Senior Groundskeeper, O.C. #67-395

 GENESEE COUNTY HUMAN RESOURCES

COUNTY BUILDING I, BATAVIA, NEW YORK

ANNOUNCES

AN OPEN COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION FOR:

SENIOR GROUNDSKEEPER, O.C. #67-395

SALARY:  $18.49 per hour (2019) Genesee Community College. Salary varies in school districts and other Civil Divisions under the jurisdiction of Genesee County Civil Service.

VACANCY: This examination is being held to establish an eligible list to fill future vacancies as they occur. An eligible may receive only one permanent appointment from this list. Once appointed, there will be a Probationary Period of 8-52 weeks based on performance of duties.

CANDIDATES MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENTS OF GENESEE, ERIE, LIVINGSTON, MONROE, NIAGARA, ORLEANS OR WYOMING COUNTY AT THE TIME OF EXAMINATION AND FOR AT LEAST TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF THE EXAMINATION. ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS OF A CIVIL DIVISION MAY BE GIVEN PREFERENCE IN APPOINTMENT TO VACANCIES IN THEIR AREA OF RESIDENCY.

LAST FILING DATE----------JANUARY 23, 2019

EXAMINATION DATE----------MARCH 2, 2019

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

A.        Graduation from high school or possession of an appropriate equivalency diploma recognized by the NYS Department of Education and five years of full-time, paid experience in grounds maintenance, [IF CLAIMED, PLEASE INCLUDE ALL RELEVANT EXPERIENCE ON YOUR APPLICATION];

OR:

B.        Any equivalent combination of training or experience indicating ability to perform the duties of the job, [IF CLAIMED PLEASE INCLUDE ALL RELEVANT TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE ON YOUR APPLICATION].

NOTE: Photo ID will be required on the day of the examination.

CANDIDATES, PLEASE NOTE: It is vital that you submit, with your application, all information necessary to show your qualification for examination.  APPLICATIONS WHICH DO NOT SHOW TRAINING AND/OR EXPERIENCE TO MEET MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS WILL BE DISAPPROVED, AND WE WILL NOT REFER TO OTHER APPLICATIONS ON FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NOTE – FILING FEES: (The acceptance of your application is dependent upon your following these instructions accurately):

A fee of $20.00 is required for each separately-numbered examination for which you apply.  The required fee must accompany your application.  The fee may be submitted in the form of either CASH or CREDIT CARD (if delivered in person), PERSONAL CHECK or MONEY ORDER, (if by mail).  Personal Checks and Money Orders must be payable to the GENESEE COUNTY TREASURER.  Please write the examination number(s) on your personal check or money order.  YOUR APPLICATION FEE WILL NOT BE REFUNDED if you do not meet the requirements for admission to the examination. Compare your qualifications carefully to the requirements stated on the announcement and file only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified. A waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are receiving unemployment and are primarily responsible for the support of a household.  In addition, a waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are determined eligible for Medicaid, or are receiving Supplemental Security Income payments, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Family assistance or Safety Net Assistance, or are certified Job Training Partnership Act/Workforce Investment Act eligible through a State or local social service agency.  All claims for application fee waiver are subject to verification.  In order for us to verify your eligibility for an application fee waiver, you must complete a “Request for Fee Waiver” form and submit it with your application by the close of business on the Last Filing Date as indicated on the Examination Announcement. The “Request for Fee Waiver” form can be obtained at Genesee County Human Resources, 15 Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020 or from our website, www.co.genesee.ny.us.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:

Performs and supervises such activities as:

Seeding, fertilizing, mowing, pruning, and planting tasks relating to shrubbery, trees, and lawns;

Maintains parking areas;

Assists in the development of new athletic areas;

Keeps grounds free of debris;

Performs snow and ice removal activities;

Plans work schedules and prioritizes tasks;

Trains new employees;

Makes basic report to Supervisor;

Performs minor maintenance on grounds equipment.

SUBJECT OF EXAMINATION: A written test designed to evaluate knowledge, skills and/or abilities in the following areas:

1.         Grounds Maintenance, Including Turf, Trees and Shrubs

2.         Maintenance of Buildings and Equipment

3.         Installation, Maintenance, and Repair of Recreation Areas            

4.         Supervision

CANDIDATES ARE ALLOWED TO USE QUIET, HAND-HELD, SOLAR OR BATTERY POWERED CALCULATORS.  CELL PHONES OR DEVICES WITH TYPEWRITER KEYBOARDS ARE PROHIBITED.

EXPANDED SUB-TEST DESCRIPTION:

Grounds Maintenance, Including Turf, Trees and Shrubs-These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices involved in grounds maintenance and may include such areas as turf grass planting, fertilizing, and maintenance; tree and shrub selection, planting, transplanting, trimming and maintenance; snow and ice control; and safe operating practices involved when performing grounds maintenance activities.

Maintenance of Buildings and Equipment-These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices involved in the overall maintenance, construction, and upkeep of the typical structures, buildings, and equipment found in park facilities; and may include such areas as proper maintenance and repair of buildings, roadways, trails, flood control and drainage structures, minor mechanical and electrical systems maintenance, and safe operating practices.

Installation, Maintenance, and Repair of Recreation Areas-These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices involved in the installation, upkeep, maintenance and repair of park and recreation facilities, including such areas as picnic facilities, playgrounds, athletic and playing fields, trails and walkways, sanitary facilities, and lawn care and grounds maintenance.

Supervision-These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices employed in planning, organizing, and controlling the activities of a work unit toward predetermined objectives. The concepts covered, usually in a situational question format, include such topics as assigning and reviewing work; evaluating performance; maintaining work standards; motivating and developing subordinates; implementing procedural change; increasing efficiency; and dealing with problems of absenteeism, morale, and discipline.

The New York State Department of Civil Service has not prepared a test guide for this examination. However, candidates may find information in the publication "How to take a written test" helpful in preparing for this test. This publication is available on line at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm.

CROSS-FILING:If you have applied for other local government or state examinations, call or write to each civil service agency to make arrangements no later than two weeks before the date of the examinations.  You must notify all local government civil service agencies with whom you have filed an application of the test site at which you wish to take your examinations.  The “Cross-filer Form” for Genesee County can be obtained at Genesee County Human Resources, 15 Main St., Batavia, NY 14020 or from our website, www.co.genesee.ny.us.

NOTE: Religious Accommodations, Persons with Disabilities or Active Military: If special arrangements for testing are required, please indicate this on your application. An explanation of your need for special testing accommodations must be attached to your application.  If due to disability – medical documentation must be provided.

ACTIVE MILITARY MEMBERS: Any member of the armed forces of the United States who has duly filed an application to compete in a scheduled competitive examination but was deprived of the opportunity to compete in the examination due to active military duty could be provided with a special military make-up examination. Current members of the Armed Forces may apply for Veteran’s credits by filing an “Application for Veteran’s Credits” (Form VC-1).  The “Application for Veteran’s Credits” can be obtained at Genesee County Human Resources, 15 Main St., Batavia, NY 14020 or from our website at, www.co.genesee.ny.us. Proof of military status must also be presented and verified in order for consideration of granting of “conditional” Veteran’s credit.  Acceptable proof may include a military I.D. card, military orders, or other official military document that substantiates active military service at time of exam. This documentation and VC-1 Form must be received prior to the establishment of the Eligible List for this examination.  The “conditional” status of the additional credits will remain until proof is provided indicating that the service was in time of war and that the veteran received an honorable discharge, or was released under honorable circumstances.

VETERANS: Additional credits are available to veterans who meet certain established requirements.  Veterans who have not exhausted their credits should make application for their use, if desired.  A COMPLETED APPLICATION FOR VETERANS CREDITS (FORM VC-1) AND a COPY OF SEPARATION PAPERS (FORM DD-214) MUST BE RECEIVED BEFORE THE ELIGIBLE LIST FOR THIS EXAMINATION IS ESTABLISHED IN ORDER TO UTILIZE ADDITIONAL CREDITS.  DISABLED VETERANS MUST SUBMIT, IN ADDITION, A COPY OF FORM VC-3 (AUTHORIZATION FOR DISABILITY RECORD). The “Application for Veteran’s Credits” can be obtained at Genesee County Human Resources, 15 Main St., Batavia, NY 14020 or from our website at, www.co.genesee.ny.us.

ADDITIONAL CREDIT AUTHORIZED:  Additional credits shall be allowed for children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty, as “child” in this section in competitive examinations for original appointment.  (a) On all eligible lists resulting from competitive examinations, the names of eligible persons shall be entered in the order of their respective final earned ratings on examinations, with the name of the eligible person with the highest final earned ratings at the head of such list, provided, however, that for the purpose of determining final earned ratings, children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty shall be entitled to receive an additional ten (10) points in a competitive examination for original appointment in the same municipality in which his or her parent has served.  (b) Such additional credit shall be added to the final earned rating of such child, as the case may be, after he or she has qualified in the competitive examination and shall be granted only at the time of establishment of the resulting eligible list.