Brianna Baldwin, CSC Docket No. 2022-2693

Appellant's argumentBrianna Baldwin requests to file a late application for the promotional examination for Supervising Family Service Specialist 2 (PS8313K), Department of Children and Families.

BackgroundThe examination at issue was announced with requirements that had to be met as of the April 21, 2022, closing date. Agency records indicate that 747 employees applied for the subject examination; however, the determination as to whether the applicants have met the requirements to be admitted to the test has not yet been made. Further, the test has yet to be scheduled. Therefore, the list has not yet promulgated.

On appeal, the petitioner1 explains that the link that she received to apply for the subject examination did not work. Therefore, she went to this agency’s website to apply and she thought that she applied to the subject examination through the Online Application System (OAS). However, upon receiving the confirmation email, she realized that she applied for Family Services Specialist 1 (PS8306K), which is the title she currently serves in.

1 Personnel records indicate that the petitioner was appointed as a Family Service Specialist 1 on

January 29, 2022, which is one of the titles that the examination was open. However, although the petitioner lacks one year of continuous permanent service in this title; she may potentially be admitted based on having more than one year of continuous permanent service in any competitive title and meeting the other requirements of the examination.

CONCLUSION

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 petitioner explains that although she thought she applied for the subject examination, she mistakenly applied for a Family Services Specialist 1 examination, which is the title she currently serves in. 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). Further, it would be inequitable to prohibit the petitioner from applying for such a promotional opportunity for the life of the subject list based on her mistake. Therefore, the Commission finds that there is good cause to relax N.J.A.C. 4A:4-2.1(e) and to allow the petitioner to submit her application and application fee after the closing deadline.

ORDER

Therefore, it is ordered that this request be granted, and the petitioner be permitted to submit an application for Supervising Family Service Specialist 2 (PS8313K), Department of Children and Families. It is further ordered that the petitioner submit a promotional examination 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 her application be processed. 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 her application reviewed.

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