Employment Opportunities

Assessor (Posted 5/15/2020)

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:   This is professional work in the valuation for assessment for real property for tax purposes and the preparation of an annual assessment roll.   Work is performed under the general direction of the municipal legislators or the appointing authority.   Supervision is exercised over the work of appraisal and clerical staff.   Advisory service is available from the County Director of Real Property Tax Services and the State Board of Equalization and Assessment.   Does related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:

Annually values and revalues each parcel of real property;
Utilizes and maintains current tax maps and appraisal cards;
May seek County advisory services in determining values of certain parcels;
Attends all hearings of the Board of Assessment Review;
Makes changes in assessments in accordance with law as directed by the Board of Assessment Review;
Trains an acting Assessor to perform as needed;
Attends the public examination of the tentative assessment roll at times prescribed by law;
Receives complaints filed and transmits them to the Board of Assessment Review;
Prepares reports of assessment activities as required by the appointing authority or the State Board of Equalization and Assessment;
Provides school districts within the assessing unit a copy of the current pertinent portion of the assessment roll;
Supervises and trains appraisal staff members in the technique of appraisal and assessment;
Reviews and makes determinations with respect to applications for tax exemptions.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:   Good knowledge of making an appraisal of types of real property including industrial, commercial and other complex properties; good knowledge of the theory, principles and practices of real property valuation and assessment; comprehensive knowledge of residential and commercial building construction methods, materials and their cost; comprehensive knowledge of law governing the valuation and assessment of real property; comprehensive knowledge of deeds and related property records; ability to make and review arithmetic computations with speed and accuracy; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public, municipal officials and the Assessment Review Board; ability plan, work and supervise the work of others; integrity; tact; courtesy; good judgment; physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Graduation from high school or possession of an accredited high school Equivalency diploma, and two (2) years of satisfactory full-time paid experience in an occupation involving the valuation of real property, such as Assessor, Appraiser, Valuation Data Manager, Real Property Appraisal Aide or the like; OR
2. Graduation from an accredited two (2) year college and one (1) year of the experience described in subdivision (A) above; OR
3. Graduation from an accredited four-year college and six (6) months of the experience described in subdivision (A) above; OR
4. Graduation from an accredited four-year college and a written commitment from the county director that the county will provide training in assessment administration, approved by the State Board, within a six month period.

The experience described above is subject to the following restrictions:

1. If the Assessor has been previously certified by the State Board as a candidate for Assessor pursuant to Subpart 188-3 of the Minimum Qualification Standards, Training and Certification of Local Assessment Administration Personnel, such certification is equivalent to one year of the experience described in subdivision (A) above if the certification as “candidate for assessor” has not expired.
2. For the purpose of crediting full-time paid experience, a thirty-hour week shall be deemed as full-time employment.
3. Three years of par-time paid experience as sole Assessor or a Chairman of the Board of Assessors shall be credited as one year of full-time paid experience, and five years of part-time paid experience as a member of a Board of Assessors shall be credited as one year of full-time experience. Paid part-time experience in excess of these amounts shall be credited in accordance with these criteria.
4. Volunteer experience in an assessor’s office may be credited as paid experience to the extent that it includes tasks such as data collection, calculation of value estimates, preparation of preliminary valuation reports; providing routine assessment information to a computer center; public relations; and review of value estimates, computer output and exemption applications.
5. In no case shall less than six months of the experience described in subdivision (A) be acceptable with the exception of county training as provided for in subdivision (D) above.

NOTE:   Minimum qualifications are pursuant to those contained in Section 188-2.4 of the Minimum Qualification Standards, Training and Certification of Local Assessment Administration Personnel, effective August 28, 1991.

Please send your resume and cover letter to Mayor, City of Jamestown, 200 East Third Street, Jamestown, NY 14701 or email to mayor@jamestownny.gov by May 27, 2020.

 

DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF (Posted 5/15/2020)

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: This is an important supervisory position involving responsibility for directing municipal firefighting and fire prevention activities, and assisting the Police Chief/Director of Public Safety in the over-all coordination and direction of the Fire department. The Deputy Fire Chief renders necessary assistance and service to persons and property in case of emergencies arid accidents. The work is performed in accordance with policies, procedures and objectives established by the Chief, but an incumbent is allowed considerable leeway for the exercise of independent judgment in the scheduling and assignment of personnel and the coordination of fire- fighting activities. Supervision is exercised over Firefighters and Fire Officers. The incumbent does related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:

Responds to fires and emergencies when assigned, or as otherwise required, and may assume command at the scene;

Inspects multiple dwellings and buildings for fire hazards in accordance with established procedures, and prepares written records and reports as required;

Supervises the implementing of all departmental functions and activities relating to fire and other emergency procedures;

Supervises the maintenance of equipment, buildings and property;

Assures responsibility for maintaining established levels of effectiveness of equipment maintenance, personnel training, fire prevention and safety programs, and of physical facilities;

Prepares and oversees departmental budget, expenditures and appropriations;

Conducts programs for the education and benefits of fire personnel and the general public;

Administers the personnel policies of the Department;

Supervises the maintenance of information systems, including all records and reports;

Carries out other duties as assigned.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Thorough knowledge of modern firefighting and fire prevention principles, methods, and equipment; thorough knowledge of the municipalities’s fire prevention laws and ordinances; thorough knowledge of the geography, building conditions and major fire hazards of the area; thorough knowledge of the safety precautions used in firefighting; thorough knowledge of fire training techniques; thorough knowledge of principles of fire department administration; ability to maintain discipline; ability to recognize fire hazards; demonstrated ability to direct and coordinate firefighting activities; resourcefulness; sound judgment in emergencies; physical condition commensurate with the demands of the job.

How to apply / Other information:

This is Civil Service tested position.  Applicant will be provisional appointee and require successful completion of state-required fire training and passing score of civil service exam.

Please send your resume and cover letter to Mayor, City of Jamestown, 200 East Third Street, Jamestown, NY 14701 or email to mayor@jamestownny.gov by May 27, 2020.

 

Laborer (Posted 5/6/2020)

General Statement of Duties: Performs manual work of routine and unskilled nature; does related work as required.

Tree Trimming and cutting in Aerial Lift helpful but not necessary

Distinguishing Features of the class; this is routine manual work involving both heavy and light physical labor in a wide variety of work activities. Work is assigned in detail and is subject to direct supervision and inspection by an immediate supervisor.

Examples of Work: (Illustrative Only)

Loads and unloads material and equipment from trucks;

Spreads sand, gravel and Chips;

Assists skilled workers by carrying equipment and tools;

Carries sand, gravel and cement;

Digs ditches, mows lawns, trims shrubs, and rakes grass and trash;

Cleans, paints, picnic tables, and park benches;

Assists in the repair and landscapes areas as assigned;

Assists in tree trimming and brush removal;

Cleans culverts, drains and ditches;

Assists in servicing and cleaning of equipment.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Ability to follow instructions; willingness to perform routine manual work;

Conditions Ability to lift heavy weights; willingness to work under all weather; physical endurance; physical condition commensurate with the demands of the job.

Special Requirements for Acceptance of Applications:

Eligibility for a New York State commercial driver’s license at the time of application. Possession of the license may be required upon completion of probation period. Upon completion probation period may be required to have complete electrical hazard awareness training and to have certification in CPR and First Aid.

 

PRINCIPAL PLANNER (Posted 2/3/2020)

Annual Salary:   Dependent on qualifications and experience.

Description: The City of Jamestown/ Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency is seeking a skilled urban planner with an interest in improving the livability and economic regeneration of the Jamestown community.  The planner will have a background in urban design, planning, and land resource management.  The planner will work closely with the City Building & Zoning Code Enforcement Officer and Department of Development staff to achieve goals and objectives set forth by the Department.  The planner will collaborate with other city departments as necessary to ensure development, zoning and planning activities are coordinated across all relevant disciplines and departments.  The planner will provide unbiased guidance on all development activities including design, historic preservation, and environmental impact to the Department of Development, Planning Commission, Department of Public Works, and City Council.

Duties and Responsibilities: Reporting directly to the Director of Development, responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Work closely with the City’s elected and appointed leadership in setting and carrying out the City’s vision, mission and objectives for planning.
• Design review of downtown façade projects and preparation of conceptual designs for downtown improvements.
• Evaluate planning legislation and applicability to department projects.
• Author or contribute to the writing of specific plans for adoption and coordinates the approval process working closely with Zoning, Public Works Department, and coordinates public input.
• Coordinate the approval process for plan adoption.
• Coordinate with various entities to ensure the continued successful implementation of adopted plans. Provides guidance in design and makes recommendations for funding.
• Provide technical assistance and guide private developers through the regulatory process.
• Coordinate with developers, building owners, design professionals, and agencies on rehabilitation, restoration, adaptive-reuse and building expansion activities.
• Coordinate the City’s site plan review and historic preservation review process with applicants and all city, county and state governmental agencies involved.
• Provide reliable coordination and guidance of City Planning and Zoning activities such as meetings, monitoring compliance with local, state, and federal laws, and ensuring deadlines are met by developers.
• Coordinate the SEQRA and NEPA environmental review process and policy analysis and works with developers to coordinate process and deadlines.
• Evaluate all site plan review work and all drawings, making recommendations to the City of Jamestown Planning Commission and guiding them through the planning process.
• Write Requests for Proposals to hire planning consultants, architects, and development firms and works in close coordination with the chosen consultants to ensure planning process moves ahead in a timely fashion.
• Provide consult to City Council with regard to recommending changes to existing plans or clarifying the need for new plans and zoning changes or amendments.
• Contribute to the writing of specific zoning changes and amendments when necessary.
• Propose potential projects for grant applications, assists in the writing of the grant and contributes to the administration of the grant.
• Coordinate the grant application writing process with staff taking the lead on project creation, analyzing feasibility, and identifying partners.
• Prepare and generate maps and statistical data and the analysis of the data.
• Compile and prepares statistical data.
• Provide support to economic development efforts.
• Carry out updates to the Department website and use other electronic and paper-based means to improve the form and content of information provided to the public and various stakeholders
• Assist other City Departments and/or DOD teammates with special projects as assigned.
• Special assignments as issued by the JURA Executive Secretary/Director of Development.

Education & Experience Requirements:

Master’s Degree in Urban Planning from an accredited university or college with demonstrated professional planning experience; OR

Bachelor’s Degree in Planning from an accredited university or college and at minimum three (3) years of planning experience.

Must exhibit strong written, verbal, organizational, and interpersonal skills.

Demonstrated computer proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint; Adobe Suite including Acrobat, InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator; Google Earth; Arc Map, Arc View or Map Info; ArcGIS or QGIS applications a plus.

How to apply / Other information:

Please send your resume and cover letter to Director of Development, City of Jamestown, 200 East Third Street, Jamestown, NY 14701 or email to  surdyk@cityofjamestownny.com.