Description
CITY OF MACOMB JOB DESCRIPTION
Title: City Forester
Pay Grade: Grade 18
Reports To: Public Works - Operations Manager
Department: Public Works-Operations
FLSA: Non-exempt
Purpose of Position
Provides leadership and oversight in the implementation of Macomb's Community Forestry Program. The work is performed in accordance with the Tree Ordinance and policy guidelines recommended by the Tree Board and approved by the City Council.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Plans and implements the City's tree planting and maintenance program including trimming, and removals on municipal owned parkways, parks, cemeteries and other properties.
2. Identifies and purchases high quality nursery trees for City tree planting programs.
3. Provides maintenance care to newly planted trees including structural pruning and watering.
4. Monitors the City forest for outbreak of infectious tree and insect disease outbreaks
5. Implements a hazard tree abatement program for municipal properties.
6. Serves as crew leader in the supervision and direction of both full-time and seasonal public works employees involved in tree planting, trimming and removal operations.
7. Provides safety training to new employees involved in forestry activities.
8. Provides staff support in formulating forestry response plans to ice and windstorm damage.
9. Oversees contracted forestry operations, including on-site inspection and supervision of work.
10. Serves as City liaison to the Tree Board and assists in the development of forestry recommendations to the City.
11. Enforces the City Tree Ordinance including the investigation of nuisance tree complaints on private property, vandalism to City trees, and the issuing tree planting permits on City parkways.
12. Reviews construction plans for potential damage to City trees and works with engineers to mitigate the damage, if possible, when trees will be impacted.
13. Provides technical support to the Community Development Coordinator in the review of landscaping plans for new developments.
14. Administers the City's tree planting cost-share programs carried out in cooperation with Macomb Beautiful Association.
15. Administers the City's memorial tree planting program.
16. Prepares Macomb's Tree City USA application to the State of Illinois and coordinates the annual Arbor Day Tree Celebration.
17. Serves as City contact for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Urban Forestry Coordinator for the Tree City USA program, urban forestry grants, and when dealing with state issues such as the spread of infectious tree diseases .
18. Responds to citizen requests for tree planting, trimming or other tree related concerns.
19. Provides information and education to civic groups and the public regarding the City's tree program and policies.
Other Duties as assigned including, but not limited to:
- Assists with winter snow plowing and salting operations.
- Replaces and maintains lamps and globes in the City's antique street lights, parking lots, and neighborhoods with City owned street lights.
- Coordinates and takes the lead in the installation of the City's Christmas light display and serves as liaison to sponsoring civic groups.
Requirements
Minimum Training and Experience Required to Perform Essential Functions
Education/ training and/or experience in urban forestry, horticulture, biology or in a related field. Advanced training or education preferred.
Possess and keep current Certified Arborist credentials with the International Society of Arboriculture or obtain the same within (1) year.
Possess and keep current Illinois Public Pesticide Applicators License for both the Ornamental and Mosquito Category or obtain the same within six (6) months.
Knowledge of tree species identification, site suitability, and nursery selection standards. Knowledge of proper tree planting and maintenance techniques.
Knowledge of hazard tree assessment, risk management, and safe tree trimming and removal practices following ANSI Z133.1 Tree Care Safety Standards.
Knowledge of tree insect and disease problems and their control.
Understanding of the City Tree Ordinance, tree planting cost-share programs, memorial tree planting program, and City forestry policies.
Ability to understand landscape design plans and maps.
Knowledge of the Tree City USA program guidelines and ability to maintain documentation and prepare the City's annual application.
Knowledge in computer use and ability to maintain service requests, tree planting, maintenance, and removal records.
Ability to provide safe and efficient supervision and direction to public works employees involved in tree planting, trimming and removal operations.
Ability to provide safety training to new employees involved in forestry operations.
Ability to safely operate chainsaws, aerial bucket trucks, brush chippers, clam buckets for brush loading, dump trucks, snow plows, and salt spreaders.
Four years experience in road maintenance and construction work preferred.
Possess CDL driver's license.
Skill in communicating both in person and in writing.
Skill in establishing and maintaining effective relationships with elected and appointed City officials, the Tree Board, community service organizations, local media, and citizens.
Minimum Physical and Mental Abilities Required to Perform Essential Functions
Physical Requirements
Outside work involving frequent standing and walking. Work involves lifting, pushing, pulling, carrying heavy objects and materials. Work is subject to changing weather conditions. Requires occasional periods of strength, lifting objects weighing 50 lbs. or more as well as physical activity climbing ditches, steps, crawling, bending, stooping, crouching, etc. Requires clarity of vision, depth perception, and field of vision to populate equipment. Eye/hand/foot coordination, manual and finger dexterity, normal hearing and conversational skills.
Language Ability and Interpersonal Communications
Requires basic human relation skills in talking and/or signaling people to convey basic program information. Receiving and acting upon the instruction or orders of another person. Requires the ability to speak the English language using proper emphasis, variations and tense in the exchange of information. Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with contractors, utility company representatives and the general public.
Environmental Adaptability
Some work performed in an environment with undesirable conditions: exposure to extreme heat and cold, rain and snow, noise, dust, fumes, moving parts, burns, electric shock, and toxic agents. Occupational hazards are those associated with direct contact to moving machinery/equipment leading to cuts, bruises, abrasions, burns, strains, backaches, and potentially more serious injury.
The City of Macomb is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
