Rent Regulation Officer Bilingual in Spanish and English (M0524U), CSC Docket No. 2019-759

BackgroundThe Division of Agency Services (Agency Services) requests that Newark be ordered to return the March 28, 2017 certification (OL170341) of the eligible list for Rent Regulation Officer Bilingual in Spanish and English (M0524U) (Title Code 07831) for proper disposition.

By way of background, Newark provisionally appointed Jacquea Lee, pending open-competitive examination procedures, to the title of Rent Regulation Officer Bilingual in Spanish and English, effective May 9, 2016. This provisional appointment generated an examination announcement (M0524U) for the subject title with a closing date of August 5, 2016, which resulted in a list of one eligible that promulgated on November 24, 2016 and expired on November 23, 2019. It is noted that Lee was deemed ineligible. A certification (OL161369) was issued on November 28, 2016 and consisted of the lone eligible, Annie Suero. Newark returned the certification indicating that Suero was interested but that no appointment would be made since the certification was incomplete.

Thereafter, Suero contacted Agency Services and indicated that she was interested in a provisional appointment. As a result, a second certification (OL170341) consisting of Suero’s name was issued on March 28, 2017. Newark did not return the certification by the required disposition date. Agency Services issued a Notice of Violation and Salary Disapproval Order, both of which notified Newark that it was required to properly dispose of the certification. However, Newark failed to return the certification. Subsequently, Agency Services referred the matter to the Civil Service Commission (Commission) for enforcement.

Newark was notified that the matter had been referred to the Commission for enforcement and that the Commission was reviewing the matter for possible action to be taken against Newark for its failure to properly dispose of the certification.

Despite several opportunities to do so, Newark has not returned the certification as requested nor has it submitted any additional information. Personnel records reveal that Lee continues to serve provisionally in the subject title.

CONCLUSION

In the instant matter, although Suero has indicated her interest in the provisional appointment, Newark has failed to either provisionally appoint her or vacate Lee’s position. N.J.S.A. 11A:4-8 and N.J.A.C. 4A:4-4.2(c)2i provide that when fewer than three interested eligibles are certified and no provisional currently serving in the title is listed on the certification, the appointing authority may either: make a permanent appointment; make a provisional appointment from the list; make a provisional appointment of another qualified person if no eligible on the list is interested; or vacate the position/title. Consequently, Newark must either provisionally appoint Suero, provide a legitimate reason for her removal from the eligible list, or vacate the subject position.

The Commission is specifically given the power to assess compliance costs and fines against an appointing authority, including all administrative costs and charges, as well as fines of not more than $10,000, for noncompliance or violation of Civil Service law or rules or any order of the Commission. N.J.S.A. 11A:10-3; N.J.A.C. 4A:10-2.1(a)2. See In the Matter of Fiscal Analyst (M1351H), Jersey City, Docket No. A-4347-87T3 (App. Div. February 2, 1989). Therefore, Newark is ordered to return the certification within 20 days of receipt of this decision either provisionally appointing Suero, providing a legitimate reason for her removal from the eligible list, or vacating the subject position. If, at any time, Newark does not adhere to the timeframes for the proper certification disposition without an approved extension of time, it shall be assessed fines of $100 per day for each day of continued violation up to a maximum of $10,000.

ORDER

Therefore, it is ordered that Newark properly dispose of the March 28, 2017 certification (OL170341) of the eligible list for Rent Regulation Officer Bilingual in Spanish and English (M0524U) within 20 days of receipt of this decision.

Furthermore, the Commission orders that the costs incurred by this agency in the compliance process be assessed against Newark in the amount of $1,000, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 11A:10-3 and N.J.A.C. 4A:10-3.2(a)5, to be remitted within 30 days of receipt of this decision.

If no proper disposition is made within 20 days of receipt of this decision, without an approved extension of time, the Commission orders that Newark be assessed a fine in the amount of $1,000 for its failure to properly dispose of the certification. Thereafter, Newark shall be assessed fines of $100 per day for each day of continued violation up to a maximum of $10,000.

ClosingThis is the final administrative determination in this matter. Any further review should be pursued in a judicial forum.