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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF

THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

 

FEBRUARY 25, 2026

 

Allison Chris Myers, Chairperson

Dolores Gorczyca

Daniel W. O’Mullan

Diomedes Tsitouras

Christina Mongon

 

FEBRUARY 25, 2026

 

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    A regular meeting of the Civil Service Commission was held on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., in Trenton, New Jersey.

 

            PRESENT: Allison Chris Myers, Chairperson; Members Dolores Gorczyca, Daniel W. O’Mullan, Diomedes Tsitouras, and Christina Mongon; Levi Klinger-Christiansen, Deputy Attorney General; Dulce A. Sulit-Villamor, Director, Division of Appeals and Regulatory Affairs; and Annemarie Ragos-Goff, Commission Secretary, were present.  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 5, 2025, 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 4, 2026.

 

ACTION:    The Civil Service Commission adopted the minutes of its meeting of February 4, 2026. 

 

WITHDRAWAL OF APPEALS

 

The following appeals were withdrawn and removed from the hearing calendar:

 

Eryn Byrd, Mercer County, Corrections Center, removal.

 

Brenda Rodriguez, Hunterdon Developmental Center, Department of Human Services, removal.

 

Joshua Snyder, Gloucester County, Department of Emergency Response, suspension.

 

ACTION:    The Civil Service Commission noted the withdrawal of the 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:

 

Joseph Breheny, Department of Transportation, suspension.

 

VOTE:         Allison Chris Myers                (Yes)

                    Dolores Gorczyca                    (Recuse)

Daniel O’Mullan                         (Yes)

Diomedes Tsitouras                  (Yes)

                    Christina Mongon                   (Yes)

 

Zhakier Seville, Office of the Attorney General, Department of Law and Public Safety, release at the end of the working test period.

 

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

 

SECTION A – HEARING MATTERS

 

A-1    SETTLEMENTS

 

Jamal Armstrong

Department of Children and Families

 

          Perparim Domi

          City of Hackensack

          Department of Public Works

 

Nicole Riley

Ann Klein Forensic Center

Department of Health 

Patricia Sanders

Ocean County

Board of Social Services

 

Takeyia Tucker

City of Paterson

Fire Department

 

Saim Yilmaz

State Parole Board

 

ACTION:    The Civil Service Commission acknowledged the settlements.

 

A-2    F.A. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-963

 

F.A., a Sheriff’s Officer Sergeant with Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office, was demoted to Sheriff’s Officer, effective October 17, 2023, on charges of conduct unbecoming a public employee and violations of departmental rules and regulations.

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Uphold the demotion.

 

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

 

 

A-3    JOHN T. ARRINGTON – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-1854

 

John T. Arrington, a Senior Correctional Police Officer with the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women, Department of Corrections, was removed on charges of conduct unbecoming a public employee, other sufficient cause, and violations of departmental rules and regulations.

 

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.

 

VOTE:         Allison Chris Myers                (No)

                    Dolores Gorczyca                    (Yes)

Daniel O’Mullan                           (Yes)

Diomedes Tsitouras                    (Yes)

                    Christina Mongon                   (Yes)

 

A-4    RENE CRUZ – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1043

 

Rene Cruz, a County Correctional Police Officer with Cumberland County, Department of Corrections, was suspended for 10 working days on charges of conduct unbecoming a public employee.  

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Modify the 10 working day suspension to a 90 working day suspension.

 

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

 

A-5    J.D. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-2365

 

J.D., a Fire Fighter with the City of Newark, Department of Public Safety, was removed, effective August 6, 2024, on charges of conduct unbecoming a public employee, neglect of duty, other sufficient cause, and violations of departmental rules and regulations. 

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Uphold the removal.

 

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

 

A-6    C.M. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1313

 

C.M., a Morgue Attendant with Gloucester County, Office of the Medical Examiner, was removed, effective September 23, 2024, 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 – Modify the removal to a six-month suspension.

 

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

 

VOTE:         Allison Chris Myers                (Yes)

                    Dolores Gorczyca                    (No)

Daniel O’Mullan                         (Yes)

Diomedes Tsitouras                   (No)

                    Christina Mongon                   (Yes)

 

SECTION B – MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

 

B-1    S.J. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2026-689

 

           S.J. appeals his nonappointment on the Fire Official (M0412G), Pleasantville.

 

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

 

B-2    TEREGJONA ACOSTA – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-414

 

        Teregjona Acosta appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services, which found that she did not meet the announced requirements for the promotional examination for Director of Neighborhood Preservation Program (PM2419F), Hamilton Township. 

 

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

 

 

B-3    LULA LEE – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1809

 

           Lula Lee appeals the administration of the promotional examination for Administrative Supervisor, Social Work (PC5093D), Hudson County.

 

          ACTION:    The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be dismissed as untimely.

 

B-4    RUDOLPH BEU – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2025-1591 AND 2025-961

 

           Rudolph Beu, a Deputy Police Chief with the Vineland Police Department, represented by Colin G. Bell, Esq., requests enforcement of the Civil Service Commission’s decision in In the Matter of Rudolph Beu, Vineland Police Department (CSC, decided September 25, 2024).  The appointing authority, represented by William F. Cook Esq., requests a stay of that same decision, pending its appeal to the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division.

 

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

 

B-5    BRANDON RAMOS – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2026-662, ET AL.

 

       Brandon Ramos, a County Police Officer with Camden County, represented by Paul W. Tyshchenko, Esq., requests interim relief regarding his immediate and indefinite suspension and continued separation from employment.

 

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

 

B-6    C.B. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-141

 

           C.B. appeals the layoff plan submitted by Union County for July 1, 2024 and his recorded hire date, salary, and pension.

 

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

 

B-7    J.J. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-2432

 

        J.J., a former Building Maintenance Worker with Passaic County, appeals her resignation in good standing effective February 7, 2024.

 

          ACTION:    The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be dismissed as untimely.

 

 

B-8    ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CLOUD SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT – CSC DOCKET NO. 2026-1809

 

           The Division of Agency Services requests the establishment of the noncompetitive title of Artificial Intelligence Cloud Solutions Architect for State government use in accordance with N.J.A.C. 4A:3-1.2(c).

 

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

         

B-9    RESEARCH SCIENTIST TITLE SERIES, BOTANY AND PHARMACY VARIANTS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2026-1808

 

           The Division of Agency Services requests the establishment of the noncompetitive titles of Research Scientist 3, 2, and 1, Botany, and Research Scientist 3, 2, and 1, Pharmacy, for use in State government 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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