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Deirdré L. Webster Cobb, Chairperson
Dolores Gorczyca
Daniel W. O’Mullan
Diomedes Tsitouras
DECEMBER 15, 2021
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A regular meeting of the Civil Service Commission was held on Wednesday, December 15, 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 December 1, 2021.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission adopted the minutes of its meeting of December 1, 2021.
WITHDRAWAL OF APPEALS
The following appeals were withdrawn and removed from the hearing calendar:
Richard Webber, Maintenance Repairer, Atlantic County, Department of Public Works, removal.
Mark Wilson, Sheriff’s Officer, Cape May County, Sheriff’s Department, suspension.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission noted the withdrawal of appeals without prejudice.
SECTION A – HEARING MATTERS
A-1 SETTLEMENTS
Erick Cruz
City of Hoboken
Department of Environmental Services
Suspension
Joshua Diaz
Township of North Bergen
Department of Utilities Authority
Removal
Christopher Mercardo
South Woods State Prison
Department of Corrections
Suspension
Jihad Snead
City of Newark
Department of Public Works
Removal
Tikya Thompson
Woodbine Developmental Center
Department of Human Services
Removal (6)
Joe Valente
Northern State Prison
Department of Corrections
Suspension
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission acknowledged the settlements.
A-2 TARA DRAMIS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-545
Tara Dramis, Senior Correctional Police Officer, Southern State Prison, Department of Corrections, removal effective August 6, 2019, on charges of conduct unbecoming a public employee and other sufficient cause.
Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Modify the removal to a six-month suspension.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission modified the recommendation of the ALJ and modified the removal to a 30 calendar day suspension.
A-3 MUHAMMAD GONZALEZ – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-200
Muhammad Gonzalez, Hospital Attendant, Hudson County, Department of Health and Human Services, Meadowview Psychiatric Hospital, removal effective July 15, 2020, on charges of insubordination, 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 rejected the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge and modified the removal to a three-month suspension.
A-4 CHERYL GRIER AND CHRISTOPHER HINES - CSC DOCKET NOS. 2020-2440 AND 2020-2356
Cheryl Grier, Recreation Leader, and Christopher Hines, Recreation Aide, Middle Township, Department of Recreation, removals effective March 5, 2020, on various charges including, but not limited to, incompetency, inefficiency or failure to perform duties, conduct unbecoming a public employee and other sufficient cause.
Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Uphold the removals.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission affirmed the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge.
A-5 LATOYA HOBSON – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-480
Latoya Hobson, County Correctional Police Sergeant, Hudson County, Department of Corrections, 10 working day suspension 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 – Uphold the 10 working day suspension.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission rejected the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge and modified the 10 working day suspension to an official written reprimand.
SECTION B – MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS
B-1 A.S.H. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-1453
A.S.H., represented by Giovanna Giampa, Esq., appeals her rejection as a Police Officer candidate by East Orange and its request to remove her 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 ALBERT OUELLETTE – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-322
Albert Ouellette appeals the decision to remove his name from the Police Officer (S9999A), Township of Mount Laurel, eligible list on the basis of falsification of his application.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-3 ANA TREJO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-1581
Ana Trejo, represented by Amy P. Russoniello, Esq., appeals the decision to remove her name from the Police Officer (S9999A), Union City eligible list on the basis of an unsatisfactory employment record.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-4 JEFFREY TERRY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-706
Jeffrey Terry appeals the bypass of his name on the Supervising Public Safety Telecommunicator (PC1728U), Morris County eligible list.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-5 EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIALIST (C0068W), BERGEN COUNTY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-713
The matter of Bergen County’s failure to make an appointment from the OL181021 certification of the Early Childhood Specialist (C0068W) list has been referred to the Civil Service Commission for review.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission ordered Bergen County to pay selection costs in the amount of $2,048.
B-6 T.H. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-1057
T.H. requests to file a late application for the open competitive examination for Administrative Analyst 1, Fiscal Management (S0490C), Statewide.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
B-7 HANAH IBIRONGBE – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-963
Hanah Ibirongbe requests to file a late application for the promotional examination for Assistant Director of Nursing Services 1, Psychiatric (PS2652H), Ancora Psychiatric Hospital.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
B-8 I.L. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-11
I.L. requests to be permitted to submit a late application for the Painter (M0538B), Newark School District examination.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
B-9 CRYSTAL REED – CSC DOCKET NO. 2019-2467
Crystal Reed requests that she be permitted to submit a late application for the promotional examination for Police Sergeant (PM2540W), Newark.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
B-10 PATRICK AUFIERO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-808
Patrick Aufiero appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services that he did not meet the experience requirements for the open competitive examination for Clerk 3 (M0262C), Hopatcong.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-11 THOMAS LIRA – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-764
Thomas Lira appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services that he did not meet the experience requirements for the open competitive examination for Assistant Engineer (CO203C), Essex County.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted.
B-12 JOESPH RICE AND JAMES PALMA – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2021-1971 AND 2022-413
Joseph Rice (PC1693A), Ocean County and James Palma (PC1532A), Essex County, appeal the promotional examination for County Correctional Police Lieutenant (various jurisdictions).
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that these appeals be denied.
B-13 DONNA MEREDITH AND KERRY HALLMAN – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2022-154 AND 2022-209
Donna Meredith and Kerry Hallman appeal the decisions of the Division of Agency Services that the proper classification of their positions with the Office of Information Technology is Technical Assistant, Management Information Systems. The appellants seek a Technical Support Specialist 2 classification.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission ordered the matter of the job specifications be referred to Agency Services for review and the appeals be remanded to Agency Services to determine the position’s applicable title.
B-14 DANIEL VALLE – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-619
Daniel Valle appeals the decision of the Division of Agency Services that the proper classification of his position with the Office of Information Technology is Technician, Management Information Systems. He seeks a Technical Support Specialist 2 classification.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission ordered the matter of the job specifications be referred to Agency Services for review and the appeal be remanded to Agency Services to determine the position’s applicable title.
B-15 JOHN SHAW – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-135
The Township of Belleville, represented by David L. Epstein, Esq., requests reconsideration of the final administrative decision, rendered on June 2, 2021, which granted John Shaw’s appeal of his removal from the eligible list for Fire Lieutenant (PM1067V), Belleville, on the basis that he failed to respond to a certification notice.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be denied.
B-16 WILLIAM NITSCHMANN – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-805
William Nitschmann, represented by Donald C. Barbati, Esq., requests his salary step be retroactively advanced and he receive back pay after he was reinstated by the Department of Corrections on September 21, 2017, after the conclusion of his indefinite suspension.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
B-17 JOSEPHUS TEEWHY NYEMA – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-889
Josephus Teewhy Nyema, a former County Correction Officer, Mercer County, Department of Public Safety, requests enforcement of a previous settlement as well as other administrative relief regarding his removal from employment, effective October 26, 2005.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be denied.
B-18 DETENTION ALTERNATIVES OFFICER TITLE SERIES - CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-1304
The Division of Agency Services requests the creation of the noncompetitive title of Detention Alternatives Officer Apprentice and the creation of the competitive titles of Senior Detention Alternatives Officer and Supervising Detention Alternatives Officer.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
B-19 R.A. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2019-2138
R.A. requests a waiver of the job requirements for Automotive Mechanic, New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be denied.
VOTE: Deirdrè L. Webster Cobb (Yes)
Dolores Gorczyca (Recuse)
Daniel W. O’Mullan (Yes)
Diomedes Tsitouras (Yes)
B-20 O.C. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-1396
The City of Elizabeth requests the removal of O.C. from the Police Officer (S9999U), City of Elizabeth, eligible list on the basis of good cause reasons as established by the appointing authority.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be denied.
PUBLIC PORTION
No comments.
There being no further business before the Civil Service Commission, the meeting was adjourned to convene on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., at 3 Station Plaza, Trenton, New Jersey.
