Goldstein v. McNamara

201 Misc. 253, 105 N.Y.S.2d 775, 1951 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1969
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 6, 1951
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 201 Misc. 253 (Goldstein v. McNamara) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Goldstein v. McNamara, 201 Misc. 253, 105 N.Y.S.2d 775, 1951 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1969 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1951).

Opinion

Dickstein, J.

This special proceeding was tried upon matters formulated in the opinion of the Appellate Division (276 App. Div. 1072) resulting in the order of April 25, 1950, to determine ‘ ‘ whether or not the eligible list for Transit Patrolman, Bridge and Tunnel Officer and Correction Officer (male), as certified by Municipal Civil Service Commission on May 3, 1949, is the eligible list appropriate for appointing of candidates to the position of Inspector of Markets, Weights and Measures, Grade 2, in the Department of Markets of the City of New York.”

In 1936 an open competitive examination was held for the position of supervisor of markets, weights and measures (ungraded) and a list promulgated October 14, 1936. Until February 1, 1937, sixteen persons were appointed from that list to such title at an annual salary of $1,800. Negotiations between the civil service commission and the commissioner of markets resulted in the grading of positions in the department of markets. In July, 1937, certain existing titles, including the title of supervisor of markets, weights and measures, were stricken out from part 1 of the ungraded service and placed in the graded service, part 4, the inspection service, group 5, inspectors, miscellaneous. The title of the position of supervisor of markets, weights and measures became inspector of markets, weights and measures, grades 1, 2, 3, and 4, the only recognized title. Each employee in the department of markets accordingly fell into the grade corresponding to the salary he was then receiving. While they had been in the ungraded service, there was no maximum limitation of salary. On the occasion of the change-over all persons in the employ of that department on July 1, 1937, were eligible for advancement to the next higher grade without necessity of promotion examination. As a result of such treatment a promotion examination for grade 3 which was projected and for which incumbents in grade 2 were eligible became unnecessary and was never held. Further, at the time of the reclassification a substantial number of names remained on the 1936 list. A considerable number of appointments was made from that list after the reclassification. Finally the list for supervisor became exhausted. A hiatus followed and in October, 1941, another existing list, patrolmen number 3, was declared appropriate for appointment to the position of inspector of markets, weights and measures, grade 2, and five such appointments were made and that list was exhausted. In the absence' of any other suitable list and as need for inspectors became urgent, appointments were made on a provisional or war emergency basis. Failure to hold [255]*255examinations for the position and title of inspector continued through the war period while the number of provisionals in the city service rose to probably 30,000 because of the inability of the civil service commission to catch up with the backlog of examinations which should have been held and because of attendant lack of candidates. In the meantime, in 1947 a promotion examination for grade 3 was advertised for the purpose of affording opportunity of advancement to those in grade 2 who had been appointed after July 1, 1937. The examination became unnecessary because by resolution of February, 1948, those who had been appointed to the grade 2 positions after July 1,1937, and before the adoption of the resolution, became eligible for a single-grade advancement without examination. In 1949 an examination was ordered for the position of inspector, grade 2, in the department of markets. The examination, however, was never held because the civil service commission considered the tri-title list of transit patrolman, bridge and tunnel officer, and correction officer (male) suitable and certified it to the commissioner of markets for appointment to the position of inspector of markets, weights and measures, grade 2, to replace the provisionals in that position.

From this recital of the history of the position and the manner in which it has been filled, I find nothing to indicate or which tends to indicate that the criticized certification is unreasonable or that the list from which certifications were made is not proper. The differences referred to, such as sex, age, sight, and physical requirements and others, are not of such significance as to be at all controlling. The provisionals now employed presented qualifications in a majority of cases showing only elementary schooling and in some additional cases one or more years of high school attendance.

The number of persons employed in the title and grade appears to be about eighty. About fifty-two of the total are provisionals and of these five are women and three others are permanent female appointees. The provisionals were appointed through the years 1944-50 and of them ten were approved after April 12, 1949, when the tri-title list was promulgated. It was on May 3, 1949, that the list was certified. The figures herein stated were supplied by the corporation counsel and the petitioners have raised no objection. The fact of approval of new appointments on a provisional basis between April 12,1949, and May 3,1949, would appear to indicate only that there was urgent need for additional employees and that the civil service com[256]*256mission had not yet given attention to the matter of correcting the existing situation with respect to provisionals, and finally, by May 3, 1949, had come to the conclusion that, pursuant to statute, its function would be properly exercised by certification of the tri-title list for the purpose of filling the position of inspector of markets, weights and measures, grade 2.

The duties of the position of inspector of markets, weights and measures, grade 2, appear to be as follows: to inspect, test and seal all types of weighing and measuring apparatus used in the city of New York; make investigation to determine if the laws and ordinances governing such apparatus and the manner of sale of commodities are being violated; supervise the sale of market produce from vehicles in open air markets; secure co-operation of police, tradesmen, shippers and the general public using streets and sidewalks of market district; be responsible for cleanliness and orderliness of markets; enforce license requirements; report infractions of laws and ordinances; give testimony and present evidence in court, and perform such other duties as may be required. The duties with respect to the tri-title list appear to be the following: Transit patrolmen; to enforce all laws, ordinances and regulations within the jurisdiction of the board of transportation and to perform related work. Bridge and tunnel officer; to collect tolls, direct traffic, patrol structures, clear traffic lanes, remove snow and assist in general maintenance work during the winter season; enforce all laws, ordinances and regulations within the jurisdiction of the bridge and tunnel authority and to perform related work. Correction officer; to guard, discipline and instruct inmates of correctional institutions, and to perform related work.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Goldstein v. McNamara
279 A.D. 742 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1951)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
201 Misc. 253, 105 N.Y.S.2d 775, 1951 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1969, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/goldstein-v-mcnamara-nysupct-1951.