Official Site of The State of New Jersey
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF
THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
September 2, 2026
Mary Cruz, Acting Chairperson
Dolores Gorczyca
Diomedes Tsitouras
Christina Mongon
SEPTEMBER 2, 2026
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A regular meeting of the Civil Service Commission was held on Wednesday, September 2 2026, at 10:00 a.m., in Trenton, New Jersey.
PRESENT: Mary Cruz, Acting Chairperson; Members Dolores Gorczyca, Diomedes Tsitouras, and Christina Mongon; Brian Ragunan, Deputy Attorney General; Shannon L. Dalton, 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 August 12, 2026.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission adopted the minutes of its meeting of August 12, 2026.
WITHDRAWAL OF APPEALS
The following appeal was withdrawn and removed from the hearing calendar:
Keira Davis, Human Services Specialist 2, Union County Department of Human Services, suspension.
Richard Lopez, Public Works Superintendent, City of Newark, Department of Public Works, removal.
Wendy Suarez, County Correctional Police Sergeant, Hudson County, Department of Corrections, suspension.
Rodney Washington, Security Guard, City of Trenton, Department of Water and Sewer, suspension.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission noted the withdrawal of the appeals.
DISMISSAL FOR FAILURE TO APPEAR
The Civil Service Commission dismissed the following appeal for failure to appear at the scheduled proceedings before the Office of Administrative Law:
Daniel Ramos, Carpenter, Vineland City School District, suspension.
Kristi White, Public Safety Telecommunicator, Cape May County Department of Civil Defense, removal.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission noted the dismissal of the appeal.
SECTION A – HEARING MATTERS
A-1 SETTLEMENTS
Anthony Delmonte
Bergen County
Department of Public Safety
Alex Guzman
Township of North Bergen
Department of Public Safety
Michael Hampton
City of Newark
Department of Public Works
Wilnor Jean
Essex County
Department of Corrections
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission acknowledged the settlements.
A-2 SYKEEMA BELL – CSC DOCKET NO. 2026-307
Sykeema Bell, a Probation Officer, with the Judiciary, Mercer Vicinage, appeals her 10 working day suspension, effective July 28, 2025, on charges of conduct unbecoming a public employee, and other sufficient causes.
Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Reverse the 10 working day suspension.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission affirmed the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge.
A-3 BARBARA DILLER – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-1725
Barbara Diller, a Senior Therapy Program Assistant, with the Department of Human Services, Hunterdon Developmental Center, appeals her resignation not in good standing, effective October 20, 2021, on charges of conduct unbecoming a public employee, and other sufficient causes.
Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Modify the resignation not in good standing to a resignation in good standing.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission affirmed the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge.
A-4 KYLE EIDSON – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-996
Kyle Eidson, a Firefighter, with Woodbridge Township Fire Department, Fire District 1, appeals release at the end of his working test period, effective October 5, 2024.
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-5 DEVON KELLY – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2025-763, ET. AL.
Devon Kelly, a Public Safety Telecommunicator, with Gloucester County, Department of Emergency Response, appeals three suspensions and a removal, on charges of incompetency, inefficiency or failure to perform duties; insubordination; chronic or excessive absenteeism or lateness; conduct unbecoming a public employee; neglect of duties; and other sufficient causes, specifically violations of departmental policies.
Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Dismiss the appeals due to her failure to appear.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission affirmed the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge.
A-6 LASHETA MONTIGUE – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1242
Lasheta Montigue, a Senior Correctional Police Officer, with South Woods State Prison, Department of Corrections, appeals her 90 working day suspension, on charges of conduct unbecoming a public employee and other sufficient cause, specifically violations of departmental policies.
Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Modify the 90 working day suspension to a 75 working day suspension.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission rejected the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge and upheld the 90 working day suspension.
VOTE: Mary Cruz (Yes)
Dolores Gorczyca (No)
Diomedes Tsitouras (Yes)
Christina Mongon (Yes)
A-7 VINCENT VIDINHA – CSC DOCKET NO. 2026-1696
Vincent Vidinha, a Firefighter with the City of Newark, Fire Division, appeals his removal, effective December 19, 2025, on charges of inability to perform duties and other sufficient cause.
Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Uphold the removal.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission remanded the matter to the Office of Administrative Law for further review.
SECTION B – MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS
B-1 CHRISTOPHER BOLTON– CSC DOCKET NO. 2026-1831
Christopher Bolton, represented by Robert K. Chewning, Esq., appeals the removal of his name from the eligible list for Fire Fighter (M2428F), Hackensack, on the basis of his age.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-2 T.L.– CSC DOCKET NO. 2026-1212
T.L. appeals the decision to remove her name from the Clerk 3 (M0970E), Newark School District eligible list and other relief.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-3 T.R.– CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1985
T.R. appeals his rejection as a Fire Fighter candidate by East Orange and its request to remove his name from the eligible list for Fire Fighter.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be dismissed as untimely.
B-4 NAZIA MUGHIS-SOHRAWARDY– CSC DOCKET NO. 2026-1208
Nazia Mughis-Sohrawardy appeals the bypass of her name on the promotional list for Environmental Engineer 4 (PS8885G), Department of Environmental Protection.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be denied.
B-5 EMILY BIRKENSTAMM – CSC DOCKET NO. 2026-857
Emily Birkenstamm appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services which found that she was below the minimum requirements in experience for the open competitive examination for Program Specialist 2 Social Human Services (S0365G), Statewide.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be denied and referred the matter of the classification of the position to the Division of Agency Services.
B-6 VATSALKUMAR PATEL – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-2677
Vatsalkumar Patel appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services which found that he was below the minimum requirements in experience for the promotional examination for Administrative Analyst 4, Information Systems (PS9687T), Department of Transportation.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-7 HANNA STEINMEYER – CSC DOCKET NO. 2026-564
Hannah Steinmeyer appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services, which found that she did not meet the experience requirement for the open-competitive examination for Program Analyst (M0464G), Atlantic City.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be denied.
B-8 POLICE OFFICER (M2429E), SOMERS POINT– CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-2419
The Division of Human Resource Information Services requests that the Civil Service Commission order Somers Point to return the June 20, 2024 certification (OL240703) of the eligible list for Police Officer (M2429E), Somers Point, for proper disposition.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
B-9 STACEY WILLIAMS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2026-1754
The Borough of Roselle, represented by Allan C. Roth, Esq., requests a stay of In the Matter of Stacey Williams (CSC, decided December 17, 2025) and the Chairperson’s January 22, 2026 letter.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be denied.
B-10 BERNACINE BARNES – CSC DOCKET NO. 2026-1118
Bernacine Barnes, a former Senior Receptionist with the Monmouth County Department of Human Services, requests reconsideration of In the Matter of Bernacine Barnes (CSC, decided September 24, 2025) where the Civil Service Commission upheld her removal, effective August 17, 2017.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be denied.
B-11 JOSEPH HOWE – CSC DOCKET NO. 2026-1221
The Cape May County Sheriff’s Office, represented by William G. Blaney, Esq., requests reconsideration of the Civil Service Commission’s decision In the Matter of Joseph Howe (CSC, decided September 24, 2025).
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be denied.
B-12 RYAN CICHON – CSC DOCKET NO. 2026-1758
Ryan Cichon, a Police Captain with the Pompton Lakes Police Department, represented by Gina Mendola Longarzo, Esq., petitions the Civil Service Commission for interim relief regarding his immediate suspension without pay commencing on April 11, 2025.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this petition be denied.
B-13 INTERIM REALLOCATION OF STATE TITLES – CSC DOCKET NO. 2027-299
The Division of Agency Services requests the reallocation of State job titles in order to effect the permanent appointments of certain employees to the noncompetitive division of the career service on an interim basis.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
B-14 R.D. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2026-1825
R.D. appeals his nonappointment on the Locksmith (S1515F), Statewide eligible list.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-15 ENTOMOLOGIST TRAINEE – CSC DOCKET NO. 2027-307
The Division of Agency Services requests the reactivation of the Entomologist Trainee title and its reallocation to the non-competitive division of the career service in accordance with N.J.A.C. 4A:3-1.2.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
B-16 LEGAL SPECIALIST– CSC DOCKET NO. 2027-419
The Governor’s Office of Employee Relations and the Communications Workers of America request implementation of the attached Memorandum of Agreement, granting relief to certain incumbents of the Legal Specialist title series.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
B-17 M.B. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-771
M.B., a Correctional Police Lieutenant with the Department of Corrections, requests a waiver of repayment of a salary overpayment.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be denied.
B-18 E.F. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-201
E.F., a Lieutenant, State Investigator, with the Department of Law and Public Safety, represented by Donald C. Barbati, Esq., requests a waiver of a salary overpayment.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be denied.
B-19 J.K. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-795
J.K., a Correctional Police Lieutenant with the Department of Corrections, requests a waiver of repayment of a salary overpayment.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be denied.
PUBLIC PORTION
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