Parks, removal.

 

Lisa Payton-Harper, Newark School District, 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:

 

Maritza Aquero, Trenton, Department of Municipal Court, removal.

 

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

  

SECTION A – HEARING MATTERS

 

A-1    SETTLEMENTS

 

George Burwell

Winslow

Department of Public Safety

 

Kitaya Derrick (Consolidated)

Newark

Department of Public Safety

 

Milinda Dhanoolal (Consolidated)

Essex County

Department of Corrections

 

Steven Fischer

The College of New Jersey

 

Eric Harris (Consolidated)

Ocean County

Board of Social Services

 

M.M.

Ancora Psychiatric Hospital

Department of Health

 

James Tillis

Newark

Police Department

 

Brandon Tucker

East Orange

Department of Public Safety

 

Edward Williams (2 appeals)

Mercer County

Correctional Center

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission acknowledged the settlements.

 

 A-2    JOSEPH CAMPOLATTARO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-2023

 

Joseph Campolattaro, Sheriff’s Officer, Bergen County, Sheriff’s Office, removal, effective March 19, 2024, on charges of conduct unbecoming a public employee and other sufficient cause.     

 

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

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission affirmed the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge to modify the removal to a six-month suspension and ordered that the appellant undergo a psychological fitness-for-duty examination prior to his return to duty as well as continued mental health counseling.  Finally, the Commission reversed the award of counsel fees.

VOTE:         Allison Chris Myers                (No)

                   Dolores Gorczyca                   (Yes)

                   Daniel O’Mullan                     (No)

                   Diomedes Tsitouras               (Yes)

                   Christina Mongon                  (Yes)

 

A-3    CHRISTIAN COLON – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-2101

 

Christian Colon, County Correctional Police Officer, Passaic County, Sheriff’s Office, removal, effective April 10, 2024, on charges of inability to perform duties, 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-4    JOSE DOPAZO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-149

         

Jose Dopazo, Police Sergeant, Newark, Department of Public Safety, 15 working day suspension, on charges of conduct unbecoming a public employee.   

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Grant the appellant’s motion for summary decision and reverse the 15 working day suspension.   

 

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

 

A-5    MICHELLE EDNEY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-504

 

Michelle Edney, Human Services Specialist 4, Burlington County Board of Social Services, 30 working day suspension, on charges of incompetency, inefficiency or failure to perform duties.   

 

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.       

 

A-6    MICHAEL GRAMAGLIA – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1741

 

Michael Gramaglia, 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-7    LONZELL NEAL – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-226

 

Lonzell Neal, 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.

 

SECTION B – MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

 

B-1    W.G. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-1327

 

          W.G., represented by Donald C. Barbati, Esq., appeals his rejection as a Police Officer candidate by Trenton and its request to remove his name from the eligible list for Police Officer (M0153D).

 

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

 

B-2    SUZANNE GAFFNEY – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2024-2520, ET AL.

 

Suzanne Gaffney appeals the decisions to remove her name from the Principal Community Program Specialist (PS8740K) and Quality Assurance Specialist Health Services (PS5447K), Division of Developmental Disabilities, Department of Human Services eligible lists.

 

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

 

B-3    S.J. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-618

 

S.J. appeals the bypass of his name on the Fire Captain (PM5034D), Pleasantville, eligible list.

 

          ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be referred to the Office of Administrative Law for a hearing.

 

B-4    JAMILA BEMBRY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1062

 

Jamila Bembry appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services that she did not meet the requirements for the Supervising of Customer Service (M1335F), Newark open competitive examination.

 

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

 

B-5    KIMBERLY ARNOLD-MURPHY, ET AL. – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2024-2465, ET AL.

 

Kimberly Arnold-Murphy, Michael Costa, Dejanirah Dupree, Ruqayyah Finn, Ebony Mullin, Julia Pena, Stephanie Scott, Hugo Villota and Martin Viola (PC4255E), Essex County; and Derek Horvath and Konstantin Smirnov (PC4256E), Ocean County; appeal the promotional examination for County Correctional Police Lieutenant.

 

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

 

 B-6    DAVID FUNK, ET AL. – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2025-289, ET AL.

 

David Funk (PM2004F); Gregory Walczak and Mark Jenkins (PM2005F); Victor Velez (PM2000F); and James Clancy, Jr., and Jason Scott (PM1996F) appeal the written portion of the promotional examination for Second-Level Fire Supervisor.

 

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

 

B-7    ROBERT TRETOLA, ET AL. – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2025-205, ET AL.

 

Robert Tretola (PM2029F), Vincent Mascio (PM2025F), and Daniel Mizak (PM2019F) appeal the written portion of the promotional examination for First-Level Fire Supervisor.

 

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

 

B-8    A.C. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-1893

 

A.C., a Habilitation Plan Coordinator with the Hunterdon 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 held this matter for further review.

 

B-9    B.C. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-1722

 

B.C., Personnel Assistant 1 with the Motor Vehicle Commission, appeals the determination of the Director of the Division of EEO/AA, Civil Service Commission, stating that it substantiated some but not all of the appellant’s allegations 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.

VOTE:         Allison Chris Myers                (Recused)

                   Dolores Gorczyca                   (Yes)

                   Daniel O’Mullan                     (Yes)

                   Diomedes Tsitouras               (Yes)

                   Christina Mongon                  (Yes)

 

 B-10   BRIAN CRIMMINS – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2025-1269 AND 2025-1270

 

Hoboken, represented by Stephen J. Edelstein, Esq., requests reconsideration of In the Matter of Brian Crimmins (CSC, decided November 6, 2024), where the Civil Service Commission modified Crimmins’ demotion from Fire Chief to Fire Fighter to a written reprimand.  Brian Crimmins, represented by Brent R. Pohlman, Esq., requests reconsideration of the Commission’s decision to deny him counsel fees, and requests enforcement.

 

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

 

B-11   TISHA JONES – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1635

 

Tisha Jones, a Child Support Specialist 1 with the Division of Family Development, Department of Human Services, requests reconsideration of In the Matter of Tisha Jones (CSC, decided January 15, 2024) where the Civil Service Commission denied her request for an intergovernmental transfer to Hudson County to the local title of Coordinator of Child Support and Paternity Program.

 

          ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission held this matter for further review.

 

B-12   KYLE MCPARLAND – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-620

 

Kyle McParland, represented by Zinovia H. Stone, Esq., requests reconsideration of the final administrative action in In the Matter of Kyle McParland, Police Officer (M0132D), Rockaway (CSC, decided July 3, 2024).

 

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

 

B-13   TIGEE PAGAN AND ELDDY TORRES – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2025-1512 AND 2025-1513

 

Tigee Pagan and Elddy Torres, represented by Patrick P. Toscano, Jr., request reconsideration of In the Matter of Tigee Pagan and Elddy Torres (CSC, decided November 27, 2024) where the Civil Service Commission acknowledged their clarified settlements.

 

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

 

B-14   WILLIAM JOHNSON – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-1225

 

William Johnson, a Sewer Repairer Supervisor, Irvington, represented by Samuel Tsinman, Esq., requests to reinstate the appeal of his removal, effective November 10, 2021, which was dismissed on the basis of his failure to appear at the June 7, 2024, prehearing telephone conference at the Office of Administrative Law.

 

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

 

B-15   MICHAEL KOWALSKI – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-2100

 

Michael Kowalski, a Senior Correctional Police Officer, Bayside State Prison, Department of Corrections, represented by Louis Barbone, Esq., requests to reinstate the appeal of his removal, effective March 13, 2024, which was dismissed on the basis of his failure to appear at the June 27, 2024, prehearing telephone conference at the Office of Administrative Law.

 

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

 

B-16   JOSE MORALES – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-1901

 

Jose Morales, a former Police Officer with Belleville appeals his resignation in good standing.

 

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

 

B-17   ELIZABETH PERRY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-556

 

Elizabeth Perry, represented by Randi Doner April, Esq., a former provisional Record Support Technician 2 with the Jersey City School District, appeals her return to her permanent title, Clerk 1.

 

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

 

 B-18   CHARLES FARRAH – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1035

 

Lavallette requests that Charles Farrah be provided with a retroactive permanent appointment date to the title of Senior Public Works Repairer, effective April 24, 2006.

 

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

 

B-19   BUSINESS REGISTRY SPECIALIST TITLE SERIES – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1637

 

The Division of Agency Services requests the establishment of the Business Registry Specialist title series for use in the Department of the Treasury.  Agency Services also requests the inactivation of the Assistant Grounds Worker and Assistant Greenhouse Worker titles.

 

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

 

B-20   LEGAL SPECIALIST TITLE SERIES – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1634

 

The Division of Agency Services requests the establishment of the new unclassified titles Legal Specialist 1, Legal Specialist 2 and Legal Specialist 3, for use in State services.  Agency Services also requests that the unclassified title of Legal Specialist be inactivated.

 

          ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission held this matter for further review.

 

B-21   BILINGUAL LIBRARY TITLES – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1656

 

The Division of Agency Services requests the establishment of the new bilingual in Spanish/English variant titles of Librarian 1, Librarian 2, Librarian 3, Principal Library Assistant, Library Page, Library Associate, and Library Assistant. 

 

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

 

PUBLIC PORTION

 

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