George Johnson, CSC Docket No. 2022-1010

BackgroundGeorge Johnson appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services (Agency Services) that he did not meet the experience requirement for the open competitive examination for Supervising Water Treatment Plant Operator (M0461C), Trenton.

The subject examination was open to applicants who possessed five years of varied experience in the installation, maintenance and repair of varied types of piping systems, motors, pumps, valves and metering devices as of the September 21, 2021 closing date. It is noted that the examination was cancelled on October 29, 2021, as the only applicant, the appellant, was found ineligible for the examination.

A review of the appellant’s application and resume reveals that he provisionally served as a Supervising Water Treatment Plant Repairer from March 2020 to the September 21, 2021 closing date, as a Field Technician from July 2018 to March 2020, Customer Service Coordinator from June 2017 to July 2018, and as a First Sergeant in the United States Army from January 1994 to September 2017. Agency Services credited the appellant with one year and nine months of experience for his provisional service in the subject title. However, it did not find any of his other experience applicable, as none involved maintenance and repair of varied types of piping systems. Accordingly, Agency Services determined that the appellant was ineligible for the subject examination as he lacked three years and three months of experience.

Appellant's argumentOn appeal, the appellant maintains that he is qualified for the examination, and he states that his previous Field Technician and Customer Service Coordinator experience included supervising laborers and water treatment plant repairers, performing maintenance on chemical feed systems, injectors, water pumps, filters, and various mechanical equipment; training employees; conducting maintenance on split case, submersible, peristaltic and vertical pumps; installing electronic maintenance programs; maintaining inventory of spare parts; keeping track of safety programs; providing records for underground storage tank and discharge, prevention, containment and countermeasures programs; conducting maintenance on pumps, valves and other related equipment; coordinating maintenance with contractors; troubleshooting issues pertaining to equipment; and assisting with writing contract specifications and reviewing design plans.

BackgroundOfficial personnel records indicate that the appellant continues to serve provisionally in the subject title.

CONCLUSION

RuleN.J.A.C. 4A:4-2.6(a) provides that applicants shall meet all requirements specified in the announcement by the closing date. Under N.J.A.C. 4A:4-2.1(g), the Civil Service Commission can accept clarifying information in eligibility appeals. N.J.A.C. 4A:1-1.2(c) provides that a rule may be relaxed for good cause in a particular situation. Initially, it is noted that Agency Services correctly credited the appellant with one year and nine months of experience for his provisional service in the subject title. Although the appellant’s experience as a Field Technician and Customer Service Coordinator does not precisely mirror the required experience, the Commission is satisfied that the totality of his experience satisfies the announced requirements. In this regard, at least portions of that experience involved the installation, maintenance and repair of varied types of piping systems, motors, pumps, valves and metering devices. Additionally, the appellant continues to serve provisionally in the title under test and the examination was cancelled due to a lack of applicants. Under these circumstances, good cause exists to accept the appellant’s experience as a Field Technician and Customer Service Coordinator, as well as relax the provisions of N.J.A.C. 4A:4-2.6(a) and accept the appellant’s experience gained after the closing date, for eligibility purposes only, and to admit him to the examination.

ORDER

Therefore, it is ordered that this appeal be granted, the cancellation of the examination be rescinded, and the appellant’s application be processed for prospective employment opportunities only.

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