Civil Service Commission meeting, September 20, 2023
What the NJ Civil Service Commission decided on September 20, 2023: 35 matters, each with its outcome and decision.
Commission decisions · Regular meeting
The Civil Service Commission decided 35 matters at this meeting, with Allison Chris Myers (Chairperson) presiding. 3 appeals were withdrawn and 1 dismissed for failure to appear.
Members present: Dolores Gorczyca, Daniel O’Mullan, Diomedes Tsitouras, Christina Mongon.
What came before the Commission
- Examination scoring or administration: 9
- Removal from an eligible list: 7
- Discipline: 6
- Examination eligibility: 4
- Discrimination, retaliation or State Policy: 2
- Request for reconsideration: 2
- Petition for interim relief or a stay: 2
- Layoff, seniority or title rights: 1
- Counsel fees or back pay: 1
- Certification or appointment: 1
Every item
| Item | Matter | Type | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-2 | GERARD CIANDELLA, ET AL.Gerard Ciandella, Deputy Registrar of Vital Statistics, Hoboken, Department of Human Services, layoff for reasons of economy or efficiency, effective May 7, 2020. | Layoff, seniority or title rights | Held over to a later meeting |
| A-3 | ELLEN GANOPOLOUSEllen Ganopolous, Intermittent Bridge Operator, Ocean County, Department of Roads, removal effective September 20, 2017, on charges of incompetency, inefficiency or failure to perform duties, insubordination, neglect of … | Discipline | Penalty modifiedSplit vote |
| A-4 | JASMINE GOVENSJasmine Govens, Senior Correctional Police Officer, South Woods State Prison, Department of Corrections, removal, effective July 20, 2023, on charges of conduct unbecoming a public employee and other sufficient cause. | Discipline | Sent back to the Office of Administrative Law |
| A-5 | KAREN MCDOUGALDKaren McDougald, Human Services Specialist 2, Passaic County Board or Social Services, 20 working day suspension, on charges of violating the local government ethics law. | Discipline | Penalty upheld |
| A-6 | STEVEN MITCHELLSteven Mitchell, Senior Correctional Police Officer, Mid-State Correctional Facility, Department of Corrections, removal, effective May 8, 2020, on charges of conduct unbecoming a public employee and other sufficient cau… | Discipline | Penalty upheld |
| A-7 | ANDREW MONKAndrew Monk, Laborer 1, Trenton, Department of Public Works, removal, effective May 23, 2022, on charges of on charges of insubordination, conduct unbecoming a public employee, neglect of duty and other sufficient cause. | Discipline | Penalty upheld |
| A-8 | OMAR POLANCOOmar Polanco, Police Officer, Jersey City, Police Department, removal, effective March 1, 2023, on charges or insubordination, inability to perform duties, conduct unbecoming a public employee, neglect of duty and other … | Discipline | Granted |
| B-1 | R.C.R.C., represented by Robert K. Chewning, Esq., appeals her rejection as a Police Officer candidate by South Plainfield and its request to remove her name from the eligible list for Police Officer (S9999A) on the basis of… | Removal from an eligible list | Denied |
| B-2 | B.E.B.E., represented by Robert K. Chewning, Esq., appeals her rejection as a Police Officer candidate by Ridgewood and its request to remove her name from the eligible lists for Police Officer (S9999A and M0129D) on the bas… | Removal from an eligible list | Denied |
| B-3 | P.G.P.G., represented by Leonard C. Schiro, Esq., appeals her rejection as a Fire Fighter candidate by Hoboken and its request to remove her name from the eligible list for Fire Fighter (M1839W) on the basis of psychological… | Removal from an eligible list | Denied |
| B-4 | G.M.G.M., represented by Valerie Palma DeLuisi, Esq., appeals his rejection as a Juvenile Detention Officer candidate by Morris County on the basis of psychological unfitness to perform effectively the duties of the position… | Removal from an eligible list | Denied |
| B-5 | DERRICK HANEYDerrick Haney appeals the decision to remove his name from the eligible list for Police Officer (S9999A), Clifton on the basis that he failed to respond to the certification notice. | Removal from an eligible list | Granted |
| B-6 | CHRISTIAN HERRChristian Herr, represent by Craig S. Gumpel, Esq., appeals the decision of Newark to remove his name from the eligible list for Fire Fighter (M1856W), Newark based on falsification of his preemployment application. | Removal from an eligible list | Granted in part |
| B-7 | LISA OMPONGLisa Ompong appeals the removal of her name from the eligible list for Family Service Specialist 1 (PS5386K), Department of Children and Families, on the basis that she failed to respond to the certification notice. | Removal from an eligible list | Granted |
| B-8 | KERI BLASZAK AND MARGARITA JARKOWSKYKeri Blaszak and Margarita Jarkowsky appeal the determinations of the Division of Agency Services, which found that they did not meet the experience requirement for the promotional examination for Manager 2, Motor Vehicl… | Examination eligibility | Different results for different parties |
| B-9 | HOLLY LEONARDHolly Leonard appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services that she did not meet the education requirements for the open competitive examination for the Superintendent, Parks and Forestry 1 (S1267D), Stat… | Examination eligibility | Denied |
| B-10 | REGINA WILLIAMSONRegina Williamson appeals the decision of the Division of Agency Services which found that she did not meet the experience requirements for the open competitive examination for Assistant Personnel Director (M0679D), Pate… | Examination eligibility | Denied |
| B-11 | KOMAL ZAFARKomal Zafar appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services that she did not meet the experience requirements for the promotional examination for Human Services Specialist 4 (PC5164D), Hudson County. | Examination eligibility | Denied |
| B-12 | JOHN ARVANITISJohn Arvanitis appeals his score on the promotional examination for Fire Officer 3 (PM5162C), Jersey City. | Examination scoring or administration | Denied |
| B-13 | RICHARD GORMANRichard Gorman appeals his score on the promotional examination for Fire Officer 3 (PM5162C), Jersey City. | Examination scoring or administration | Denied |
| B-14 | OMAR HOWARDOmar Howard appeals his score on the promotional examination for Deputy Chief Investigator, Department of Corrections (PS0364I). | Examination scoring or administration | Held over to a later meeting |
| B-15 | THOMAS JONES, JR.Thomas Jones, Jr. appeals his score on the promotional examination for Fire Officer 3 (PM5162C), Jersey City. | Examination scoring or administration | Denied |
| B-16 | JAMES NICKERSONJames Nickerson appeals his score on the promotional examination for Fire Officer 3 (PM5162C), Jersey City. | Examination scoring or administration | Granted in part |
| B-17 | JOSEPH DI TOMMASOJoseph Di Tommaso appeals his score on the promotional examination for Fire Officer 3 (PM5162C), Jersey City. | Examination scoring or administration | Granted |
| B-18 | CONSTANCE ZAPPELLAConstance Zappella appeals her score on the promotional examination for Fire Officer 3 (PM5162C), Jersey City. | Examination scoring or administration | Granted in part |
| B-19 | NICHOLAS BALESTRIERINicholas Balestrieri appeals the administration of the physical performance portion of the examination for Fire Fighter (M1892W), Hamilton. | Examination scoring or administration | Denied |
| B-20 | CRYSTAL GARNERCrystal Garner appeals the administration of the promotional examination for Assistant Supervisor of Professional Residential Services, Developmental Disabilities (PS7682K), Department of Human Services. | Examination scoring or administration | Denied |
| B-21 | P.B.P.B., a State Budget Specialist 4, Department of the Treasury, appeals the determination of the Director of Administration, which found that the appellant failed to present sufficient evidence to support a finding that s… | Discrimination, retaliation or State Policy | Denied |
| B-22 | S.L.S.L., a Family Service Specialist 2 with the Department of Children and Families, represented by Justin Schwam, Esq., appeals the determination of a Deputy Commissioner, which found that he the violated the New Jersey St… | Discrimination, retaliation or State Policy | Denied |
| B-23 | S.B.S.B., an Assistant Social Work Supervisor with the Department of Corrections, requests reconsideration of the final administrative decision rendered on March 23, 2022, which determined that he failed to support a finding… | Request for reconsideration | Denied |
| B-24 | POLICE LIEUTENANT (PM3381E), JERSEY CITYJersey City, represented by Arthur R. Thibault, Esq., and Kyle J. Trent, Esq., petitions the Civil Service Commission (Commission) for a stay of the Commission’s decision in In the Matter of Police Lieutenant (PM3381E), … | Request for reconsideration | Denied |
| B-25 | STEPHAN PITTSStephan Pitts, a Road Repairer 2 with Camden County, represented by Garren Steiner, President, CWA Local 1014, petitions the Civil Service Commission for interim relief regarding his immediate suspension. | Petition for interim relief or a stay | Denied |
| B-26 | BRIAN ROACH, ET AL.Brian Roach, Dubanes Bello, and Ruben Morales, Fire Fighters with Jersey City, represented by Michael A. Bukosky, Esq., petition the Civil Service Commission for interim relief regarding their immediate suspensions. | Petition for interim relief or a stay | Denied |
| B-27 | CHRISTINE CHIEFFEChristine Chieffe, a Graduate Nurse with Hudson County, Department of Health and Human Services, Meadowview Psychiatric Hospital, represented by Analiese W. Smith, Esq., requests back pay in accordance with the Civil Ser… | Counsel fees or back pay | Ordered |
| B-28 | MARIA STARKEY (NUNN-LING)Maria Starkey (Nunn-Ling), a Senior Technician MVC, with the Motor Vehicle Commission appeals her appointment date. | Certification or appointment | Denied |