#75076 SENIOR WATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR

Ulster County Personnel Department

 Civil Service Examination Announcement

 


NON-REFUNDABLE FILING FEE $20.00

 

TOWN OF LLOYD

#75076 SENIOR WATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR

PROMOTION EXAMINATION

LAST DATE FOR FILING APPLICATIONS:  August 5, 2014

EXAMINATION DATE:  September 13, 2014

SALARY:  The starting salary is currently listed at $24.91 per hour.

 

QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE FOR TAKING THE TEST: At the time of examination, candidates must have twelve (12) months permanent, competitive class status in the position of Water Treatment Plant Operator.  Candidates must be presently employed by the Town of Lloyd.

Any person otherwise meeting the requirement(s) for the examination who was laid‑off from an agency for which the examination is being held, and whose name is presently on a preferred list, is eligible to compete in the examination. When completing their applications, such persons should be sure to indicate their present employment and/or the title and location of their last permanent employment in the municipality.

APPLICATION REVIEW TOLERANCE POLICY

For the purposes of this policy, "tolerance" shall mean the leeway given regarding work experience when reviewing an application. Applicants lacking a small amount of work experience when applying for promotional or open-competitive examinations may qualify under the following conditions:

1)   Candidates will be given a maximum tolerance of one (1) month.

2)     Tolerance will be given only when the minimum qualification requires one or more years of work experience.

3)     Tolerance Policy does not apply to education or licensure/certification requirements. (See particular examination announcement for "Anticipated Eligibility" information).

4)     Tolerance Policy does not apply where required work experience is set forth by law or rules.

5)     Tolerance Policy does not apply to enable applicants to meet residence requirements.

For more information regarding Tolerance Policy, please contact our office at (845) 340-3550.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:  The work involves responsibility for working an assigned shift for the actual operation and maintenance of a water treatment plant and its distribution system, depending on the municipality.  An Operator or Assistant Operator (as defined by the New York State Department of Health dependent on the type of facility) is fully proficient in the skills and practices of the trade, with full knowledge of the principals, tools and techniques of the trade. An incumbent may work as part of a crew or as a lead worker on specific projects, may supervise a number of lower level operating maintenance and labor employees, or function in responsible charge on an assigned shift.  Work at this level is performed with considerable independence within the framework of established practices, processes and procedures and may be completed with little or no check during progress or on completion.  Work is performed under the general supervision of a supervisor in order ensure that the work meets standards. Supervision is exercised over lower level water treatment personnel.  Does related work as required.

SUBJECT OF EXAMINATION:  Written test will cover knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in such areas as:

1. Operation and maintenance of pumps, valves, and related mechanical and electrical equipment

These questions test for knowledge of the principles and procedures involved in the operation, maintenance, and repair of pumps, valves, and related mechanical and electrical equipment, including motors and electric circuitry; and for the ability to identify various types of pumps, valves, and related equipment and understand their functions.

2. Physics, chemistry, and bacteriology as related to water treatment and purification, including laboratory and field tests

These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices of water treatment, purification, sampling, and testing, including such areas as the principles of physics, chemistry, and bacteriology involved; terminology associated with water treatment and testing; objectives and principles of various water treatment and testing procedures; measurement, sampling, and preservation of water samples; interpreting test results; and the effects of variables on water treatment processes.

3. Practices and equipment used in the operation and maintenance of a water treatment plant

These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices associated with the operation and maintenance of water treatment plants, including such areas as terminology, conditions, situations, equipment, materials, plant processes, safety concerns, water disinfection, and dosing. Some questions may involve basic arithmetic calculations.

4. Tools, mechanical aptitude, and reading of scales, meters, and gauges

These questions test for knowledge of the tools used in water and wastewater treatment plants; the ability to identify various types of tools and their uses; knowledge of general mechanical principles and the operation of various types of mechanical devices such as gears, pulleys, levers, valves, and similar types of mechanical equipment; and the ability to read and interpret information displayed on various types of scales, meters, and gauges.

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: www.cs.ny.gov/testing/localtestguides.cfm.

CALCULATORS:  "Unless specifically prohibited, candidates are permitted to use quiet, hand‑held, solar or battery powered calculators.  Devices with typewriter keyboards, ‘Spell‑Checkers’, ‘Personal Digital Assistants’, ‘Address Books’, ‘Language Translators’, ‘Dictionaries’ and any similar devices are prohibited."

POINTS WILL BE ADDED TO AN ELIGIBLE SCORE AS FOLLOWS:

*Seniority . . . . . . . . . . . . . For each year 0.2

*Seniority is based on the length of continuous competitive (permanent) class service in the jurisdiction up to a maximum of twenty (20) years.

*FEES*:  Send your check or money order for twenty dollars ($20.00) (made payable to COUNTY OF ULSTER) with your application.  Please include the examination number, title, and applicant’s name on your check or money order. DO NOT SEND CASH.  NO REFUNDS WILL BE ISSUED, therefore, you are urged to compare your qualifications carefully with the qualifications for admission and apply only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified.

EXCEPTION TO FEE REQUIREMENT:  An exception to the processing fee will be made for persons receiving Supplemental Social Security payments or public assistance (Safety Net Assistance or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families), provided Foster Care or certified Workforce Investment Act of 1998 eligible through a state or local social service agency, and for those who are currently unemployed.  Individuals wishing to claim this waiver of fee on the basis of Supplemental Social Security, Safety Net Assistance or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, must certify on their application, under number 20 Remarks, that they are receiving public assistance and must indicate the type of assistance they are receiving, the agency providing the assistance and their case numbers.

Persons claiming this waiver through Foster Care or Workforce Investment Act of 1998 Certification must specify the program and name of their contact agency. Persons claiming this waiver, who are currently unemployed must certify on their application, under number 20 Remarks, that they are currently unemployed and must provide documentation that they are receiving unemployment benefits or other unemployment documentation deemed appropriate by the Ulster County Personnel Officer.Such claims are subject to later verification and, if not supported by appropriate documentation, are grounds for barring appointment.

Applications may be obtained at the Ulster County Office Building, Personnel Department, 244 Fair Street ‑ 5th Floor, P.O. Box 1800, Kingston, NY 12402‑1800 OR by mail (INCLUDE A STAMPED SELF‑ADDRESSED, LEGAL‑ SIZE ENVELOPE) OR from our website at: http://www.co.ulster.ny.us/personnel/index.html.  Applications must be received by the Ulster County Personnel Department or postmarked no later than the ‘LAST DATE FOR FILING APPLICATIONS’ stated on page one of this announcement.

For those applications submitted in person on the last file date, please submit no later than 4:30 PM. All applications must be in our office no later than 5:00 PM on the last file date. Applications postmarked by the last file date will also be accepted.

This examination is being prepared and rated by the New York State Department of Civil Service in accordance with Section 23‑2 of the Civil Service Law.  The provisions of the New York State Civil Service Rules and Regulations dealing with the rating of examinations will apply to this test.

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION POLICY:  In accordance with Ulster County Local Law Number 14 of 2007, a criminal background check (including fingerprinting) will be initiated by the Ulster County Personnel Department upon initial employment or re-hire to Ulster County positions, and conducted by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), the New York State Office of Court Administration, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Verification Information System (IMAGE Program), or any law enforcement agency.

SPECIAL NOTE:  All public agencies are required by law to provide full and equal opportunities for minorities, women and to people with disabilities. All qualified candidates are encouraged to compete without regard to race, creed or national origin. Applicants requesting special testing arrangements as a Saturday Sabbath Observer, alternate test date candidate (in accordance with Alternate Test Date Policy), or an active member of the military away from the area on the scheduled test date must clearly indicate this fact on the application. All such requests must be supported by appropriate documentation.

VETERANS: Non-disabled and disabled veterans who wish to claim additional credits MUST request a Veterans Credits application from our office. This form must be completed and submitted along with a war service (DD214) form prior to the establishment of the resulting eligible list. Veterans credits may only be added to a passing score and may only be used for appointment once. Candidates currently in the armed forces may apply for and be conditionally granted veteran’s credits.  Any candidate who applies for such credits must provide proof of military status to receive the conditional credits.  You may not claim additional Veterans Credits after the eligible list has been established. It is the candidate’s responsibility to request the Veterans Credits application forms and submit these forms and any required supporting paperwork before the eligible list is established.

On November 5, 2013, New York State voters approved an amendment to Article 5, section 6, of the New York Constitution regarding the award and use of additional credits for certain disabled veterans on open competitive and promotion civil service examinations for positions with New York State and local governments. 

For eligible lists established after January 1, 2014, disabled veterans may be entitled to additional credits on a civil service examination.  Every situation is different.  If you have specific questions or concerns, please contact our office. 

ADDITIONAL CREDITS FOR CHILDREN OF FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY:  In conformance with section 85-a of the Civil Service Law, children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty shall be entitled to receive an additional ten points in a competitive examination for original appointment in the same municipality in which his or her parent has served.  If you are qualified to participate in this examination and are a child of a firefighter or police officer killed in the line of duty in this municipality, please inform this office of this matter when you submit your application for examination.  A candidate claiming such credit has a minimum of two months from the application deadline to provide the necessary documentation to verify additional credit eligibility.  However, no credit may be added after the eligible list has been established.

APPLYING FOR CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS IN MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS WHEN EXAMINATIONS ARE SCHEDULED ON SAME DATE:  If you have applied for any other Civil Service examinations for employment with any other local government jurisdiction, you must make arrangements to take all the examinations at one test site.  Please indicate your intentions under #20 remarks on the application for examination.

If you have applied for both State and Local government examinations, please indicate this on your application under #20 remarks.  You must make arrangements to take all your examinations at the State examination center no later than two weeks before the test date.  You will be informed by letter when and where to report for the examinations.  You should bring all admission notices with you to the State test site along with the State admission notice you receive from New York State Civil Service.

If you have applied for other local government examinations, call or write to each Civil Service Agency to make arrangements.  You must make your request for these 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 examination(s).  For this examination call (845) 340‑ 3531 OR write to Ulster County Personnel Department, 244 Fair Street ‑ 5th Floor, P.O. Box 1800, Kingston, NY  12402‑1800.

*If candidates have not received notification of this examination within four (4) days of the examination, they should contact this office immediately.

#75076

ORIGINAL COPY:  BLUE

ISSUED:  July 8, 2014