Janet Baumgardner, CSC Docket No. 2022-1836

Appellant's argumentJanet Baumgardner requests to file a late application for the promotional examination for Storekeeper 2 (PS7625I), Department of Corrections, Northern State Prison.

BackgroundThe subject examination was announced on January 1, 2022, with a closing date of January 21, 2022. Only on-line applications were accepted, and the petitioner did not submit one. The number of candidates admitted is not yet available. The petitioner submitted a request, received February 9, 2002 to file an application for the subject examination as she had been hospitalized with Covid-19 from December 28, 2021 to January 13, 2022, and she states that she was too sick to get the mail. She returned to work on January 24, 2022.

CONCLUSION

RuleN.J.A.C. 4A:4-2.1(e) provides, in pertinent part, that applications for open competitive and promotional examinations should be filed no later than the announced filing date for filing applications. N.J.A.C. 4A:l-1.2(c) provides that the Civil Service Commission (Commission) may relax a rule for good cause to effectuate the purpose of Title l1A, New Jersey Statutes.

AnalysisThe petitioner was not admitted to the subject examination since she did not file an application by 4:00 p.m. on the January 21, 2022, closing date. However, the petitioner was hospitalized for the first 13 days of the filing period, and was sick during the remaining days. The Commission generally denies requests to accept late examination applications, as N.J.A.C. 4A:4-2.1(e) requires applicants to file their applications by the closing date. However, under the circumstances presented, the Commission finds that there is good cause to relax N.J.A.C. 4A:4- 2.1(e) and allow the petitioner to submit a late application for the subject examination. Finally, as this remedy is limited to the unique circumstances of this matter, it does not provide a precedent in any other matter.

ORDER

Therefore, it is ordered that this appeal be granted, and the petitioner be permitted to submit an application for the Storekeeper 2 (PS7625I), Department of Corrections, Northern State Prison promotional examination. It is further ordered that petitioner submit the promotional application and the $25.00 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 the petitioner’s application and the required payment are not postmarked on or before the 15th day after the issuance date of this decision, she 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.