(A) Established.
(1) A new employee position of Community Service Officer/Animal Control Officer is hereby established.
(2) The number of such positions, the compensation and the number of scheduled working hours shall be established by the corporate authorities from time to time.
(3) The person or persons hired to this position shall report to the Code Official and Chief of Police.
(1986 Code, § 2-305)
(B) Qualifications.
(1) High school graduate or GED equivalent (minimum);
(2) Ability to read, write and speak English language;
(3) Ability to compose letters and to articulate;
(4) Possess a valid Illinois driver’s license and have the ability to operate a motor vehicle;
(5) Ability to react quickly and calmly in emergencies and to deal effectively with the public;
(6) Ability and willingness to understand and carry out oral and written instructions;
(7) Be able to pass a police background check - no felony convictions;
(8) Furnish hiring officials with adequate recommendations, educational credentials and health documents;
(9) Good physical and mental health and willingness to submit at any time to health, drug and mental examination if requested by superiors and/or hiring officials;
(10) Successfully complete any initial training program or other up-to-date training programs as required by the Chief of Police or the Code Official; and
(11) Must be at least 21 years of age.
(1986 Code, § 2-306)
(C) Duties. The duties of the Community Services Officer/Animal Control Officer shall be as follows.
(1) Parking and traffic control:
(a) Enforcement of any and all ordinances and statutes relative to parking regulations within those areas of the city as assigned by the Chief of Police or his or her designate;
(b) Reporting to appropriate authorities the maintenance and repair needs at any parking or other traffic-control signs/devices or marking within the assigned enforcement area;
(c) School and grade crossing guard duties as may be assigned by the Chief of Police; and
(d) Traffic direction and/or control whenever necessary due to the limited availability of sworn personnel, including the receipt of reports concerning minor motor vehicle accidents.
(2) Administrative and enforcement of certain general offense provisions:
(a) Any and all ordinances and statutes pertaining to property maintenance or management, including but not limited to monitoring high weeds and high grass conditions, trash container placement and removal of refuse and debris;
(b) Ordinances and statutes pertaining to animals;
(c) Ordinances and statutes pertaining to billposting;
(d) Ordinances and statutes relative to safety, sanitation and health, snow removal and vegetation growth; and
(e) Ordinance and statutes pertaining to littering.
(3) Enforcement of certain ordinances pertaining to business regulations and taxation, provided same is done with the approval of the Chief of Police or Code Official and, whenever necessary, in connection with other officials:
(a) Inspections of business premises and operations to ensure compliance with licensing requirements; and
(b) The provisions of ordinances pertaining to peddlers and solicitors and transient merchants.
(4) Enforcement of certain provisions pertaining to the streets and utilities, provided same is done with the approval of the Chief of Police or Code Official and, whenever necessary, in cooperation with other officials:
(a) Ordinances pertaining to trees overhanging streets and sidewalks;
(b) House numbering, as same is required for placement on structures;
(c) Ordinances prohibiting littering within parks and otherwise regulating use of parks by permit or designated area; and
(d) Ordinances pertaining to required containers, placement and removal of garbage and refuse.
(5) Enforcement of certain provisions of the planning and zoning code, provided same is done with the approval of the Chief of Police or Code Official and in cooperation with other officials:
(a) Vision clearance on corner lots; and
(b) Off-street parking in front yards.
(6) General duties and any and all other duties as may be assigned by the Chief of Police or Code Official:
(a) To effect the provisions of this section, any person or persons appointed to the position hereby established are given full power and authority to issue citations, tickets or other documentation of violation of any ordinance or statute within the corporate limits of the city, and file same with appropriate courts having jurisdiction;
(b) Perform residential vacation checks;
(c) Investigate derelict and abandoned vehicles and complaints related thereto, make notification to owner and keep all records and reports thereof;
(d) Report the need for emergency street repairs, traffic light irregularities, street light outage, abandoned trash on streets and rights-of-way and dead animals on public streets and public property to the appropriate city department; and
(e) Courier-deliver documents, messages and the like, as directed by Chief of Police.
(7) Restrictions on the office of Community Service Officer/animal Control Officer:
(a) The person or persons appointed to the position hereby established shall not at any time carry a firearm or other deadly weapon, or effect the physical arrest of any individual unless otherwise directed by a peace officer; and
(b) The person or persons appointed to the position hereby established shall not at any time have the authority to perform any job or duty which is specifically prohibited by state or federal law.
(1986 Code, § 2-307) (Ord. 2001-15, passed 6-4-2001)