Brian Kalarjian, CSC Docket No. 2020-1772

Appellant's argumentBrian Kalarjian requests to have his application and application processing fee for Sheriff’s Officer Sergeant (PC1562A), Monmouth County applied to County Correction Sergeant (PC1542A), Monmouth County.

BackgroundThe PC1542A examination at issue was announced with requirements that had to be met as of the November 21, 2019 closing date. Further, the announcement was reposted on this agency’s website and the application deadline was extended to January 21, 2020. There were 86 applicants for the subject examination and the examination has not yet been scheduled. The appellant did not apply for the subject examination by either application deadline. Rather, the appellant timely applied for the Sheriff’s Officer Sergeant, Monmouth County (PC1562A) examination. The appellant is currently a County Correctional Police Officer.

Appellant's argumentOn appeal, the appellant states that in November 2019, he started his application for the PC1542A promotional examination. However, he encountered an issue which would not let him submit his application. Thereafter, the appellant restarted his application from scratch. However, he accidently applied for the PC1562A examination instead of the PC1542A examination and did not notice his mistake until he received his notice of ineligibility for the PC1562A examination. He requests that his application and $50 application processing fee for the PC1562A examination be applied to the PC1542A examination.

CONLCUSION

RuleN.J.A.C. 4A:4-2.1(e) provides that applications must be filed no later than the announced filing deadline. N.J.A.C. 4A:1-1.2(c) states that the Civil Service Commission (Commission) may relax a rule for good cause in order to effectuate the purposes of Title 11A, New Jersey Statutes.

AnalysisIn this matter, the appellant explains that he started to apply for the PC1542A examination when he encountered an issue that would not let him submit it. Thereafter, he restarted his application, but he accidentally submitted his application for the wrong examination, PC1562A. The Commission notes that the dual purpose of the Civil Service system is to ensure efficient public service for State and local governments and to provide appointment and advancement opportunities to Civil Service employees based on their merit and abilities. These interests are best served when more, rather than fewer, individuals are presented with employment opportunities. See Communications Workers of America v. New Jersey Department of Personnel, 154 N.J. 121 (1998). Under these circumstances, the Commission finds that there is good cause to relax N.J.A.C. 4A:4-2.1(e) and allow the appellant to submit a late application for the subject examination. However, the appellant’s request to apply his application and application processing fee from the PC1562A examination to the PC1542A examination is denied.

This determination is limited to the instant matter and does not provide precedent in any other matter.

ORDER

It is ordered that this request be granted in part, and Brian Kalarjian be permitted to submit a late application for County Correction Sergeant (PC1542A), Monmouth County. It is further ordered that Kalarjian submit the attached promotional application and the $50.00 application processing fee to the Division of Agency Services. The application and processing fee must be postmarked no later than 15 days from the issuance date of this decision. Upon receipt of the application and processing fee, it is ordered that his application be processed. Finally, if Kalarjian’s application and the required payment are not postmarked on or before the 15th day after the issuance date of this decision, he will not be entitled to have an application for the subject examination processed.

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