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MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF

THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

 

FEBRUARY 28, 2024

 

 Allison Chris Myers, Chairperson

Dolores Gorczyca

Daniel O’Mullan

Christina Mongon

  

FEBRUARY 28, 2024

 

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    A regular meeting of the Civil Service Commission was held on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., in Trenton, New Jersey.

 

   PRESENT: Allison Chris Myers, Chairperson; Members Dolores Gorczyca; Daniel O’Mullan and Christina Mongon; Levi Klinger Christiansen, Deputy Attorney General; Nicholas F. Angiulo, Director, Division of Appeals and Regulatory Affairs; Erika Barash, Commission Secretary.  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, 2023, 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 February 7, 2024.

 

ACTION:      The Civil Service Commission adopted the minutes of its meeting of February 7, 2024

VOTE:         Allison Chris Myers                (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The following appeals were withdrawn and removed from the hearing calendar:

 

Julio Cordero, Public Safety Telecommunicator, Jersey City, Department of Public Safety, removal.

 

Thomas Denton, Sheriff’s Officer, Cumberland County, Sheriff’s Department, suspension.

 

Joseph Drayton, Clerk 1, Jersey City, Department of Administration, suspensions (2) and removal.

 

Damon-Richard Moore, County Correctional Police Officer, Camden County,  Department of Corrections, release at the end of the working test period.

 

Brian Pio, County Correctional Police Officer, Salem County, Sheriff’s Department, suspension.

 

Eric Rodriguez, Laborer 1, Hoboken, Department of Environmental Services, suspension.

 

Nicole Sabbagh, Hospital Attendant, Hudson County, Department of Health and Human Services, suspension.

 

Marie Thelusma-Chase, Community Service Worker, Elizabeth Housing Authority, removal.

 

Darin Velez, Public Safety Telecommunicator, Jersey City, Department of Public Safety, suspension.

 

Jalil Wilkins, Police Officer, Newark, Department of Public Safety, suspensions (3).

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission noted the withdrawal of appeals without prejudice

 

SECTION A – HEARING MATTERS

 

A-1    SETTLEMENTS

 

William Able

Newark School District

Removal

 

Estafani Ciriaco

Hudson County

Department of Corrections

Removal

 

Frank Gaviria

William Paterson University

Demotion

 

Tawain Hill

Ann Klein Forensic Center

Department of Health

Removal

 

Jacquan Tucker

Trenton

Department of Public Works

Removal

 

Martiniquan White

Trenton Psychiatric Hospital

Department of Health

Suspension

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission acknowledged the settlements.

 

A-2    IDESHA HOWARD – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2840

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Uphold the removal. 

 

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

 

A-3    HANSEL MOSES – CSC DOCKET NO. 2019-3496

 

Hansel Moses, Supervisor Information Technology, Help Desk, East Orange, Department of Data Processing, removal, effective June 11, 2018, on charges of incompetency, inefficiency or failure to perform duties, insubordination, inability to perform duties, conduct unbecoming a public employee, neglect of duty, misuse of public property 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-4    KEVIN NORTON – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-104

 

Kevin Norton, Police Sergeant, Wanaque, Police Department, 45 working day suspension and demotion, 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 – Uphold the 45 working day suspension and demotion.

 

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

  

A-5    KEVIN NORTON – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1362

 

Kevin Norton, Police Officer, Wanaque, Police Department, removal, effective December 1, 2022, 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 – Modify the removal to a 45 working day suspension.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission modified the removal to a six-month suspension.  

VOTE:         Allison Chris Myers                (Yes)

                   Dolores Gorczyca                   (No)

                   Daniel W. O’Mullan                (Yes)

                   Christina Mongon                  (Yes)

 

A-6    JASON SABOL – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1655

 

Jason Sabol, County Correctional Police Officer, Mercer County Corrections Center,  30 working day suspension, on charges of on chronic or excessive absenteeism or lateness and other sufficient cause.

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Modify the 30 working day suspension to a 26 working day suspension.  

 

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

 

A-7    CAROLYN WHITEHEAD – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1435

 

Carolyn Whitehead, Assistant Zoning Officer, City of East Orange, Department of Policy, Planning and Development, removal and resignation not in good standing, effective July 23, 2020, on charges of insubordination and job abandonment.   

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Reverse the removal and resignation not in good standing.     

 

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

 

SECTION B – MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

 

B-1    M.D. – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2023-2160 AND 2023-40

 

M.D., represented by Lynsey A. Stehling, Esq., appeals his rejection as a Fire Fighter candidate by Teaneck and its request to remove his name from the eligible list for Fire Fighter (M1873W) on the basis of psychological unfitness to perform effectively the duties of the position.  M.D. also appeals the prior bypass of his name on the same eligible list.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission granted the list removal appeal and denied the bypass appeal.

 

B-2    C.P. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1533

 

C.P., represented by Craig S. Gumpel, Esq., appeals his rejection as a Fire Fighter candidate by Elizabeth and its request to remove his name from the eligible list for Fire Fighter (M1818W) 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-3    CLEVELAND ALEXANDER – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2932

 

Cleveland Alexander appeals the determination of the Burlington County Sheriff Department to remove his name from the eligible list for Sheriff’s Officer (C0214D), on the basis that he failed to respond to the certification notice in a timely manner.

 

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

 

B-4    KYLE WEST – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2863

 

Kyle West appeals the determination of Dover Township to remove his name from the eligible list for Fire Fighter (M1815W), 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    MARCO VELEZ – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-296

 

Marco Velez, represented by Robert K. Chewning, Esq., appeals the bypass of his name on the County Correctional Police Sergeant (PC1536A), Camden County eligible list.

 

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

 

B-6    KRISTINA KOREIVO AND STEPHEN KELLY – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2024-677 AND 2024-680

 

Kristina Koreivo and Stephen Kelly request permission to submit late applications for the promotional examination for Environmental Specialist 3 (PS9836G), Department of Environmental Protection.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that these requests be denied.

 

B-7    WILLIAM MORAN, JR. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-977

 

William Moran, Jr., appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services that he was not eligible for the promotional examination for Maintenance Worker 3, Grounds (PC3443E), Middlesex County.

 

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

 

B-8    JENNA FORSTER AND MILAGROS CAREY SANTIAGO – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2023-2556 AND 2023-2600

 

Jenna Forster and Milagros Carey Santiago appeal the determinations of the Division of Agency Services that they did not meet the experience requirements for the promotional examination for Quality Assurance Specialist, Health Services (PS9404K), Department of Human Services.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that these appeals be denied.

 

B-9    MARIELENA RODRIGUEZ – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2024-413 AND 2024-414

 

Marielena Rodriguez appeals the determinations of the Division of Agency Services that she did not meet the experience requirements for the Compliance Officer 1 MVC (PS0620T) and Compliance Officer 2 MVC (PS0621T) promotional examinations.

 

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

 

B-10   CHRISTOPHER EDWARDS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1960

 

Christopher Edwards appeals his score on the promotional examination for Battalion Fire Chief (PM3377C), Camden.

 

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

 

B-11   JAVIER MATOS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1984

 

Javier Matos, represented by Michael L. Prigoff, Esq., appeals his score on the promotional examination for Battalion Fire Chief (PM3377C), Camden.

 

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

 

B-12   FRANK THOMPSON – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2023-1925 AND 2023-2927

 

Frank Thompson appeals his score on the promotional examination for Battalion Fire Chief (PM3377C), Camden.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that these appeals be denied.

 

B-13   FIRE CHIEF, PENNSAUKEN – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-1144

 

Pennsauken appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services, which denied its request to waive the promotional examination for Fire Chief (PM3831E), Pennsauken.

 

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

 

B-14   JESSE O’BRIEN – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-1222

 

Jesse O’Brien, a Police Officer with Jersey City, represented by Zinovia H. Stone, Esq., petitions the Civil Service Commission for interim relief regarding his removals.

 

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

 

B-15   THOMAS KOHLER – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-746

 

Thomas Kohler appeals his standing on the Construction Official (M0825E), Lacey Township, eligible list.

 

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

 

B-16   ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST 4 (S1250D), STATEWIDE – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-1271

 

The Department of Community Affairs requests permission not to make an appointment from the September 25, 2023 certification for Administrative Analyst 4 (S1250D), Statewide.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission granted the appointment waiver and deferred selection costs.

 

B-17   ELECTRICIAN (M1067D), GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-1187

 

Gloucester Township requests permission not to make an appointment from the November 14, 2022 certification for Electrician (M1067D), Gloucester Township.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission granted the appointment waiver and assessed selection costs in the amount of $2,048.

 

B-18   SUPERVISING MEDICAL SECURITY OFFICER (S0039E), STATEWIDE – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-1272

 

Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, Department of Health, requests permission not to make an appointment from the June 23, 2023 certification for Supervising Medical Security Officer (S0039E), Statewide.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission granted the appointment waiver and deferred selection costs.

 

B-19   REGISTERED DENTAL ASSISTANT & STERILIZATION TECHNICIAN – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-1588

 

The Division of Agency Services requests the establishment of the noncompetitive title of Registered Dental Assistant & Sterilization Technician in accordance with N.J.A.C. 4A:3-1.2.

 

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

 

B-20   AIR GUARD FIREFIGHTER TITLES – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-1645

 

The Division of Agency Services requests the establishment of a new unclassified title series, Air Guard Firefighter, for use in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

 

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

 

PUBLIC PORTION

 

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