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MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF

THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

 

MAY 1, 2024

  

Allison Chris Myers, Chairperson

Dolores Gorczyca

Daniel W. O’Mullan

Diomedes Tsitouras

 

MAY 1, 2024

 

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    A regular meeting of the Civil Service Commission was held on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., in Trenton, New Jersey.

 

    PRESENT: Allison Chris Myers, Chairperson; Members Dolores Gorczyca, Daniel W. O’Mullan, and Diomedes Tsitouras; Levi Klinger- Christiansen, Deputy Attorney General; Dulce A. Sulit-Villamor, Deputy Director, Division of Appeals and Regulatory Affairs; Annemarie Ragos, 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 April 10, 2024.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission adopted the minutes of its meeting of April 10, 2024.

 

WITHDRAWAL OF APPEALS

 

The following appeals were withdrawn and removed from the hearing calendar:

 

Wendell Adamson, Truck Driver Heavy, City of Newark, Department of Public Safety, suspension.

 

Marie Alverna, Human Services Assistant, Veterans Memorial Home – Menlo Park, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, removal.

 

Tanya Capicotto, Senior Technician MVC, Motor Vehicle Commission, return to previously held permanent title at the end of the working test period. 

 

Donna DiPalma, Keyboarding Clerk 2, Township of Pemberton, Department of Community Development, removal.

 

Jessica Gomez, Cottage Training Technician, Vineland Development Center, Department of Human Services, removal.

 

Shantale Jones, Human Services Specialist 1, Burlington County Board of Social Services, return to previously held permanent title at the end of the working test period. 

 

Kevin Roldan, Police Officer, Union City, Department of Public Safety, release at the end of the working test period. 

 

Bertha Voltaire, Human Services Technician, Veterans Memorial Home – Menlo Park, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, removal.

 

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

 

SECTION A – HEARING MATTERS

 

A-1    SETTLEMENTS

 

 Ronda Anderson

 Motor Vehicle Commission

 

Shawn Delmar

Department of the Treasury

         

Charles Ellington

New Jersey City University

VOTE:         Allison Chris Myers                (Yes)

                   Dolores Gorczyca                   (Recuse)

                   Daniel W. O’Mullan                (Yes)

                   Diomedes Tsitouras               (Yes)          

                  

Jasmine Fortune

Essex County

Department of Citizens Services

 

Keith Graham

Kean University

 

Keith Graham

Kean University

 

Quashanna Smith

New Jersey City University

VOTE:         Allison Chris Myers                (Yes)

                   Dolores Gorczyca                   (Recuse)

                   Daniel W. O’Mullan                (Yes)

                   Diomedes Tsitouras               (Yes)          

                  

Brendel Torregroza

Motor Vehicle Commission

 

James Troisi

Juvenile Justice Commission

 

Devon Vassell

Edna Mahan Correctional Facility

Department of Corrections

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission acknowledged the settlements.

 

 A-2    JACQUELINE COLEY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-535

 

Jacqueline Coley, Principal Clerk Transcriber, Plainfield, Fire Department, removal, effective November 2, 2020, 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 – Reverse the removal.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission rejected the initial decision and acknowledged the settlement.

 

A-3    DOMINICK COMPANO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-193

 

Dominick Compano, Laborer 1, Morris County, Department of Public Works, release at the end of the working test period effective June 30, 2023. 

 

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-4    K.E. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-812

 

K.E., Senior Medical Security Officer, Ann Klein Forensic Center, Department of Health, removal, effective November 30, 2021, on charges of conduct unbecoming a public employee, neglect of duty, and other sufficient cause.

           

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    D.L. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2019-2468 (CONSOLIDATED)

 

D.L., Senior Medical Security Officer, Ann Klein Forensic Center, Department of Health, removal effective May 2, 2018, on charges of conduct unbecoming a public employee and violating administrative orders.

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Uphold the removal. 

 

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

 

A-6    RICHIE LOPEZ – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-631

 

Richie Lopez, Police Officer, Jersey City, removal, effective August 23, 2022, on charges of conduct unbecoming a public employee and violation of departmental rules.  

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Uphold the removal. 

 

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

 

A-7    MONTAVIOUS PATTEN – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-1054

 

Montavious Patten, Police Officer, Jersey City, removal, effective October 2, 2023, on charges of insubordination, inability to perform duties, conduct unbecoming a public employee, neglect of duty, other sufficient cause, and violation of departmental rules.

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Uphold the removal. 

 

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

 

SECTION B – MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

 

B-1    ARIANNA CAMPBELL – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-399

 

Arianna Campbell appeals the removal of her name from the eligible list for Police Officer (M0034D), East Orange.

           

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

 

B-2    DYLAN S. BARSONY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-238

 

Dylan S. Barsony appeals the bypass of his name on the Police Officer (M0161D), Voorhees Township, eligible list. 

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission referred the matter to the Office of Administrative Law for a hearing as a contested case.

 

B-3    TRAVIS NICOL – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-1449

 

Travis Nicol appeals the bypass of his name on the Supervising Public Safety Telecommunicator (PC1768A), Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, eligible list.

 

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

 

B-4    MICHAEL COMPANICK – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-836

 

Michael Companick requests a make-up examination for Environmental Specialist 3 (PS9148G), Department of Environmental Protection.

 

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

 

B-5    NELIDA ANDUJAR – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2854

 

Nelida Andujar appeals the examination administration for the promotional examination for Senior Human Services Technician (PS8026H), Ancora Psychiatric Hospital, Department of Health.

 

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

 

B-6    J.C. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-799

 

J.C., an Insurance Examiner 1 with the Department of Banking and Insurance, appeals the determination of the Assistant Commissioner, which found that the appellant failed to present sufficient evidence 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-7    STEPHAN PITTS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-763

 

Stephan Pitts, a Road Repairer 2 with Camden County, Department of Public Works, represented by William B. Hildebrand, Esq., requests reconsideration of the Civil Service Commission’s September 20, 2023 decision which dismissed his appeal.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted, and the matter be transmitted to the Office of Administrative Law for further proceedings.

 

B-8  UNCLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES, MOTOR VEHICLE COMMISSION, STATE PAROLE BOARD, AND DEPARTMENT OF STATE – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2024-2063, ET AL.

 

The New Jersey Governor’s Office of Employee Relations and the Communications Workers of America request that various titles be placed in the noncompetitive division of the career service on an interim basis in order to permanently appoint 20 individuals within the Motor Vehicle Commission, State Parole Board, and the Department of State.  The petitioners also request a relaxation of N.J.A.C. 4A:6-1.2(a) regarding vacation leave.

 

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

 

B-9  JEFFREY BENTON – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-581

 

Jeffrey Benton, a Senior Correctional Police Officer with Northern State Prison, Department of Corrections, represented by Stuart J. Alterman, Esq., requests counsel fees in accordance with In the Matter of Jeffrey Benton, East Jersey State Prison, Department of Corrections (CSC, decided March 29, 2023).

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission awarded counsel fees and costs in the amount of $59,593.75.

 

PUBLIC PORTION

 

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