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MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF
THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
APRIL 9, 2025
Allison Chris Myers, Chairperson
Dolores Gorczyca
Daniel W. O’Mullan
Diomedes Tsitouras
Christina Mongon
APRIL 9, 2025
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A regular meeting of the Civil Service Commission was held on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., in Trenton, New Jersey.
PRESENT: Allison Chris Myers, Chairperson; Members Dolores Gorczyca; Daniel 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, 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.
Submitted for adoption are the Civil Service Commission minutes of its meeting of March 19, 2025.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission adopted the minutes of its meeting of March 19, 2025.
WITHDRAWAL OF APPEALS
The following appeals were withdrawn and removed from the hearing calendar:
Christine Dennett, Motor Vehicle Commission, return to previously held permanent title at the end of the working test period.
Melissa Doktor, Edna Mahan Correctional Facility, Department of Corrections, suspensions (2).
William Fallon, Department of Transportation, release at the end of the working test period.
Cesar Fernandez-Pena, Perth Amboy, Department of Public Works, suspension.
Daniel Hogan, Newark School District, release at the end of the working test period.
Justin Jackson, East Orange, Department of Public Safety, removal.
Theresa Marinelli, Stockton University, demotion.
Omayra Rivera, Essex County, Division of Citizen Services, removal.
Salvatore Spilletti, Hudson County, Department of Corrections, 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:
Michael Harmon, Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, Department of Health, removal.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission noted the dismissal of appeals without prejudice.
SECTION A – HEARING MATTERS
A-1 SETTLEMENTS
Rasadeen Brown
Newark
Department of Public Works
The Civil Service Commission held this matter for further review.
Ismael Garcia-Nunez (2 appeals)
Hudson County
Department of Roads and Public Property
Glen Green
Newark
Department of Public Safety
Bruce Greenwood
Department of Transportation
VOTE: Allison Chris Myers (Yes)
Dolores Gorczyca (Recuse)
Daniel O’Mullan (Yes)
Diomedes Tsitouras (Yes)
Christina Mongon (Yes)
Ramon Johnson
Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital
Department of Health
Marcus Lisa
Byram
Police Department
Zaynah Pickett
Newark
Department of Public Safety
Stephen Pitts
Camden City
Department of Public Works
Jerrell Robinson
Passaic County
Board of Social Services
Wynee Spencer
Newark
Department of Public Safety
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 MAURICE BULLOCK – CSC DOCKET NO. 2021-487
Maurice Bullock, Fire Captain, Newark, Department of Public Safety, 10 and 90 working day suspensions, on charges of insubordination, neglect of duty and other sufficient cause.
Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Reverse the 10 working day suspension and uphold the 90 working day suspension.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission affirmed the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge.
A-3 MARIO FERNANDEZ – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1790
Mario Fernandez, County Correctional Police Sergeant, Hudson County, Department of Corrections, 40 working day suspension, 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 – Modify the 40 working day suspension to a seven working day suspension.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission affirmed the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge.
A-4 MICHAEL FLEURY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-1622
Michael Fleury, Maintenance Worker 1, Grounds, Millville, Department of Parks and Public Property, removal, effective November 13, 2023, on charges of incompetency, inefficiency or failure to perform duties, neglect of duty and other sufficient cause.
Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Modify the removal to a six-month suspension.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission held this matter for further review.
A-5 YESSENIA MONTALVO – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2022-1463 AND 2022-3149 (Consolidated)
Yessenia Montalvo, Clerk 1, Bloomfield, Department of Municipal Court, 90 working day suspension and removal, effective June 1, 2022, on charges incompetency, inefficiency or failure to perform duties, insubordination, conduct unbecoming a public employee and other sufficient cause.
Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Uphold the 90 working day suspension and modify the removal to a 45 working day suspension.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission affirmed the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge to uphold the 90 working days suspension and rejected the recommendation to modify the removal to a 45 working day suspension. Rather, the Commission reversed the removal.
SECTION B – MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS
B-1 J.M. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-764
J.M., represented by Stuart J. Alterman, Esq., appeals his rejection as a Sheriff’s Officer candidate by Gloucester County and its request to remove his name from the eligible list for Sheriff’s Officer (C0219D).
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-2 S.A. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-1670
S.A. appeals her rejection as a Police Officer candidate by Paterson and its request to remove her name from the eligible list for Police Officer (M0117D).
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-3 D.A. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-444
D.A., represented by Stephen B. Hunter, Esq., appeals his rejection as a Police Officer candidate by Elizabeth and its request to remove his name from the eligible list for Police Officer (M0039D).
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-4 C.G. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-2620
C.G., represented by Robert K. Chewning, Esq., appeals his rejection as a Fire Fighter candidate by Bloomfield and its request to remove his name from the eligible list for Fire Fighter (M2205D).
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted.
B-5 JONATHAN OSPINA – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-348
Jonathan Ospina, represented by Stephen B. Hunter, Esq. appeals the decision to remove his name from the Police Officer (M2205E), Elizabeth, eligible list.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-6 MAKHOSINI DHLAMINI – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-988
Makhosini Dhlamini, represented by Patrick P. Toscano, Jr., Esq., appeals the bypass of his name on the promotional list for County Correctional Police Sergeant (PC4825C), Hudson County.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-7 KENDRICK MANZANO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-363
Kendrick Manzano appeals the bypass of his name on the Fire Fighter (M2205D), Bloomfield eligible list.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-8 IAN BRUNDAGE, ET AL. – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2025-940, ET AL.
Ian Brundage (PM3741F), Bloomfield; Sean Cahill (PM3785F), New Brunswick; Michael Clark (PM3820F), Winslow; Eric Santos (PM3786F), Newark; and Ryan Uzunis (PM3788F), North Brunswick; appeal the promotional examination for Police Captain (various jurisdictions).
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that these appeals be denied.
B-9 JAMES CULLEN, ET AL. – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2025-914, ET AL.
James Cullen (PM3927F), West Orange; Anthony Damico (PM3828F), Belleville; Ryan Daughton (PM3888F), New Brunswick; Michal Gontarczuk and Benjamin Wuelfing (PM3865F), Kearny; Nicholas Haines (PM3880F), Middletown; Michael Kenna (PM3854F), Hamilton; Joseph Poole (PM3925F), Weehawken; Brian Rosas (PM3923F), Wallington; An Wang (PM3914F), South Amboy; and Andrew Wayne (PM3874F), Lopatcong; appeal the promotional examination for Police Lieutenant (various jurisdictions).
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that these appeals be denied.
B-10 JACEK DEMCZUK, ET AL. – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2025-535, ET AL.
Jacek Demczuk, Patrick Fiume and Anthony Scala appeal the determinations of the Division of Agency Services which found them ineligible for the promotional examination for Police Lieutenant (PM3891F), North Arlington.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that these appeals be granted.
B-11 MATTHEW MURPHY, ET AL. – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2025-419, ET AL.
Matthew Murphy, Jamie Sackerman and Joseph Sloan appeal the determinations of the Division of Agency Services which found them ineligible for the promotional examination for Police Lieutenant (PM3856F), Harrison.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that these appeals be granted.
B-12 B.C. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1769
B.C., a Family Service Specialist 2 with the Department of Children and Families (DCF), requests a waiver of examination for the promotional examination for Family Service Specialist 1 (PS8271K), DCF.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be denied.
B-13 C.D. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1753
C.D. appeals the test administration of the Police Sergeant (PM4704F), Bayonne promotional examination.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.
B-14 DENESHA RANSOME – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2886
Denesha Ransome requests a retest of the physical performance portion of the examination for Fire Fighter (M2276D), Willingboro.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
B-15 ERIC DELGADO AND TIMOTHY MITCHELL – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2024-1344, ET AL.
Eric Delgado and Timothy Mitchell, represented by David Beckett, Esq., appeal the determinations of the Division of Agency Services, which found that they did not meet the permanent service requirement for the promotional examination for Sergeant Campus Police (PS3229J), Montclair State University.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that these appeals be denied.
B-16 JASON CALLAN AND MICHAEL OLSON – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2025-431 AND 2025-432
Jason Callan and Michael Olson, represented by Stuart J. Alterman, Esq., petition the Civil Service Commission for reconsideration of its decision in In the Matter of Jason Callan and Michael Olson, Camden County Sheriff’s Office (CSC, decided July 3, 2024).
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that these petitions be denied.
B-17 JOSEPH KELLY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-589
Joseph Kelly requests reconsideration of the final decision, rendered on July 24, 2024, which granted in part his appeal of his score on the oral portion of the promotional examination for Fire Officer 1 (PM2389C), Jersey City.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be denied.
B-18 MACK RAGSDALE – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1377
Mack Ragsdale, an Electronic Systems Technician 2, Atlantic City, Department of Municipal Utilities Authority, represented by David L. Tucker, President, Government Workers Union, requests back pay and reinstatement pursuant to In the Matter of Mack Ragsdale (CSC, decided November 6, 2024).
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted in part.
B-19 THOMAS RIORDAN – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-335
Thomas Riordan, a Police Lieutenant with the Vineland Police Department, represented by Christopher St. John Esq., requests that the Civil Service Commission determine his entitlements to back pay, benefits and counsel fees pursuant to its June 12, 2024, decision.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that the request for back pay be denied from October 22, 2023 through June 12, 2024. The Commission further granted differential back pay from June 13, 2023, to the date of reinstatement, $27,450 in counsel fees, $1,123.65 in costs, and reimbursement for health insurance premiums paid for continuation of health insurance.
B-20 FRED MITCHELL – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-2056
Fred Mitchell, a former Fire Prevention Specialist, appeals Berkeley’s calculation of his vacation leave entitlement for 2024.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted.
B-21 CLASSIFICATION OFFICER, DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TITLE SERIES – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1923
The Division of Agency Services requests the establishment of a new Classification Officer, Department of Corrections (DOC) title series for use in the DOC.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
B-22 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TITLES – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1927
The Division of Agency Services requests that specified titles within the Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture be placed in the noncompetitive division of the career service on an interim basis in order to permanently appoint 24 individuals in those agencies. Additionally, the New Jersey Governor’s Office of Employee Relations and the Communications Workers of America request certain vacation time allotment for the affected employees.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that these requests be granted.
B-23 HAMILTON TOWNSHIP SPECIAL REEMPLOYMENT LISTS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1926
Hamilton Township requests that the provisions of N.J.A.C. 4A:8-2.3 be relaxed so that it may utilize special reemployment lists created due to personnel actions stemming from the transfer of employees from Hamilton Fire Districts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 to the Fire Division within Hamilton, effective January 1, 2021.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
B-24 CLAIMS INVESTIGATOR TRAINEE – CSC DOCKET NO. 2025-1924
The Division of Agency Services, on behalf the Department of the Treasury, requests the creation of the noncompetitive title of Claims Investigator Trainee.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.
Submitted for the Commission’s approval is a Notice of Proposal to promulgate new rules, N.J.A.C. 4A:6-7 et seq., Telework Program: State service, in accordance with In the Matter of Model Telework Pilot Program, State Executive Branch Employees (CSC, decided April 6, 2022); In the Matter of Model Telework Pilot Program, State Executive Branch Employees (CSC, decided July 20, 2022); In the Matter of Model Telework Pilot Program, State Executive Branch Employees (CSC, decided June 7, 2023); and In the Matter of Model Telework Pilot Program, State Executive Branch Employees (CSC, decided May 22, 2024). The proposal also calls for amendment to N.J.A.C. 4A:6-2.5, Hours of Work, and N.J.A.C. 4A:6-2.7, Alternative Workweek Programs: State service, to ensure consistency with the proposed new rules.
ACTION: The Civil Service Commission approved the proposed new rule and amendments for public notice and comment.
PUBLIC PORTION
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