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Deirdré L. Webster Cobb, Chairperson
Dolores Gorczyca
Daniel W. O’Mullan
SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
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A regular meeting of the Civil Service Commission was held on Wednesday, September 25, 2019, at 10:00 a.m., in Trenton, New Jersey.
PRESENT: Deirdré L. Webster Cobb, Chairperson, Members Dolores Gorczyca and Daniel W. O’Mullan; Pamela Ullman, Deputy Attorney General; Christopher Myers, Director, Division of Appeals and Regulatory Affairs.
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 December 20, 2018, 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 September 10, 2019.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission adopted the minutes of its meeting on September 10, 2019.
WITHDRAWAL OF APPEALS
The following appeals were withdrawn and removed from the hearing calendar:
Malik Massey, Keyboarding Clerk 1, Atlantic City, Department of Planning and Developmental, removal.
James Piper, Senior Correctional Police Officer, Juvenile Justice, Juvenile Justice Commission, removal.
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:
James Evans, Truck Driver, City of Hackensack, Department of Public Works, release at the end of the working test period.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission noted the dismissal of appeals without prejudice.
SECTION A – HEARING MATTERS
A-1 SETTLEMENTS
Ciara Blakely
Woodbine Developmental Center
Department of Human Services
Removal
Ciara Blakely
Woodbine Developmental Center
Department of Human Services
Removal
Ciara Blakely
Woodbine Developmental Center
Department of Human Services
Removal
Frank Conley
Essex County
Department of Citizen Services
Removal
Michael Maldonado
City of Newark
Department of Public Safety
Suspension
Rhonda Mountcastle-Thomas
East Jersey State Prison
Department of Corrections
Suspension
Christian Nielson
Middlesex County
Department of Corrections and Youth Services
Removal
Christian Nielson
Middlesex County
Department of Corrections and Youth Services
Removal
Crystal Singleton
City of East Orange
Department of Public Safety
Suspension
RECOMMENDATION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE IN THE ABOVE CASES – SETTLEMENT
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission acknowledged the settlements.
A-2 SHANDA LABERTH
Shanda LaBerth, Human Services Assistant, Hunterdon Developmental Center, Department of Human Services, removal effective January 8, 2019, on charges of chronic or excessive absenteeism, conduct unbecoming a public employee and other sufficient cause.
Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Grant the motion for summary decision and uphold the removal.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission affirmed the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge.
A-3 JARROD MORRIS
Jarrod Morris, Boiler Operator, City of Newark, Department of Public Works, removal effective November 20, 2018, on charges of conduct unbecoming a public employee and other sufficient cause.
Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Reverse the removal,
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission affirmed the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge.
A-4 PHILIP MORRIS, JR.
Philip Morris, Jr., County Correction Sergeant, Burlington County Jail, 90 working day suspension and demotion to County Correction Officer effective May 1, 2018, on charges of incompetency, inefficiency or failure to preform duties, conduct unbecoming a public employee, neglect of duty and other sufficient cause.
Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Uphold the 90 working day suspension and demotion.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission affirmed the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge.
SECTION B – MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS
B-1 HUMAN SERVICES AIDE, BILINGUAL IN ARABIC AND ENGLISH; AND HUMAN SERVICES AIDE, BILINGUAL IN URDU AND ENGLISH – CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-756
The Division of Agency Services requests the creation of the noncompetitive titles of Human Services Aide, Bilingual in in Arabic and English and Human Services Aide, Bilingual in Urdu and English.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
B-2 D.M. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2018-3419
D.M., represented by Ricardo Gonzalez, Esq., appeals his rejection as a Police Officer candidate by the City of Newark and its request to remove his name from the eligible list for Police Officer (S9999U) on the basis of psychological unfitness to perform effectively the duties of the position.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-3 J.P. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2019-2973
J.P. appeals the removal of his name from the eligible list for Correctional Police Officer (S9988U), Department of Corrections on the basis of an unsatisfactory criminal record.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted.
B-4 HORTICULTURIST (C0673W), BURLINGTON COUNTY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-466
The County of Burlington requests permission not to make an appointment from the February 14, 2019 certification for Horticulturist (C0673W), Burlington County.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission granted the appointment waiver and assessed selection costs in the amount of $2,048.
B-5 BETTY CALLE – CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-12
Betty Calle requests that the eligible list for Social Work Supervisor (PC2710T), Camden County Board of Social Services be revived and that she be appointed.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be denied.
B-6 JOSE MARTINEZ – CSC DOCKET NO. 2019-3037
Jose Martinez appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services, which found that he did not meet the experience requirement for the promotional examination for Mechanic (PM2455W), City of Elizabeth.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted.
B-7 CESARE COSLOP, ET AL. – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2019-3402, ET AL.
Cesare Coslop, Scott Genereux, Ryan Meade, Otis Truitt and Thomas Zwolinski appeal the examination for Correctional Police Major (PS8871I), Department of Corrections.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that these appeals be denied.
B-8 VASSILIO TRIANTAFILLOU – CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-568
Vassilio Triantafillou requests admittance to the promotional examination for Police Lieutenant (PM0930A), Fort Lee.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
B-9 GERALD QUAGLIA – CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-585
Gerald Quaglia requests that he be permitted to submit an application for the promotional examination for Police Captain (PM0885A), Point Pleasant Beach, after the application filing deadline.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
B-10 GILBERT TAVARES – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2020-700 AND 2020-703
The Division of Agency Services, on behalf of the Township of Millburn, requests that Gilbert Tavares be assigned a retroactive appointment date to the Police Sergeant title. Agency Services also seeks Tavares’ eligibility for the promotional examination for Police Lieutenant (PM0945A), Millburn.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that these requests be granted.
B-11 RAMONA DERRICK - CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-470
Ramona Derrick, a Human Services Technician with Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital, Department of Health, petitions the Civil Service Commission for reconsideration of the administrative decision, rendered on May 22, 2019, in which the Director of the Division of Appeals and Regulatory Affairs denied her request for a hearing with respect to her removal.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this petition be denied.
B-12 PATRICK DUGAN – CSC DOCKET NO. 2019-3123
Patrick Dugan, represented by Carl N. Tripician, Esq., appeals the bypass of his name on the Fire Fighter (M1560T), Ocean City eligible list.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-13 BRIAN PANEK – CSC DOCKET NO. 2019-3735
The Division of State Police, on behalf of Brian Panek, a provisional Crew Supervisor, Carpenters, requests that he be added to the March 11, 2019 certification (OS190159) of the Crew Supervisor, Carpenters (S0138W), Statewide list.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be denied.
B-14 ACCOUNTANT (C0607W), UNION COUNTY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-349
The County of Union requests permission not to make an appointment from the January 24, 2019 certification for Accountant (C0607W), Union County.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission granted the appointment waiver and deferred selection costs.
B-15 FOOD SERVICE MANAGER (C0539W), BERGEN COUNTY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-586
Bergen County requests permission not to make an appointment from the September 17, 2018 certification for Food Service Manager (C0539W), Bergen County.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission granted the appointment waiver and deferred selection costs.
B-16 IN THE MATTER OF FIRE CAPTAIN (PM0432A), EWING – CSC DOCKET NO. 2019-2993
The Township of Ewing, represented by Maeve E. Cannon, Esq., appeals the denial by the Division of Agency Services of its request to have the eligibility requirement for Fire Captain (PM0432A) waived to completion of the working test period.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted.
B-17 MARC D’AMORE – CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-728
The Division of Agency Services, on behalf of Elmwood Park, requests that Marc D’Amore be assigned a retroactive appointment date to the Police Captain title.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
B-18 NICHOLAS PETRONZI AND MICHAEL KEMPE - CSC DOCKET NOS. 2020-726, ET AL.
The Division of Agency Services, on behalf of Elmwood Park, requests that Nicholas Petronzi and Michael Kempe be assigned retroactive appointment dates to the Police Sergeant title. In addition, the Borough of Elmwood Park, represented by Kyle J. Trent, Esq., seeks the eligibility of Petronzi and Kempe for the promotional examination for Police Lieutenant (PM0928A), Elmwood Park.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that these requests be granted.
B-19 JARVIS PERRY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2019-1409
Jarvis Perry, a Senior Investigator, Parole and Secured Facilities with the Department of Corrections, requests a waiver of repayment of a salary overpayment, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 11:3-7.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be denied.
B-20 KIMBERLY LIANO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2018-636
Kimberly Liano appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services which found that she did not meet the requirements for the promotional examination for Quality Assurance Specialist, Health Services (PS4301K), Department of Human Services.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-21 BRENDAN LIZOTTE – CSC DOCKET NO. 2019-709
Brendan Lizotte appeals the test administration of the physical performance portion of the examination for Fire Fighter (M1573T), Teaneck, and requests a make-up examination.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-22 SUNDERDAT SOOKRAM – CSC DOCKET NO. 2020-149
Sunderdat Sookram, a former Carpenter with the Newark Housing Authority, represented by Eldridge Hawkins, Esq., requests relief from his separation from employment commencing June 26, 2014.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that the request for interim relief be denied, a hearing be granted and a $1,000 fine be assessed against the Newark Housing Authority.
PUBLIC PORTION
None.
There being no further business before the Civil Service Commission, the meeting was adjourned to convene on Wednesday, October 23, 2019, at 10:00 a.m., at 3 Station Plaza, Trenton, New Jersey.
