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MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF

THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

 

SEPTEMBER 24, 2025

  

Allison Chris Myers, Chairperson

Dolores Gorczyca

Daniel W. O’Mullan

Diomedes Tsitouras

Christina Mongon

 

SEPTEMBER 24, 2025

 

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    A regular meeting of the Civil Service Commission was held on Wednesday, September 24, 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; Shannon Dalton, Assistant Director, Division of Appeals and Regulatory Affairs; Annemarie Ragos-Goff, 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 September 10, 2025.

 

ACTION:    The Civil Service Commission adopted the minutes of its meeting of September 10, 2025.

VOTE:         Allison Chris Myers                (Yes)

                    Dolores Gorczyca                    (Yes)

Daniel O’Mullan                        (Yes)

                    Diomedes Tsitouras                (Abstain)

                    Christina Mongon                   (Abstain)

 

WITHDRAWAL OF APPEALS

 

The following appeals were withdrawn and removed from the hearing calendar:

 

Jenifer Abbott, Burlington County, Health Department, release at the end of the working test period.

 

Luis Arroyo, Hudson County, Department of Corrections, suspension.

 

Quaneisha Brown, Department of Labor and Workforce Development, return to previously held permanent title at the end of the working test period.

 

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:

 

Lamal Medley, Atlantic City, Department of Human Services, removal. 

 

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

 

SECTION A – HEARING MATTERS

 

A-1    SETTLEMENTS

 

Faiteemah Byrd-Kemp

Essex County

Department of Citizen Services

 

Banel Linton-Lowery

Newark

Department of Public Safety

 

Ricardo Melendez

Newark

Department of Public Safety

 

David Monzo

Ancora Psychiatric Hospital

Department of Health

VOTE:         Allison Chris Myers                (Yes)

                    Dolores Gorczyca                    (Recuse)

Daniel O’Mullan                        (Yes)

                    Diomedes Tsitouras                (Yes)

                    Christina Mongon                   (Yes)

 

Hadah Shabazz

New Lisbon Developmental Center

Department of Human Services

 

Kyle Weaver

Department of Children and Families

VOTE:         Allison Chris Myers                (Yes)

                    Dolores Gorczyca                    (Recuse)

Daniel O’Mullan                        (Yes)

                    Diomedes Tsitouras                (Yes)

                    Christina Mongon                   (Yes)

 

ACTION:    The Civil Service Commission acknowledged the settlements.

 

A-2    BERNACINE BARNES – CSC DOCKET NO. 2018-675

 

Bernacine Barnes, Senior Receptionist, Monmouth County, Department of Human Services, removal, effective August 17, 2017, on charges of incompetency, inefficiency or failure to perform duties, insubordination, 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.

 

A-3    VINCENT CONTI – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-2280

 

Vincent Conti, Investigator, Secured Facilities, removal, effective June 29, 2023, on charges of inability to perform duties, conduct unbecoming a public employee, neglect of duty, misuse of public property, including motor vehicles and other sufficient cause.

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Reverse the removal.   

 

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

 

A-4    JOSEPH HOWE – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1449        

 

Joseph Howe, County Correctional Police Officer, Cape May County, Sheriff’s Department, removal, effective July 17, 2024, insubordination, conduct unbecoming a public employee, neglect of duty, discrimination and other sufficient cause.

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Uphold the removal.

 

ACTION:    The Civil Service Commission rejected the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge and reversed the removal.

         

A-5    CHASE POTOCNY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-922

 

Chase Potocny, Police Officer, Bordentown, Police Department, removal, effective May 15, 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.

 

SECTION B – MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

 

B-1    J.P. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2026-128

 

          J.P. appeals the decision to remove her name from the Sheriff’s Officer (C0419F), Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office eligible.

 

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

 

 

B-2    MIGUEL ACOSTA, ET AL. – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2025-388, ET AL.

 

        Miguel Acosta, Nathaniel Johnson, Kenneth Lugo, David Ordville, and Charles Steever, represented by Stuart J. Alterman, Esq., appeal the determinations of the Division of Agency Services that they did not meet the requirements for the Police Captain (PM3806F), Trenton promotional examination.  The appellants also request retroactive appointment dates as Police Lieutenants and corresponding payroll adjustments.

 

          ACTION:    The Civil Service Commission directed that these appeals be granted in part.

 

B-3    DONALD FANTASIA – CSC DOCKET NO. 2026-397

 

          Donald Fantasia appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services, which found that he did not meet the requirements for the promotional examination for Police Lieutenant (PM2837G), West Milford.

 

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

 

B-4    THOMAS LACKAYE – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-2834

 

         Thomas Lackaye appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services that he did not meet the requirements for the Assistant Budget Officer (PM2024G), Hamilton Township promotional examination.

 

          ACTION:    The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied and the matter of the proper classification of the appellant’s provisional position be referred to Agency    Services.   

 

B-5    RICHARD OLAH – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-591

 

          Richard Olah appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services that he did not meet the requirements for the Occupational Safety Consultant 1 (PS5684N), Department of Labor and Workforce Development promotional examination.

 

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

 

 B-6    THOMAS SCOTT – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-2637

 

          Thomas Scott appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services which found that he did not meet the requirements for the Senior Investigator Parole and Secured Facilities (PS5735I), Department of Corrections promotional examination.

 

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

 

B-7    C.S. – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2025-2345 AND 2025-2785

 

      C.S., a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 2, Deaf Language Specialist with the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Department of Human Services, appeals the determinations of an Assistant Commissioner which found that the appellant was not subjected to violations under the New Jersey State Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace.

 

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

 

B-8    KIMBERLY MITCHELL – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2025-1538 AND 2025-1875

 

          Cumberland County, represented by Theodore E. Baker, Assistant County Counsel, requests reconsideration of In the Matter of Kimberly Mitchell (CSC, decided January 15, 2025).  Kimberly Mitchell, represented by Herbert J. Stayton, Jr., Esq.  requests enforcement and back pay pursuant to In the Matter of Kimberly Mitchell (CSC, decided January 15, 2025).

 

          ACTION:    The Civil Service Commission granted the request for reconsideration and denied the requests for enforcement and back pay as moot.

 

B-9    JOHN PILONE – CSC DOCKET NO. 2026-200

 

          John Pilone, represented by Dudley Burdge, Senior Staff Representative, CWA Local 1032, requests reconsideration of In the Matter of John Pilone (CSC, decided June 11, 2025).

 

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

 

B-10  ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST (M06131C), NORTH BRUNSWICK – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1952

 

          In In the Matter of Administrative Analyst (M0631C), North Brunswick (CSC, decided August 24, 2022), the Civil Service Commission (Commission) granted the request of North Brunswick for an appointment waiver for the March 21, 2022 certification and ordered that no selection costs would be assessed at that time since the appointing authority indicated that it intended to make a future appointment should its needs change prior to the expiration of the subject eligible list.  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-11  COMMUNITY RELATIONS SPECIALIST (SPECIAL), CITY OF NEWARK– CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1981

 

          The Division of Human Resource Information Services seeks enforcement of the Civil Service Commission decision rendered on June 3, 2020, which ordered Newark to immediately dispose of the June 13, 2016 certification of the Community Relations Specialist special reemployment list pursuant to N.J.A.C. 4A:4-4.2(c)1, immediately remove Patricia Clark, against whom a salary disapproval was issued, and remit $1,000 in compliance costs, within 30 days from the issuance of the decision.

 

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

VOTE:         Allison Chris Myers                (Yes)

                    Dolores Gorczyca                    (Abstain)

Daniel O’Mullan                        (Yes)

                    Diomedes Tsitouras                (Yes)

                    Christina Mongon                   (Yes)

 

B-12  HUMAN RESOURCE COORDINATOR (M0542B), NEWARK SCHOOL DISTRICT – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1819

 

         In In the Matter of Human Resource Coordinator (M0542B), Newark School District (CSC, decided August 3, 2022), the Civil Service Commission (Commission) granted the request of Newark School District for an appointment waiver for the March 14, 2022 certification and ordered that no selection costs would be assessed at that time since the appointing authority indicated that it intended to make a future appointment when a position became available.  However, it 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-13  PRINCIPAL MAIL CLERK (M0427V), CITY OF NEWARK – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1979

 

          The Division of Human Resource Information Services seeks enforcement of the Civil Service Commission decision rendered on February 26, 2020, which ordered Newark to immediately dispose of the September 25, 2017 certification of the Principal Mail Clerk (M0427V) eligible list pursuant to N.J.A.C. 4A:4-4.2(c)2, immediately remove William Dorch, against whom a salary disapproval was issued, and remit $1,000 in compliance costs, within 30 days from the issuance of the decision.

 

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

VOTE:         Allison Chris Myers                (Yes)

                    Dolores Gorczyca                    (Abstain)

Daniel O’Mullan                        (Yes)

                    Diomedes Tsitouras                (Yes)

                    Christina Mongon                   (Yes)

 

 B-14  SENIOR ACCOUNT CLERK (M1316F) – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1714

 

      Beachwood, represented by Armand Riccio, Esq., requests permission not to make an appointment from the November 12, 2024 certification for Senior Account Clerk (M1316F), Beachwood.

 

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

 

B-15  SENIOR PLANNER (M0045V), NEWARK – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1978

 

          The Division of Human Resource Information Services seeks enforcement of the Civil Service Commission decision rendered on February 26, 2020, which ordered Newark to immediately dispose of the May 15, 2017 certification of the Senior Planner (M0045V) eligible list pursuant to N.J.A.C. 4A:4-4.2(c)2, immediately remove Christopher Kok, against whom a salary disapproval was issued, and remit $1,000 in compliance costs, within 30 days from the issuance of the decision.

 

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

VOTE:         Allison Chris Myers                (Yes)

                    Dolores Gorczyca                    (Abstain)

Daniel O’Mullan                       (Yes)

                    Diomedes Tsitouras                (Yes)

                    Christina Mongon                   (Yes)

 

B-16  CAROLYN WHITEHEAD – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1028

 

        Carolyn Whitehead petitions the Civil Service Commission for enforcement of its decisions in In the Matter of Carolyn Whitehead, East Orange, Department of Policy, Planning and Development (CSC, decided February 28, 2024) and In the Matter of Carolyn Whitehead (CSC, decided September 4, 2024).

 

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

 

B-17  JENNIFER AKTURK – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1626

 

          Jennifer Akturk, a Correctional Police Sergeant with the Garden State Youth Correctional Facility, Department of Corrections, appeals a five working days suspension.

 

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

 

B-18  STEPHEN GONZALEZ – CSC DOCKET NO. 2026-11

 

          Stephen Gonzales requests a retroactive appointment date regarding his appointment as a Correctional Police Sergeant with the Department of Corrections.

 

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

 

 

PUBLIC PORTION

 

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