Ian MacFarland, CSC Docket No. 2022-2084

Appellant's argumentIan MacFarland requests to file a late application for the Police Officer (M0153D) Trenton open competitive examination.

BackgroundThe law enforcement examinations were announced on January 3, 2022, and closed on February 28, 2022. The announcement instructed candidates that online applications must be completed and submitted by the application deadline date, and it provided information regarding customer care and technical support, including asking candidates to please file early. Only on-line applications were accepted. The examination is anticipated to be held in the spring of 2022, and 316 candidates have been admitted.

Appellant's argumentThe petitioner explains that he attempted to apply for the subject examination, but the symbol and jurisdiction was changed to Aberdeen (M0001D) by the system. He states that he tried multiple times to pick Trenton (M0153D), but it would not enter that symbol.

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 he did not complete the filing of an application by 4:00 p.m. on the February 28, 2022, closing date. The Online Status Report shows that the petitioner attempted Part 3, preferences, of the application seven times. This is a simple application which does not require the entry of experience. The preference section is for the Test Center Location Preference, the county in which the applicant prefers to take the examination, and is not the area in which to change the symbol number. The petitioner selected the wrong symbol at the outset, and did not restart with a new application for the correct symbol. Thus, the petitioner started the filing process and simply erred in not understanding that he could not change the symbol of the application once it was started. He successfully filed for the examination for Police Officer (M0001D) Aberdeen. The Commission believes that the petitioner thought he could change the symbol from the application. 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 to change the symbol number from (M0001D), Aberdeen to (M0153D), Trenton. 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 request be granted, and the petitioner’s application be considered for the Police Officer (M0153D), Trenton open-competitive examination, and he be removed from the examination for Police Officer (M0001D) Aberdeen.

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