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Deirdré L. Webster Cobb, Chairperson
Dolores Gorczyca
Daniel W. O’Mullan
Diomedes Tsitouras
June 2, 2021
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A regular meeting of the Civil Service Commission was held on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, at 10:00 a.m., in Trenton, New Jersey.
PRESENT: Deirdré L. Webster Cobb, Chairperson, Members Dolores Gorczyca, Daniel W. O’Mullan and Diomedes Tsitouras; Pamela Ullman, Deputy Attorney General; Allison Chris Myers, Director, Division of Appeals and Regulatory Affairs. 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 December 2, 2020, 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 May 19, 2021.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission adopted the minutes of its meeting of May 19, 2021.
WITHDRAWAL OF APPEALS
The following appeals were withdrawn and removed from the hearing calendar:
Matthew Gartley, Sheriff’s Officer, Middlesex County, Sheriff’s Department, suspension.
Juan Pagan, Fire Fighter, City of Pleasantville, Fire Department, demotion.
Kenneth Walden, Senior Correctional Police Officer, Southern State Correctional Facility, Department of Corrections, removal.
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:
Destiny Caraballo, Records Support Technician 1, Ewing Township, Department of Public Safety, release at the end of the working test period.
Samantha Heer, Social Worker, Mercer County, Department of Social Services, release at the end of the working test period.
Geoffrey Rife, Lifeguard, City of Cape May, Department of General Government, release at the end of the working test period.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission noted the withdrawal of appeals without prejudice.
SECTION A – HEARING MATTERS
A-1 SETTLEMENTS
Todd Feiter
City of Long Branch
Fire Department
Removal
Tiffany Payano
Middlesex County Board of Social Services
Suspension
Shirlene Ringo
Department of Children and Families
Release at the end of the working test period
Quantara Ross
Juvenile Justice Commission
Suspension
VOTE: Deirdrè L. Webster Cobb (Yes)
Dolores Gorczyca (Recuse)
Daniel W. O’Mullan (Yes)
Diomedes Tsitouras (Yes)
Christina Skorochod
Monmouth County
Department of Transportation
Removal
Kayla Taylor
City of Newark
Department of Public Safety
Suspension
VOTE: Deirdrè L. Webster Cobb (Yes)
Dolores Gorczyca (Recuse)
Daniel W. O’Mullan (Yes)
Diomedes Tsitouras (Yes)
M.T.
Juvenile Justice Commission
Removal
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission acknowledged the settlements.
A-2 JASON ARVELO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-428
Jason Arvelo, Fire Fighter, City of Perth Amboy, Fire Department, removal effective September 8, 2020, on charges of insubordination, 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.
VOTE: Deirdrè L. Webster Cobb (Yes)
Dolores Gorczyca (Yes)
Daniel W. O’Mullan (Yes)
Diomedes Tsitouras (No)
A-3 ROBERT CURRY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-326
Robert Curry, Correctional Police Sergeant, Bayside State Prison, Department of Corrections, removal effective September 3, 2020, 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 modified the removal to a 90 working day suspension.
VOTE: Deirdrè L. Webster Cobb (Recuse)
Dolores Gorczyca (Yes)
Daniel W. O’Mullan (Yes)
Diomedes Tsitouras (Yes)
A-4 DEREK DEBLAKER – CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-589
Derek DeBlaker, Public Safety Telecommunicator, Gloucester County, Department of Emergency Response, removal effective August 7, 2019, on charges of insubordination and conduct unbecoming a public employee.
Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Uphold the removal.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission affirmed the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge.
A-5 KHALID NASH – CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-426
Khalid Nash, County Correctional Police Officer, Essex County, Department of Corrections, removal effective March 14, 2019, on charges of incompetence, inefficiency or failure to perform duties, 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-6 ROBERT MELENDEZ – CSC DOCKET NO. 2016-3473
Robert Melendez, Principal Investigator, Parole and Secured Facilities, New Jersey State Prison, Department of Corrections, 30 working day suspension and demotion to Senior Correctional Police Officer effective March 19, 2016, on charges of insubordination, conduct unbecoming a public employee and other sufficient cause.
Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Uphold the 30 working day suspension and demotion to Senior Correctional Police Officer.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission affirmed the 30 working day suspension and modified the demotion to Senior Investigator, Parole and Secured Facilities.
A-7 GRACE NJOKANMA – CSC DOCKET NO. 2019-2038
Grace Njokanma, Human Services Technician, Ancora Psychiatric Hospital, Department of Health, removal effective September 14, 2018, 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-8 ALEJANDRO PEREZ – CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-2447
Alejandro Perez, Campus Police Officer, Kean University, removal effective March 12, 2020, on charges of conduct unbecoming a public employee, misuse of public property and other sufficient cause.
Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Grant the appointing authority’s motion for summary decision and uphold the removal.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission affirmed the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge.
A-9 CARLOS PIMENTEL – CSC DOCKET NO. 2019-3434
Carlos Pimentel, Senior Parole Officer, State Parole Board, removal effective February 1, 2019, on charges of inability to perform duties and conduct unbecoming a public employee.
Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Grant the appointing authority’s motion for summary decision and modify the removal to a resignation in good standing.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission rejected the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge to modify the removal to a resignation in good standing and upheld the removal.
A-10 RONALD STUISO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-2591
Ronald Stuiso, Maintenance Repairer, Bergen County, Department of Public Works, removal effective April 30, 2020, on charges of insubordination, conduct unbecoming a public employee and other sufficient cause.
Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Modify the removal to a 20 working day suspension.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission affirmed the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge.
SECTION B – MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS
B-1 INVESTIGATOR 1, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER AND INVESTIGATOR 3, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-1502
The Division of Agency Services, on behalf of the Department of Health, requests that the Investigator 1, Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner and Investigator 3, Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner titles be placed in the non-competitive division of the career service on an interim basis to effectuate the appointments of seven employees.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
VOTE: Deirdrè L. Webster Cobb (Yes)
Dolores Gorczyca (Recuse)
Daniel W. O’Mullan (Yes)
Diomedes Tsitouras (Yes)
B-2 R.C.J. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-1881
R.C.J., represented by Michael L. Prigoff, Esq., appeals his rejection as a Fire Fighter candidate by Mount Laurel Fire District 1 and its request to remove his name from the eligible list for Fire Fighter (M1854W) on the basis of psychological unfitness to perform effectively the duties of the position.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-3 IRIS RUFFIN – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-880
Iris Ruffin appeals Atlantic County’s request to remove her name from the eligible list for Social Worker (C0032B), on the basis that she failed to respond to the notice to appear for her interview.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted.
B-4 JOHN SHAW – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-1294
John Shaw appeals the Township of Belleville’s request to remove his name from the eligible list for Fire Lieutenant (PM1067V), on the basis that he failed to respond to the certification notice.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted.
B-5 VINCENT WREGE – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-1328
Vincent Wrege appeals the decision to remove his name from the Parole Officer Recruit (S1000A), State Parole Board eligible list on the basis of an unsatisfactory employment record.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted, but appellant’s name be recorded as bypassed on the certification.
B-6 THOMAS JERAKIS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-1476
Thomas Jerakis requests to take a make-up examination for Claims Adjudicator Supervisor, Disability Determinations (PS0927N), Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be denied.
B-7 MELISSA PINTO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-1494
Melissa Pinto requests to take a make-up examination for Program Specialist 4 (PS5653K), Department of Human Services.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
B-8 JENNIFER FREY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-1632
The Judiciary, Ocean Vicinage requests that the list for Supervisor 1 (PS5160M) Judiciary, Ocean Vicinage, be revived to effectuate the retroactive appointment of Jennifer Frey.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
B-9 LIEUTENANT CAMPUS POLICE (PS4357J) – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-1631
Rowan University requests that the eligible list for Lieutenant Campus Police (PS4357J) be revived and extended.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
B-10 KAREEMAH LUCAS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-684
Kareemah Lucas appeals the reclassification date provided in the October 28, 2020, determination of the Division of Agency Services of her request for a classification review.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted.
B-11 PATRICK M. HEBERT – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-1195
Patrick M. Hebert appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services, that he did not meet the experience requirements for the promotional examination for Construction and Maintenance Technician 1 (PS2532T), Department of Transportation.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted.
VOTE: Deirdrè L. Webster Cobb (Yes)
Dolores Gorczyca (Recuse)
Daniel W. O’Mullan (Yes)
Diomedes Tsitouras (Yes)
B-12 MADONNA MORRIS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-1402
MaDonna Morris appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services that she did not meet the experience requirements for the promotional examination for Management Assistant (PM2136B), Jersey City School District.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-13 WALTER PRICE, III – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-279
Walter Price, III appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services which found that he did not submit a complete application for the promotional examination for Laborer 2 (PC1728A), Union County.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted.
B-14 DEVIN THOMPSON – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-1497
Devin Thompson appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services which found that he did not meet the minimum requirements in experience for the open competitive examination for Supervisor, Information Technology (C0353B), Ocean County.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-15 SHARON EDWARDS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-531
Sharon Edwards, a Court Services Supervisor 2 with the Judiciary, Vicinage 15 - Gloucester, Cumberland, and Salem Counties, represented by Lynsey A. Stehling, Esq., requests a waiver of repayment of a salary overpayment pursuant to N.J.S.A. 11A:3-7.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be denied.
B-16 ALEX NAVAS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-1503
The Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division, has remanded the Civil Service Commission’s decision reversing the 30 working day suspension of Alex Navas, a Laborer 1 with the Town of West New York, for a redetermination of the May 15, 2017 charged incident.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission modified the 30 working day suspension to a 10 working day suspension and denied counsel fees.
B-17 R.B. - CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-824
R.B. appeals the removal of his name from the eligible list for County Police Officer (S9999A), Camden County on the basis of an unsatisfactory employment record.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-18 LISA DODERER - CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-1585
Lisa Doderer appeals the calculation of her performance assessment review points for the promotional examination for Claims Adjudicator Supervisor, Disability Determinations (PS0927N), Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted.
B-19 BRYANT ISAAC, ET AL. - CSC DOCKET NOS. 2020-2461, ET AL.
Bryant Isaac, represented by Daniel Zirrith, Esq., and Ruben Canchari, David Delara, Joseph Epps, Rami Khalil, Christopher Meyer, MD Miah, Cheyenne Nelson, Anthony Polidoro, Nakiyah Sanders, Luis Velez and Shontay Warren appeal their final averages on the Entry Level Law Enforcement Examination (S9999A).
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that these appeals be denied.
B-20 MATTHEW HEARON - CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-1789
The Borough of Fair Lawn (Fair Lawn) requests relaxation of N.J.A.C. 4A:4-7.1A(a) to permit the intergovernmental transfer of Matthew Hearon from the title of Police Officer, Palisades Interstate Park, Palisades Interstate Park Commission, to the title of Police Officer, Fair Lawn.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
B-21 DIVISION OF DISASTER RECOVERY AND MITIGATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS - CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-1790
The Department of Community Affairs (DCA), requests that the Civil Service Commission extend the September 30, 2022 deadline established in In the Matter of Interim Disaster Recovery Relief (CSC, decided January 18, 2017), to make temporary unclassified appointments to various career service titles to staff the interim Disaster Recovery and Mitigation Division, DCA.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
B-22 F.L. - CSC DOCKET NO. 2019-2306
F.L. appeals the administration of the promotional examination for Police Sergeant.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be dismissed as untimely.
PUBLIC PORTION
No comments.
There being no further business before the Civil Service Commission, the meeting was adjourned to convene on Wednesday, June 30, 2021, at 10:00 a.m., at 3 Station Plaza, Trenton, New Jersey.
