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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF

THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

 

MAY 20, 2026

 

Mary Cruz, Acting Chairperson

Dolores Gorczyca

Daniel W. O’Mullan

Christina Mongon

 

MAY 20, 2026

 

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    A regular meeting of the Civil Service Commission was held on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., in Trenton, New Jersey.

 

    PRESENT: Mary Cruz, Acting Chairperson; Members Dolores Gorczyca, Daniel W. O’Mullan, and Christina Mongon; Brian Ragunan, 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 April 29, 2026.

 

ACTION:    The Civil Service Commission adopted the minutes of its meeting of April 29, 2026.

 

VOTE:          Mary Cruz                                (Yes)

                    Dolores Gorczyca                    (Abstain)

                    Daniel W. O’Mullan                 (Yes)

                    Christina Mongon                   (Yes)

 

WITHDRAWAL OF APPEALS

 

The following appeals were withdrawn and removed from the hearing calendar:

 

Frank Adomaitis, Atlantic County, Sheriff’s Department, suspension.

 

Chad Tracy, Albert C. Wagner Youth Correctional Facility, Department of Corrections, suspension (3).

 

Noel Santiago, City of Trenton, Police Department, suspension.

 

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

 

DISMISSAL FOR FAILURE TO APPEAR

 

The Civil Service Commission dismissed the following appeal(s) for failure to appear at the scheduled proceedings before the Office of Administrative Law:

 

Christopher Duff, Department of Transportation, removal. 

 

VOTE:         Mary Cruz                                (Yes)

                   Dolores Gorczyca                    (Recuse)

                   Daniel W. O’Mullan                 (Yes)

                   Christina Mongon                   (Yes)

 

Devyn Gilbert, Department of Children and Families, return to previously held permanent title.

 

ACTION:    The Civil Service Commission noted the dismissal of the appeal.

                   

SECTION A – HEARING MATTERS

 

A-1    SETTLEMENTS

         

Julie Bondinello

Division of State Police

Department of Law and Public Safety

 

Michael Gallo

Township of West Orange

Police Department

 

Julio Martinez (3)

New Jersey State Prison

Department of Corrections

 

Zayidah Mayse

City of Newark

Department of Public Safety

 

Delali Mensahaholu

Newark Public School District

 

K.S.

Ann Klein Forensic Center

Department of Health

 

Lauren Zeszotarski

Middlesex County

Sherriff’s Department –

 

          ACTION:    The Civil Service Commission acknowledged the settlements.

 

A-2    MICHAEL EMMERT – CSC DOCKET NO. 2026-591

 

Michael Emmert, a Correctional Police Sergeant with the Garden State Youth Correctional Facility, Department of Corrections, appeals his removal, effective August 8, 2025, on charges of conduct unbecoming a public employee and other sufficient cause, specifically, violations of departmental rules and regulations.   

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Modify the removal to a demotion to Senior Correctional Police Officer and a 30 working day suspension.

 

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

 

A-3    ROBERT HINES – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1505

 

Robert Hines, a Juvenile Detention Officer with Middlesex County, Department of Adult Corrections, appeals his removal, effective November 22, 2024, on charges of insubordination; conduct unbecoming a public employee; and other sufficient cause, specifically, failure to document sick leave.

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Modify the removal to a 90 calendar day suspension.

 

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

 

A-4    VANESSA KELLY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-229

 

Vanessa Kelly, a County Correctional Police Sergeant with Monmouth County, Department of Corrections and Youth Services, appeals her demotion to County Correctional Police Officer, effective July 1, 2024, and her six-month suspension, effective July 1, 2024, on charges of incompetency, inefficiency, or failure to perform duties; inability to perform duties; conduct unbecoming a public employee; neglect of duty; and other sufficient cause, specifically, violations of departmental rules and regulations.

  

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Uphold the demotion and six-month suspension.

 

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

 

A-5    V.P. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2551

 

V.P., a Cottage Training Technician with the Vineland Developmental Center, Department of Human Services, appeals her removal, effective May 5, 2023, on charges of conduct unbecoming a public employee; discrimination that affects equal employment opportunity; and other sufficient cause, specifically, violations of departmental rules and regulations.

  

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Modify the removal to a 90 calendar day suspension. 

 

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

 

VOTE:          Mary Cruz                                (Yes)

                    Dolores Gorczyca                    (Yes)

                    Daniel W. O’Mullan                 (Yes)

                    Christina Mongon                   (Recuse)

 

A-6    NICHOLAS ZATKOS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1171

 

Nicholas Zatkos, a Senior Correctional Police Officer, Youth Justice Commission, with the New Jersey Training School, Youth Justice Commission, appeals his 90 working day suspension, effective November 30, 2024, on charges of conduct unbecoming a public employee and other sufficient cause, specifically, violations of departmental rules and regulations.   

  

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

 

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

 

SECTION B – MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

 

B-1    DANIEL FLORIO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-865

 

Daniel Florio appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services, which found that he did not meet the experience requirement for the open competitive examination for Veterans Service Officer 2 (S1122F), Statewide.

 

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

 

B-2    ELLISON LUCIEN – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1427

 

Ellison Lucien appeals the denial of his request for a make-up examination for the Fire Fighter (M9999F), Statewide, open competitive examination.

 

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

 

B-3    MACKENZIE REILLY – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2025-570 AND 2025-786

 

          Jersey City, represented by Arthur R. Thibault, Esq., Kyle J. Trent, Esq., and Timothy J. Dunn, Esq., requests reconsideration and a stay of the decision of the Civil Service Commission in In the Matter of Mackenzie Reilly, Jersey City Police Department (CSC, decided August 14, 2024).  In addition, Mackenzie Reilly, represented by Michael P. Rubas, Esq., petitions the Civil Service Commission for a determination with regard to back pay and counsel fees awarded in Reilly, supra.

 

          ACTION:    The Civil Service Commission directed that the request for reconsideration be denied; the stay request be dismissed as moot; and back pay and counsel fees be granted.

 

B-4    RASHA HASSAN – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-2696

 

          Rasha Hassan requests a retroactive date of permanent appointment to the title of Administrative Assistant 2 and other relief.

 

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

 

B-5    E.R. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2026-1157

 

          E.R. requests permanency in the title of Social Worker 1, Psychiatric, and other relief.

 

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

 

B-6    DAMIAN WARD – CSC DOCKET NO. 2026-899

 

          Damian Ward, represented by Carrie A. Ward, Esq., requests an earlier effective date of placement on step 11 of salary range R25.

 

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

  

B-7    VARIOUS TITLES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH – CSC DOCKET NO. 2026-2534

 

          The Department of Health requests that various titles be reallocated to the noncompetitive division of the career service on an interim basis to facilitate the hiring of staff in the Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner.

 

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

 

VOTE:          Mary Cruz                                (Yes)

                    Dolores Gorczyca                    (Recuse)

                    Daniel W. O’Mullan                 (Yes)

                    Christina Mongon                   (Yes)

 

PUBLIC PORTION

 

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