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MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF

THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

 

NOVEMBER 26, 2025

  

Allison Chris Myers, Chairperson

Dolores Gorczyca

Daniel W. O’Mullan

Diomedes Tsitouras

Christina Mongon

 

NOVEMBER 26, 2025

 

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    A regular meeting of the Civil Service Commission was held on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., in Trenton, New Jersey.

 

           PRESENT: Allison Chris Myers, Chairperson; Members Dolores Gorczyca; Daniel W. O’Mullan, Diomedes Tsitouras, and Christina Mongon; Levi Klinger-Christiansen, Deputy Attorney General; Nicholas F. Angiulo, Director, Division of Appeals and Regulatory Affairs; Annemarie Ragos-Goff, 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 27, 2024, 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 5, 2025.

 

ACTION:    The Civil Service Commission adopted the minutes of its meeting of November 5, 2025.

 

WITHDRAWAL OF APPEALS

 

The following appeals were withdrawn and removed from the hearing calendar:

 

David Martinez, Atlantic County, Department of Public Safety, suspension and removal.

 

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

 

SECTION A – HEARING MATTERS

 

A-1    SETTLEMENTS

 

Farhan Haroon

Hunterdon Developmental Center

Department of Human Services

 

Angelo Negron

New Lisbon Developmental Center

Department of Human Services

VOTE:         Allison Chris Myers                (Yes)

                    Dolores Gorczyca                    (Recuse)

Daniel O’Mullan                        (Yes)

                    Diomedes Tsitouras                (Yes)

                    Christina Mongon                   (Yes)

 

ACTION:    The Civil Service Commission acknowledged the settlements.

 

A-2    GALEN BAKER – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2166

 

          Galen Baker, Senior Public Safety Telecommunicator, Monmouth County, Police Radio Department, return to previously held permanent title at the end of the working test period, effective March 2, 2023.

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Uphold the return to the previously held permanent title at the end of the working test period. 

 

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

 

A-3    CHRISTOPHER LIVOTI – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-742

 

Christopher Livoti, County Correctional Police Officer, Bergen County, Sheriff’s Office, removal, effective May 9, 2023, on charges of incompetency, inefficiency or failure to perform duties, inability to perform duties, 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 affirmed the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge.

 

A-4    CARMEN SEXTON – CSC DOCKET NO. 2017-4081

 

Carmen Sexton, Correctional Police Sergeant, New Jersey State Prison, Department of Corrections, 120 working day suspension and demotion, on charges of incompetency, inefficiency or failure to perform duties, neglect of duty and other sufficient cause.

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Dismiss the appeal.

 

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

 

A-5    DANIEL SPAGNUOLO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1606

Daniel Spagnuolo, Police Officer, Lakewood, Police Department, removal, effective January 27, 2025, 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-6    SEAN VACCARO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-2626

 

Sean Vaccaro, County Correctional Police Officer, Union County, Sheriff’s Department, layoff, effective June 30, 2024, for reasons of economy or efficiency.

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Grant the appointing authority’s motion for summary decision and uphold the layoff.          

 

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

 

A-7    NICHOLAS ZATKOS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-2312

Nicholas Zatkos, Senior Correctional Police Officer, Youth Justice Commission, removal, effective April 3, 2025, on charges of conduct unbecoming a public employee and other sufficient cause.

 

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

 

ACTION:    The Civil Service Commission modified the removal to a 60 working day suspension

  

SECTION B – MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

 

B-1    P.Z. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-2302

 

          P.Z., represented by Theresa Richardson, Esq., appeals his rejection as a Police Officer candidate by Clifton and its request to remove his name from the eligible list for Police Officer (M0315F).

         

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

 

B-2    COLLEEN BAUTISTA – CSC DOCKET NO. 2026-750

          Colleen Bautista appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services that she did not meet the requirements for the Judicial Support Specialist, OAL (S0029G), Statewide open competitive examination.

         

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

 

B-3    USAMA CONSTANT, ET AL. – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2025-2857, ET AL.

 

      Usama Constant and James Lapp (PC5098F), Bergen County; and Ryan Dill and William Nagy (PC5106F), Monmouth County; appeal the promotional examination for County Correctional Police Lieutenant.

         

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

 

B-4    RICHARD THOMAS, ET AL. – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2025-2123, ET AL.

 

Richard Thomas (PM4702F), Asbury Park; Courtney Campbell, Christopher Dodson, Michael Gunsser, Ermindo Marsini, Ivaylo Penchev and Irwin Sanchez (PM4703F), Atlantic City; Daniel McNerney (PM4704F), Bayonne; Paul Pariona (PM4707), Belleville; Michael Alvarez (PM4709F), Bergenfield; Joseph Condito and Darwin Rubio (PM4712F), Bloomfield; Matthew Harris (PM4715F), Bordentown; Michael DeFluri, Matthew Farnkopf, Scott Mesmer, Kyle Patrick, David Quinn and John Sullivan (PM4716F), Brick; William Cox (PM4723F), Carteret; Malek Badeer (PM4727F), Clifton; Brielle Gallagher, Kevin Hankins, Dennis Lazanja, Michael Meagher, Jean Mimy, Daniel Mooney, Shynese Mosley and Michael Suarez (PM4737F), Elizabeth; Joseph Pride (PM4738F), Elmwood Park; Kyle McGuire (PM4739F), Ewing; Zackery Pittius (PM4745F), Freehold; Matthew Adomanis (PM4747F), Gloucester Township; Massimo DiMartino (PM4748F), Hackensack; Sean Dorney, Michael Mancino, Michael Mancuso, Hubert Markowski, Jason Miller, Justin Mura and John Murphy (PM4750F), Hamilton; Freddy Lecca (PM4752F), Harrison; Timothy Henn (PM4755F), Hillside; Jesse Castellano and Roberto Cuevas (PM4756F), Hoboken; Preston Kunz (PM4761F), Jackson; Christopher Smolt (PM4762F), Jefferson; Lizaida Azmy, Lance Blue, Lauren Brazicki, Lydiana Diaz, Maciej Kuzmicki and Nydia Rodriguez (PM4763F), Jersey City; Jonathan Dowie and John Fearon (PM4765F), Kearny; John Ganley and Matthew McKee (PM4768F), Lakewood; Javier Perez (PM4773F), Linden; Joseph Pannullo (PM4778F), Long Branch; Jordan Saini (PM4780F), Lower Township; Anthony Morgante (PM4785F), Marlboro; Salvatore Albanese, Dominick Librie, Sean MacDonald and Jesse Toma (PM4787F), Middletown; Sean Freeman, Jose Gomez, Christopher Mohr, Josue Plaza and Robert Runof (PM4797F), New Brunswick; Daniel Estremera (PM4798F), Newark; Keri Shutz (PM4801F), North Brunswick; Devon Bernard (PM4806F), Orange; Jigar Rana (PM4808F), Passaic; Ferdi Abedinoski, Rafael Campos, Eliana Dominguez, Manuel Lojo, Marisol Morales, Shedy Omar, Michael Rosario and Anais Suriel (PM4809F), Paterson; Kevin Berdnick and Gabriele DiPietro (PM4824F), Rockaway; Carlos Gonzalez (PM4825F), Roselle;  Christopher Blath (PM4838F), South Plainfield; Robert Furman, Drew Inman, Nicholas Morgante, Miguel Torres and Derick Tosado (PM4843F), Trenton; Daniel Bretton and Carlos Rodriguez (PM4845F), Union City;  Michael Beaty, Samantha Bierilo, Thomas Kelly, Francine Rocha and Ricardo Santos (PM4846F), Union Township; Stephen Saldutto (PM4849F), Verona; Daniel Ortiz (PM4851F), Voorhees; Kevin Norton (PM4854F), Wanaque; Michael Weber (PM4856F), West Milford; Jarel Ferren (PM4862F), Winslow; and Jake Fasano (PM4863F), Woodbridge; appeal the examination for Police Sergeant (various jurisdictions).

 

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

 

B-5    ALANA VELAZQUEZ – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1998

 

          Alana Velazquez, Police Officer, Elizabeth, Police Department, represented by Thomas S. Mirigliano Esq., petitions the Civil Service Commission for interim relief regarding her reinstatement following an indefinite suspension.

         

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

 

B-6    DANIEL BURKE – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-2562

 

      Daniel Burke, a former Municipal Engineer with Jackson, Department of Administration, represented by F. Kevin Lynch, Esq., requests back pay, benefits, and counsel fees in accordance with In the Matter of Daniel Burke, Jackson, Department of Administration (CSC, decided March 19, 2025).

         

          ACTION:    The Civil Service Commission awarded $86,460 in counsel fees; $2,241.31 in costs; $4,881.30 expended to maintain health insurance coverage; and granted payment for unused vacation leave.

 

B-7    LEGAL SPECIALIST TITLE SERIES – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1634

 

         The Division of Agency Services requests the establishment of the new unclassified titles Legal Specialist 1, Legal Specialist 2, Legal Specialist 3, and Legal Specialist 3, Confidential for use in State service.  Agency Services also requests that the unclassified title of Legal Specialist be inactivated.

         

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

  

B-8    TECHNICAL ASSISTANT, MOTOR VEHICLE COMMISSION – CSC DOCKET NO. 2026-1209

 

          The Division of Agency Services, on behalf of the Motor Vehicle Commission, requests to extend the reallocation of the Technical Assistant, Motor Vehicle Commission title to the noncompetitive division of the career service on an interim basis for an additional six months.

         

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

 

B-9   PETITION FOR RULEMAKING AND PROPOSED RULE AMENDMENTS:  N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.2, 2-2.4, 2-2.9., 2-2.10 AND 2-3.1; 4A:6-1.1, 6-1.2, 6-1.3 AND 6-1.9

 

          Submitted for the Commission’s consideration is a Petition for Rulemaking submitted by the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office seeking to amend the definition of the term “working days” in N.J.A.C. 4A:1-1.3.  Additionally, submitted for approval is a Notice of Proposal to amend and clarify the definition of “working day(s)” in the following rules: N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.2, Types of discipline; N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.4, Limitation on suspension and fines; N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.9, Commission hearings; N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.10, Back pay, benefits and seniority, N.J.A.C. 4A:2-3.1, General provisions; N.J.A.C. 4A:6-1.1, General provisions; N.J.A.C. 4A:6-1.2, Vacation leave; N.J.A.C. 4A:6-1.3, sick leave, and N.J.A.C. 4A:6-1.9, Administrative leave: State service.

 

          ACTION:    The Civil Service Commission held these matters over for further review.

 

PUBLIC PORTION

 

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