City Arborist, Franklin, Indiana

[Sherry Sandretto <slsandre@xxxxxxx>]

City of Franklin, Indiana
Position announcement
Title: City Arborist
Department: Street Department

Nature of Work: 
This is a regular, full-time, working supervisory position, requiring
a
combination of supervisory, public relations, clerical, and manual
labor skills.

The City Arborist performs work individually as well as directing
and/or exercising supervision
over a small group of skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled personnel.

In performance of the daily work, the City Arborist is primarily
responsible for tree maintenance,
planting, risk assessment, and removals on public right-of-ways and
grounds. This includes, but
may not be limited to tree planting, arboricultural correct pruning,
other types of tree care
maintenance; herbicide application and spraying. Work is required to be
performed in all types
of inclement weather.

Other portions of the position include maintaining and keeping accurate
records; routinely
meeting the general public; assigning job tasks and tracking employees.
The City Arborist may
also be called upon to assist with other aspects of Public Works and
Parks and Recreation
maintenance, operations, and special programs during certain municipal
emergencies. These
tasks may include: snow and ice removal; performing routine maintenance
and cleaning of
equipment; and other tasks as assigned-i.e. performing non arborist
duties during snow/storm
events to help clear the streets.

This is a mandatory overtime position that requires work hours outside
of the normal Monday
through Friday 7am to 4pm work day as necessary to carry out the
responsibilities and mission of
the Street Department.

The City Arborist receives direction from and reports directly to the
Street Commissioner, who
periodically reviews work in progress.

Essential Duties:
1. supervises the tree, brush and limb maintenance operation and
personnel in The City of
Franklin, IN. Accurately keep and maintain daily records. Replies to
correspondence both
verbally and/or in writing. Adheres to City ordinances and state laws
and regulations. Maintains
a positive working relationship with supervisors, co-workers,
subordinates, and the general
public. Prepares and submits payroll information, leave and overtime
forms to Street
Commissioner for review and approval. Schedules and works overtime as
required for public
works operations and recruits the necessary personnel for overtime
work. Trains and evaluates
personnel. Recognizes documents and reports to supervisor employees
violating personnel rules
and regulations; maintains and respects proper chain-of-command between
subordinates, coworkers,
and supervisors.

2. Uses tact and good judgment in communicating with the general
public, subordinates, coworkers,
and supervisors. Interacts with the general public in a professional
manner and explains
and answers questions about the immediate work being performed or work
to be performed.
Provides information, advice, and assistance to other City Departments
and general public on
forestry operations. Collects, creates and distributes written
information, handles complaints,
resolving problems and answering questions. Involves telephone, verbal,
written, and personal
communication and contact with citizens and other City personnel.

3. Participates with the City of Franklin Tree Board and acts as the
Tree Board Arborist. Will act
as Tree Board Designee when asked, to meet the goals and requirements
of the board.
Coordinates and works with the tree board, non profits, and community
partners for special
urban forestry related events and activities for the City such as Arbor
Day, and Tree City USA
programs. Prepares press releases, maintains contact with other
officials and organizations,
arranges sites and dates of events, and completes reports and necessary
paperwork.

4. Coordinates and oversees tree-trimming and removal operations. Will
report to the City of
Franklin Board of Works as required. Responds to citizen requests,
inspects and evaluates trees
and areas to be trimmed or removed. Determines equipment and personnel
necessary for work.
Assists other departments, coordinates and monitors contracted work.
Monitors work-in-progress
and resolves problems. Assists and coordinates storm damage or
emergency trimming. Assists
other departments with tree-related concerns.

5. Maintains and updates the City’s street tree inventory, develops a
work plan from the
inventory which includes removal sites and planting opportunities, and
develops, in cooperation
with other city departments, an urban forestry storm response plan.
Based on the inventory, and
working with the tree board, develops a list of recommended trees for
the community.

6. Purchases and inspects plant materials, equipment, and tools.
Prepares specifications, receives
and reviews bids and quotes. Inspects materials and equipment upon
arrival for defects,
quantities, etc. Assists with minor tool and equipment trouble-shooting
and repair.

7. Assist with planning and designing landscape areas in various
locations in and throughout the
City, recommendation of species of trees for both public and private
developments, establishes
maintenance protocol means and methods to insure that trees survive
into maturity. Visits sites
and assist in preparation of areas for installation, including utility
locations, spacing and layout.
Assist with monitoring, evaluating and adjusting designs as needed.
Assist in researching trees,
plants, materials and tools needed for specific landscape jobs.

8. Inspects plant material for insects, disease, vandalism, value,
damage, etc. Determines
corrective action. Responds to phone calls and requests. Analyzes
problems via on-site
inspections. Advises citizens or appropriate agency on recommendations.
Initiates action by City
crews, if necessary. Follows-up with comprehensive reports and daily
paperwork.

9. Prepares and maintains numerous records on planting activities,
trimming, spraying, and
vegetation removal. Prepares annual reports covering forestry
operations. Assists in budget
process for the Street Department. Prepares annual work plans,
researches cost estimates for
equipment, tools and plant materials. Prepares specifications, bids,
quotes, and invoices for
purchasing equipment for tree, brush and limb maintenance. Assists in
vendor and contractor
selection. Accurately orders and keeps track of materials used and
needed for job assignments
and tasks.

10. Keeps abreast of current and updated methods, techniques and
procedures used in urban
forestry operations. Attends training seminars, pursues, obtains, and
keeps current required and
appropriate certifications. Reads and reviews industry journals.

11. Supervises and performs maintenance and repairs of tree grates,
tree planting pits etc on
public right of way. This includes but may not be limited to: urban
forest beautification and
maintenance of City properties and right-of-ways; tree planting,
maintenance, trimming and
removal; brush trimming and tree removal; installation and maintenance
of fencing, gates, and
other appurtenances; supervise installation and maintenance of
landscaping and retaining walls
where trees are impacted; and supervising workers in these tasks.

12. Coordinates preventive maintenance scheduling for urban forestry
equipment with central
garage supervisor. Performs and oversees the daily servicing of
equipment. This includes
washing, greasing, refueling, inspecting fluid levels, checking for
worn parts, loose belts, dirty
air filters and radiators. Keep storage areas cleaned and organized.

13. Practices good safety and is knowledgeable of standard safety
practices and procedures.
Possesses the ability to recognize hazardous situations and exercise
extreme caution and good
judgment when working in and around excavations, machinery, vehicles
and other related
equipment. Has ability to properly instruct and train others in the
safe and proper use of
equipment, tools, and personal protective equipment (PPE).

14. Effectively comprehends and follows oral and written instructions
to implement all phases of
Street Department operations during emergencies. Ability to read and
understand drawings,
plans, specifications and field alignments or grade stakes. Ability to
speak clearly and distinctly
into microphone, two-way radio and telephone in order to be clearly
understood. Ability to work
in an environment that often requires temporary re-direction for
emergency work; returns to
scheduled work without hesitation or prompting.

15. Operates basic office equipment, i.e., calculators, copy machines,
fax machines, etc.
Efficiently and effectively utilize Microsoft Windows based computers
and software including
Microsoft Office Products, Word Perfect, Lotus 123, e-mail, database
applications, record
keeping software, and other software as necessary.

16. Traverse difficult and uneven terrain in all types of adverse and
extreme weather conditions;
including rain, snow, ice, mud, cold, heat, humidity, and etcetera.
Performs strenuous manual
labor for extended periods of time.

Other Duties: Performs other duties and assignments related to the
overall operation of the
Street Department for The City as assigned during emergencies.

Work Environment: Work environment will consist primarily of outdoor
environments, which
exposes the employee to fumes, excessive noise, extreme hot and cold
weather, rain, mud, snow,
ice, uneven terrain, open excavations, heavy equipment, heavy objects
and working in and
around moving equipment. Job duties will also be carried out in an
office environment.

Physical Demands: Work requires the regular and sustained performance
of strenuous manual
labor and heavier physical tasks such as walking over rough and uneven
terrain, bending,
stooping, crouching, pushing, pulling, lifting, and etcetera. Operation
of heavy trucks and
equipment, pickup trucks, tractors, mowers, string trimmers, saws and
other power assisted or
manual equipment for extended periods of time. Frequent and continuous
lifting and carrying of
moderately heavy objects between 15 and 49 pounds and often carrying
heavy objects weighing
50 pounds or more. Work also requires the ability to perceive and/or
discriminate colors, sounds,
depth and texture.

Minimum Acceptable Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in urban
forestry, horticulture or
closely related field. International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)
Certified Arborist, with an ISA
Municipal Specialist certification (desired but not mandatory). Possess
a minimum of three (3) to
five (5) years of forestry and horticulture experience including: urban
forestry operations, tree
maintenance, and landscaping maintenance. Supervisory experience
desirable. Previous
experience with Tree City USA programs desirable. Must pass background
check and preemployment
drug screening test. Must possess or obtain and maintain a valid CDL
Class B
Indiana State vehicle operator’s license with both “tank” and
air-brake endorsements within 60
days of employment. Must possess or obtain and maintain valid Indiana
herbicide/pesticide
operator’s license with ornamental and turf grass certifications
within 60 days of employment.

Residency Boundary Requirement
Regular, full-time position/overtime eligible
Pay Grade ($34,500 to $38,500 annually) DOQ

Submit a completed City of Franklin Application for Employment to the
City of Franklin Street
Department Office, 951 Hamilton Ave., Franklin, IN 46131, by 5:00 p.m.,
Friday, Wednesday,
September 30, 2009. Applications may be obtained at City Hall or
printed from the City’s
website www.franklin-in.gov. The City of Franklin is an Equal
Opportunity Employer.



Kevin Sayers - State Coordinator
Urban & Community Forestry Program
MDNR, Forest, Mineral and Fire Mgmt.
P.O. Box 30452
Lansing, MI  48909-7952
Phone: (517) 241-4632
Fax: (517) 373-2443
sayersk@xxxxxx 
www.mi.gov/dnrucf