[Printable PDF Format]

 

 

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF

THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

 

FEBRUARY 4, 2026

  

Allison Chris Myers, Chairperson

Dolores Gorczyca

Daniel W. O’Mullan

Diomedes Tsitouras

Christina Mongon

FEBRUARY 4, 2026

 

*******************************************************************

 

    A regular meeting of the Civil Service Commission was held on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, 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; Dulce A. Sulit-Villamor, Director, Division of Appeals and Regulatory Affairs; and Annemarie Ragos-Goff, Commission Secretary, were present.  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 5, 2025, 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 January 21, 2026.

 

ACTION:    The Civil Service Commission adopted the minutes of its meeting of January 21, 2026. 

WITHDRAWAL OF APPEALS

 

The following appeals were withdrawn and removed from the hearing calendar:

Summer Bajewicz, Gloucester County, Department of Emergency Response, removal.

 

VOTE:         Allison Chris Myers                (Yes)

                    Dolores Gorczyca                    (Recuse)

Daniel O’Mullan                           (Yes)

Diomedes Tsitouras                    (Yes)

                    Christina Mongon                   (Yes)

 

Judy Bellamy, Mercer County, Corrections Center, suspensions (5).

 

Jennifer Hirschmanner, City of Paterson, reassignment. 

 

Michael Mattura, Union City, Department of Public Safety, suspension.

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

DISMISSAL FOR FAILURE TO APPEAR

 

The Civil Service Commission dismissed the following cases without prejudice for failure to appear at the scheduled hearing before the Office of Administrative Law:

 

Charles Lawhorn, New Lisbon Developmental Center, Department of Human Services, removal.

 

ACTION:    The Civil Service Commission noted the dismissal of the appeal without prejudice.

 

 

SECTION A – HEARING MATTERS

 

A-1    SETTLEMENTS

Lionel Arrington (3)

Woodbine Developmental Center

Department of Human Services

 

Michael Barbosa

Essex County

Department of Public Safety and Corrections

 

Delroy Lyons (Consolidated)

Hudson County

Department of Corrections

 

Samantha Martinez (Consolidated)

Union City

          Department of Public Safety

 

          Ida Ohene

          Division of Aging Services

          Department of Human Services

         

          Daniel Ramos

          Vineland School District

 

ACTION:    The Civil Service Commission acknowledged the settlements.

A-2    JENNIFER AKTURK – CSC DOCKET NO. 2026-809

 

Jennifer Akturk, a Correctional Police Sergeant with the Garden State Youth Correctional Facility, Department of Corrections, appeals her 120 working day suspension on charges of conduct unbecoming a public employee, other sufficient cause, and violations of departmental rules. 

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge - Reverse the 120 working day suspension.

 

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

 

A-3    DANE BATH – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2025-1529 AND 2025-1916

 

Dane Bath, a former Public Safety Telecommunicator Trainee with Morris County, Department of Law and Public Safety, appeals an eight working day suspension, effective November 25, 2024, on charges of incompetency, inefficiency, or failure to perform duties; insubordination; inability to perform duties; neglect of duty; and other sufficient cause.  The appellant also appeals his release at the end of the working test period effective December 9, 2024.

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge –Uphold the eight working day suspension and release at the end of the working test period. 

 

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

 

A-4    JOHN FANO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-2593

 

John Fano, a Police Sergeant Human Services with the Department of Human Services, appeals his 10 working day suspension on charges of conduct unbecoming a public employee, other sufficient cause, and violations of departmental procedures, policies, rules, and regulations.  

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Approve the settlement.

 

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

 

VOTE:         Allison Chris Myers                (Yes)

                    Dolores Gorczyca                    (Yes)

Daniel O’Mullan                           (Yes)

Diomedes Tsitouras                    (Yes)

                    Christina Mongon                   (Recuse)

 

A-5    SHERENE GRAY– CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-2734

 

Sherene Gray, a Nurse’s Aide with Passaic County, Preakness Healthcare Center, was removed, effective May 12, 2025, on charges of conduct unbecoming a public employee, chronic or excessive absenteeism or lateness, 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    A.E. AND H.D. – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2021-613 AND 2021-672

 

A.E., a Human Services Technician, and H.D., a Human Services Assistant, with Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, Department of Health, appeal their removals, effective January 14, 2022, on charges of conduct unbecoming a public employee, other sufficient cause, and violating administrative orders, policy, and procedures. 

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Reverse the removals.

 

ACTION:    The Civil Service Commission rejected the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge and upheld the removals.

 

VOTE:         Allison Chris Myers                (Yes)

                    Dolores Gorczyca                    (Yes)

Daniel O’Mullan                           (Yes)

Diomedes Tsitouras                    (Yes)

                    Christina Mongon                   (Recuse)

 

SECTION B – MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

 

B-1    N.C.-M. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2026-34

           N.C.-M. appeals his rejection as a Police Officer candidate by Rahway and its request to remove his name from the eligible list for Police Officer (M0374F).

 

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

 

B-2    I.I. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1697

 

           I.I., represented by Michael L. Prigoff, 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 (M2267D).

 

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

 

B-3    Q.H. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1524

 

           Q.H. appeals his rejection as a Fire Fighter candidate by Plainfield and its request to remove his name from the eligible list for Fire Fighter (M2260D).

 

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

 

 

B-4    R.W. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-2078

 

           R.W. appeals his rejection as a Fire Fighter candidate by Newark and its request to remove his name from the eligible list for Fire Fighter (M2250D).

 

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

 

B-5    LEONEL RODRIGUEZ – CSC DOCKET NO. 2026-323

 

           Leonel Rodriguez appeals the removal of his name from the eligible list for Fire Fighter (M2238D), Jersey City.

 

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

 

B-6    CHRISTOPHER GERACE – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1584

 

           Christopher Gerace appeals the decision of the Division of Agency Services, which found him ineligible for the open competitive examination for Occupational Safety Consultant 1 (S1269F), Statewide.

 

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

 

B-7    JAMES CLANCY, JR. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-2256

 

      James Clancy, Jr., appeals his score on the oral portion of the promotional examination for Fire Captain (PM1996F), Cinnaminson.

 

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

 

B-8    RAJINI ALLAREDDY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-2727

 

           Rajini Allareddy requests reconsideration of the final decision of the Civil Service Commission in In the Matter of Rajini Allareddy (CSC, decided June 11, 2025), which found her ineligible for the Supervisor Information Technology (PS4798K), Department of Human Services, promotional examination.

 

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

 

 

VOTE:         Allison Chris Myers                (Yes)

                    Dolores Gorczyca                    (Yes)

Daniel O’Mullan                           (Abstain)

Diomedes Tsitouras                    (Yes)

                    Christina Mongon                   (Yes)

 

B-9    S.Y. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2026-313

 

           S.Y., a former Fire Fighter with Voorhees, appeals its decision not to reemploy her as a Fire Fighter.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be

                    dismissed.

 

 

PUBLIC PORTION

 

There were no comments.