Grounds Maintainer I

The Town of West Hartford Announces an Open Competitive Examination For the Position of

Grounds Maintainer - Public Works Department

APPLICATIONS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED ELECTRONICALLY

Application Deadline:
Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EST

Salary Range:

$29.46 - $35.81/hour

Job Purpose

Responsible for the operation of park and golf course equipment and machinery to assure maintenance of grounds, buildings, and Town facilities.

Work Environment

Work involves moderate risks or discomforts which require special safety precautions and extensive muscular exercise. Must be able to operate equipment and trucks for an extended period of time. Responsibilities include repetitive digging, shoveling, and bending. Must be able to lift 50 pounds in repetitive fashion. Exposure to dirt, noise, fumes, and other disagreeable conditions. Work may include extended work periods in excess of eight hours and being called in to respond to routine and other public safety emergencies as necessary. Work outdoors for prolonged periods, exposed to varying weather conditions and/or temperature extremes.

Essential Job Functions

• Mows lawns, roadsides, fields, golf greens and edges of right-of-ways.
• Assists in the care of lawns, golf courses, tennis courts, ball fields, playgrounds and other Town properties.
• Plows and shovels snow, soil, and other materials in and around Town parks, grounds, sidewalks, lots, golf courses and parkways.
• Installs, maintains and repairs playground equipment.
• Floods, cleans, and maintains skating ponds.
• Operates miscellaneous equipment such as power lawn mowers, trucks, loaders, gang mowers, saws, back hoe, skid steer loaders and a variety of other power tools.
• Makes minor repairs to assigned equipment.
• Participates in repairing and patching roadways and maintaining grounds.
• Hauls material and equipment.
• Assists in the planting, cultivating, spraying, trimming, pruning, watering, fertilizing, and caring for turf, shrubs, flowers, and trees. Examines and treats trees for defects such as splits, wounds, rotting and attacks of various insect pests.
• Trims branches from trees using saws and pruning tools. Removes small trees. Digs to remove tree stumps.
• Repairs irrigation systems as directed.

Additional Job Functions:

• Assists in litter control and refuse collection in and around Town grounds.
• Cleans and prepares swimming pools and performs related maintenance duties.
• Performs miscellaneous building and equipment maintenance and cleaning tasks.
• May perform general forestry and tree trimming duties in aerial bucket truck when certified.
• Performs miscellaneous fence repair.
• Assists small equipment mechanic in related repairs.
• Performs related work as requested.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of traffic laws and Town and Department ordinances and regulations.
• Knowledge of safe and efficient equipment operation, grounds maintenance, and work zone safety.
• Knowledge of general gardening practices such as cultivating and fertilizing a garden.
• Knowledge of irrigation systems.
• Knowledge of the occupational hazards and safety precautions necessary in operating Department equipment.
• Ability to understand and follow instructions.
• Ability to meet the public in a pleasant and courteous manner.
• Ability and willingness to work under severely adverse conditions of weather, temperature, dirt, and noise.
• Ability to operate, maintain, and service vehicles and related power equipment.
• Willingness and ability to work under conditions of considerable personal hazard arising from the nature of tools and equipment used and type of physical activity required.
• Sufficient strength and physical agility to lift and move heavy objects and otherwise perform heavy physical labor.
• Ability to learn the proper use of machinery and equipment.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school graduate with two (2) years experience in building and grounds maintenance or equivalent combination of education and experience. A valid Commercial Drivers License (CDL) shall be obtained by the completion of the probationary period.
• A driving record in accordance with Town of West Hartford Driving Policy.
• A State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Commercial Operator’s License shall be obtained during the probationary period.

Method of Selection

Oral Board Examination 100% 70

The Town reserves the right to limit the number of applicants invited to any phase of the selection process.

Drug Testing:
Candidates shall be required to submit to a drug test as part of the pre-employment medical examination. Applicants must also complete the Drug Testing Supplement to the Employment Application. Failure to do so will automatically disqualify your application for the position. An individual appointed to the position is required to participate in a drug and alcohol-testing program as required by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), including random testing.

Any offer of employment is conditional based upon successful completion of a physical examination and an authorized Department of Transportation (DOT) regulated drug and alcohol record check.

An individual appointed to the position must satisfactorily complete a one (1) year probationary period.

Application Process

Applications may be accessed from the Town's website at www.westhartfordct.gov under "job openings". Applications must be completed by the application deadline, unless the Director of Human Resources extends such date. APPLICATIONS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED ELECTRONICALLY
It is the policy of the Town of West Hartford that discrimination in any way on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity/expression, marital status, citizenship, veteran status, military/veteran status, political belief, criminal record, disability or any other protected status in accordance with the requirements and any exceptions under applicable state or federal law toward employees is strictly prohibited and will be not be tolerated.

The Town of West Hartford provides reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you need an accommodation on the application or testing process, please contact the Human Resources Department at 860-561-7488 or email Jeton Musliu at Jeton.Musliu@westhartfordct.gov.

Individuals who do not have access to a computer or need assistance completing an online application may visit the Noah Webster Library or its branches for access and assistance.

MAH 4.15.25

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $29.46 - $35.81 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Referral program
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Salary : $29 - $36