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MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF
THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
JULY 20, 2022
Deirdré L. Webster Cobb, Chairperson
Dolores Gorczyca
Daniel W. O’Mullan
Diomedes Tsitouras
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A regular meeting of the Civil Service Commission was held on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., in Trenton, New Jersey.
PRESENT: Deirdré L. Webster Cobb, Chairperson, Members Dolores Gorczyca and Diomedes Tsitouras; Pamela Ullman, Deputy Attorney General; Nicholas F. Angiulo, 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 November 22, 2021, 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 June 29, 2022.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission adopted the minutes of its meeting of June 29, 2022.
WITHDRAWAL OF APPEALS
The following appeals were withdrawn and removed from the hearing calendar:
Johnny Gomez, County Correctional Police Sergeant, Cumberland County, Department of Corrections, removal.
Bernice Johnson, Public Safety Communicator, Burlington County, Department of Public Safety, suspension.
Steven Jones, County Police Officer, Union County, Police Department, removal.
Robert Sachs, Bridge Operator, Department of Transportation, removal.
Joseph Schramm, Public Safety Telecommunicator, Gloucester County, Department of Emergency Response, suspension.
Juan Velez, Truck Driver, Paterson, Department of Public Works, suspension.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission noted the withdrawal of appeals without prejudice.
SECTION A – HEARING MATTERS
A-1 SETTLEMENTS
Heshaam Abdul-Hakeem
Newark
Department of Engineering
Suspension
Tyreshia Hailstork
Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital
Department of Health
Removal
Nicole Hull
Sussex County
Sheriff’s Office
Removal
John Kearns
Freehold Township
Department of Public Utilities
Removal
Claudia Martinez
Newark
Department of Public Safety
Suspension
Caleb McGlassion
Garden State Youth Correctional Facility
Department of Corrections
Removal
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission acknowledged the settlements.
A-2 KEITH AIELLO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-2434
Keith Aiello, Police Chief, Independence Township, Department of Public Safety, 45 working day suspension, on charges of incompetency, inefficiency or failure to perform duties, insubordination, conduct unbecoming a public employee, misuse of public property, including motor vehicles, neglect of duty and other sufficient cause.
Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Modify the 45 working day suspension to a 30 working day suspension.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission rejected the recommendation to modify the suspension and upheld the 45 working days suspension.
A-3 MARK ATKINSON – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-1126
Mark Atkinson, Laborer 1, Deptford, Municipal Utilities Authority, release at the end of the working test period, effective October 26, 2021.
Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Dismiss the appeal for failure to appear.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission affirmed the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge.
A-4 DANIEL GLENN – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-27
Daniel Glenn, Laborer 1, Irvington, Department of Public Works, removal, effective June 8, 2021, on charges of incompetence, inefficiency or failure to perform duties, insubordination, inability to perform duties and neglect of duty.
Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Dismiss the appeal for failure to appear.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission affirmed the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge.
A-5 YAMNIA JAIME – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-664
Yamnia Jaime, Human Services Specialist 1, Union County, Department of Human Services, release at the end of the working test period, effective August 31, 2021.
Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Uphold the release at the end of the working test period.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission affirmed the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge.
A-6 KODI POLLACK – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-909
Kodi Pollock, Senior Correctional Police Officer, South Woods State Prison, Department of Corrections, removal, effective October 5, 2021, 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-7 CHRISTINA TABORN – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-1434
Christina Taborn, Juvenile Detention Officer Essex County, Department of Citizen Services, release at the end of the working test period, effective March 15, 2021.
Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Uphold the release at the end of the working test period.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission affirmed the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge.
SECTION B – MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS
B-1 A.G. – DOCKET NO. 2022-914
A.G. appeals his rejection as a Correctional Police Officer candidate by the Department of Corrections and its request to remove his name from the eligible list for Correctional Police Officer (S9999A) 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-2 J.A.V. – DOCKET NO. 2022-1407
J.A.V. appeals his rejection as a Sheriff’s Officer candidate by the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office and its request to remove his name from the eligible list for Sheriff’s Officer (S9999A) 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 J.R. – DOCKET NO. 2022-884
J.R. appeals his rejection as a Fire Fighter candidate by Trenton and its request to remove his name from the eligible list for Fire Fighter (M1874W) 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-4 K.A.M. – DOCKET NO. 2022-1568
K.A.M., represented by Albert J. Seibert, Esq., appeals his rejection as a Police Officer candidate by the Morristown and its request to remove his name from the eligible list for Police Officer (S9999A) on the basis of psychological unfitness to perform effectively the duties of the position.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted.
B-5 JOHN EUGENIO – DOCKET NO. 2022-2209
John Eugenio, represented by Michael L. Prigoff, Esq., appeals the removal of his name from the eligible list for Fire Fighter (M1818W), Elizabeth, on the basis that he resided outside of the residency scope.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-6 JORGE PADILLA – DOCKET NO. 2022-2720
Jorge Padilla, represented by Theresa Richardson, Esq., appeals the decision to remove his name from the Police Officer (S9999A), Paterson, eligible list on the basis of an unsatisfactory driving record.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-7 NAJAH AKBAR AND JEFFREY MOLLENHAUER - CSC DOCKET NOS. 2022-2119 AND 2022-2250
Najah Akbar and Jeffrey Mollenhauer appeal the determinations of the Division of Agency Services that they did not meet the experience requirement for the open competitive examination for Public Health Representative 3, Communicable Disease (S0771C), Statewide.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that these appeals be granted.
B-8 OMAR AKEL AND KENNETH ROSS - CSC DOCKET NOS. 2022-1490 AND 2022-1485
Omar Akel and Kenneth Ross appeal the determinations of the Division of Agency Services which found that they lacked the required amount of permanent status in a title to which the examination was open for the promotional examination for Police Sergeant (PM4594C), Middletown.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that these appeals be denied.
B-9 WAYNE CASA AND LESLEY CLELLAND - CSC DOCKET NOS. 2022-2769 AND 2022-2724
Wayne Casa and Lesley Clelland appeal the determinations of the Division of Agency Services that they did not meet the experience requirements for the promotional examination for Executive Assistant 3 (PS6939H), Department of Health.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that these appeals be denied.
B-10 AMARJIT CHAWLA AND JEFFREY MCDONOUGH - CSC DOCKET NOS. 2022-2906 AND 2022-2907
Amarjit Chawla and Jeffrey McDonough appeal the determinations of the Division of Agency Services that they did not meet the experience requirements for the promotional examination for Title Officer (PS4010T), Department of Transportation.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that these appeals be granted.
B-11 JACK HUANG - CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-3030
Jack Huang appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services that he did not meet the experience requirement for the promotional examination for Contract Administrator 1 (PS7030K), Department of Human Services.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted.
B-12 ASHLEY MATTHEWS - CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-2709
Ashley Matthews appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services that she did not meet the experience requirement for the promotional examination for Technical Assistant, Management Information Systems (PS7385T), Department of Transportation.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted.
B-13 ROBERT SPINELLO - CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-2900
Robert Spinello appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services that he did not meet the experience requirements for the open competitive examination for General Supervisor, Roads (C0254D), Hudson County.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted.
B-14 HARSHAD PATEL – DOCKET NO. 2022-3206
Harshad Patel appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services denying his request for a make-up for the promotional examination for Supervising Highway Engineer, Bridge Design Specification Review (PS7847T), Department of Transportation.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted.
B-15 MAHESH PATEL - CSC DOCKET NOS. 2022-3193 AND 2022-3194
Mahesh Patel appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services denying his requests for a make-up for the promotional examinations for Supervising Engineer, Structural Evaluation (PS6746T) and Supervising Highway Engineer, Bridge Design Specification Review (PS7847T), Department of Transportation.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted.
B-16 J.B. - CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-1861
J.B., a temporary employee, Sandy Recovery Division, appeals the determination of the Commissioner, Department of Community Affairs, stating that the appellant violated the New Jersey State Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-17 M.G. - CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-2540
M.G. appeals the determination of the Director, Office of Diversity and Equity Services, Department of Health, which found that the appellant failed to support a finding that he 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.
B-18 MARIA GUISANDE - CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-3276
Maria Guisande requests reconsideration of In the Matter of Maria Guisande (CSC, decided June 15, 2022) where the Civil Service Commission denied her request to file a late application for the promotional examination for Principal Library Assistant (PC4130D), Atlantic County.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be denied.
B-19 JULIE PIETROPINTO - CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1
Morris County, represented by Stephen E. Trimboli, Esq., on behalf of Julie Pietropinto, requests reconsideration of In the Matter of Julie Pietropinto (CSC, decided May 18, 2022) where the Civil Service Commission denied her appeal of the determination of the Division of Agency Services that she did not meet the experience requirements for the for the promotional examination for Administrative Secretary (PC4203C), Morris County.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
B-20 NICHUA LIACI - CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-3147
Nichua Liaci, a County Correctional Police Sergeant, with Warren County, represented by Salvatore Bellomo, Esq., petitions the Civil Service Commission for interim relief of her immediate suspension without pay, effective May 24, 2022.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this petition be denied.
B-21 CHAD HUTCHINSON - CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-1582
Chad Hutchinson, a Fire Fighter with Ewing, appeals multiple employment issues and requests varied relief.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-22 DESI FIORAVANTI, ET AL. - CSC DOCKET NOS. 2022-2868, ET AL.
The College of New Jersey requests retroactive permanent appointment dates for Desi Fioravanti, Kevin Cullen, Kyle Pukenas, Nicholas O’Brien and Tyler McGilligan to the title of Campus Police Officer.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that these requests be granted in part.
B-23 MARIO FUCCI - CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-2798
Mario Fucci, represented by Wolodymyr P. Tyshchenko, Esq., requests enforcement of the Civil Service Commission decision in In the Matter of Mario Fucci (CSC, decided March 23, 2022).
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
B-24 MODEL TELEWORK PILOT PROGRAM - CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-2443
It is requested that the Civil Service Commission modify the Pilot Program established on April 6, 2022.
ACTION: Adopt the modification to the Model Pilot Telework Program.
PUBLIC PORTION
No comments.
There being no further business before the Civil Service Commission, the meeting was adjourned to convene on Wednesday, August 3, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., at 3 Station Plaza, Trenton, New Jersey.