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MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF
THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
DECEMBER 7, 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, December 7, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., in Trenton, New Jersey.
PRESENT: Deirdré L. Webster Cobb, Chairperson; Members Dolores Gorczyca, Daniel O’Mullan and Diomedes Tsitouras; Levi Klinger-Christiansen, Deputy Attorney General; Dulce Sulit-Villamor, Deputy 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 November 23, 2022.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission adopted the minutes of its meeting of November 23, 2022.
WITHDRAWAL OF APPEALS
The following appeals were withdrawn and removed from the hearing calendar:
Yolanda Caldwell, East Orange, Department of Senior Citizens, removal.
Brian Harkins, North Wildwood, Police Department, suspension.
John Hemby, Upper Township, Department of Recreation and Public Health, removal.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission noted the withdrawal of appeals without prejudice.
SECTION A – HEARING MATTERS
A-1 SETTLEMENTS
Malikul Aziz
Newark
Police Department
Suspension
Michael Coyle
Camden County
Department of Public Works
Suspension
Lola Hinds
Newark School District
Removal and resignation not in good standing
Tatjana Hoffnagle
Woodbine Developmental Center
Department of Human Services
Resignation not in good standing
Frank Maisano
Aberdeen
Department of Public Safety
Suspension
Shaquan Woody
Bergen County
Board of Social Services
Resignation not in good standing
Jasmine Wright
Newark School District
Removal and resignation not in good standing
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission acknowledged the settlements.
A-2 SIMONNE ALI – CSC DOCKET NO. 2018-1193
Simonne Ali, Police Aide, Plainfield, Department of Public Affairs and Public Safety, removal, effective September 28, 2017, on charges of incompetency, inefficiency or failure to perform duties, conduct unbecoming a public employee, neglect of duty 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.
VOTE: Deirdrè L. Webster Cobb (Yes)
Dolores Gorczyca (Yes)
Daniel W. O’Mullan (Yes)
Diomedes Tsitouras (Recuse)
A-3 CHRISTOPHER CARRALERO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-3119
Christopher Carralero, Police Officer, West New York, Police Department, removal, effective May 25, 2022, on charges of insubordination, conduct unbecoming a public employee, neglect of duty and other sufficient cause.
Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Grant the appellant’s motion for summary decision and reverse the removal.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission held this matter over.
A-4 WILLIAM JOHNSON – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-1225
William Johnson, Sewer Repairer Supervisor, Irvington, Department of Public Works, removal, effective November 10, 2021, on charges of insubordination.
Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Acknowledge the settlement.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission remanded the matter to the Office of Administrative Law.
SECTION B – MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS
B-1 J.W. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-982
J.W., represented by James Carroll, Esq., appeals his rejection as a Police Officer candidate by the City of Passaic 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 denied.
B-2 HECTOR NIEVES, JR. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-472
Hector Nieves, Jr., appeals the decision to remove his name from the Police Officer (S9999A), Paterson eligible list on the basis of not meeting the age requirements.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-3 DANIEL ESTREMERA, ET AL. – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2023-21, ET AL.
Daniel Estremera, Loramny Rodriguez, Jonuz Bojkovic and Victor Lopez, represented by Ronald J. Ricci, Esq., 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 (PM4605C), Newark.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that these appeals be denied.
B-4 VERONICA HUNT – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-456
Veronica Hunt appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services, which deemed her ineligible for the promotional examination for Family Service Specialist 1 (PS8306K), Department of Children and Families, on the basis that she had indicated, but not established, veterans preference and did not pay the application fee in full.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-5 ANDREW MOHAN – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-604
Andrew Mohan appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services that he did not meet the experience requirements for the promotional examination for Senior Account Clerk (PC4309D), Bergen County Board of Social Services.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted.
B-6 WILLIAM MOWDER – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-2317
William Mowder appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services, which found that he was ineligible for the promotional examination for Assistant Supervisor of Public Works (M0577C), Pohatcong, on the basis that he was below the minimum requirements in experience.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted.
B-7 JOHN SIGLE – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-277
John Sigle appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services that he did not meet the experience requirements for the promotional examination for Equipment Operator (PC4095D), Middlesex County.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted.
B-8 DOROTHEA SMITH – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-435
Dorothea Smith appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services that she did not meet the experience requirements for the promotional examination for Assistant Administrative Analyst (PM4063D), Trenton.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied, and the classification of the appellant’s provisional position is referred to the Division of Agency Services for review.
B-9 JUDITH WILLIAMS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-176
Judith Williams appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services that she did not meet the experience requirements for the promotional examination for Supervisor of Investigations (PS5491K), Department of Children and Families.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted.
B-10 SCOTT DEFIBAUGH, ET AL. – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2023-213, ET AL.
Scott Defibaugh, Daniel Dowd, Benjamin Riley and Robert Ford appeal the promotional examination for County Correctional Police Sergeant (PC4828C), Ocean County.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that these appeals be denied.
B-11 I.B. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-382
I.B., an Assistant Insurance Commissioner with the Department of Banking and Insurance, appeals the decision of a Deputy Director, Division of EEO/AA, Civil Service Commission which found that I.B.’s complaint did not implicate the New Jersey State Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
VOTE: Deirdrè L. Webster Cobb (Recuse)
Dolores Gorczyca (Yes)
Daniel W. O’Mullan (Yes)
Diomedes Tsitouras (Yes)
B-12 N.H. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-427
N.H., a former Trooper with the Division of State Police, represented by Cedric Ashley, Esq., appeals the decision of a Chief Administrative Officer, Office of the Attorney General, which was unable to substantiate that he was subject to discrimination in violation of the New Jersey State Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-13 B.W. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-473
B.W., an Education Program Development Specialist 3 with the Department of Education (DOE) appeals the determination of the Acting Chief of Staff for the DOE, stating that the appellant failed to present sufficient evidence to support findings that she had been subjected to violations of the New Jersey State Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-14 DAVID PETERSON – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-717
Stockton University, represented by Rimma Razhba, Deputy Attorney General, requests reconsideration of In the Matter of David Peterson (CSC, decided August 3, 2022). In the alternative, Stockton requests a stay.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be denied.
B-15 IDESHA HOWARD – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-552
Idesha Howard, County Correctional Police Officer with Essex County, represented by Luretha M. Stribling Esq., petitions the Civil Service Commission for interim relief of her immediate and indefinite suspension.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this petition be granted in part.
B-16 JERRY BROWN – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-3217
Jerry Brown, represented by Seth Kennedy, Esq., requests that his provisional appointment as a Heavy Equipment Manager be changed to a permanent appointment in order to extend him rights to appeal his removal.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be denied.
B-17 EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (M0994A), NORTH ARLINGTON – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-346
North Arlington requests permission not to make an appointment from the March 16, 2020 certification for Equipment Operator (M0994A), North Arlington.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission granted the appointment waiver and assessed selection costs in the amount of $2,048.
PUBLIC PORTION
No comments.
There being no further business before the Civil Service Commission, the meeting was adjourned to convene on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., at 3 Station Plaza, Trenton, New Jersey.
