(a) Within the Department of Public Service, there is hereby established the position of Treatment Plant Relief Operator/Maintenance Person, who shall be appointed by the Mayor, after recommendation by the Utilities Manager, and who shall be under the general supervision of the Utilities Manager. It is further provided, however, that the immediate supervisor of such position shall be the responsibility of either the Sanitary Water Producing Superintendent or the Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent, depending upon which relief plant said operator is then assigned. Under the immediate supervision of such respected Superintendent, he or she shall operate and maintain equipment associated with the respective treatment plant processes and perform such other related tasks that are required by the immediate supervisor or the Utilities Manager.
(b) The Treatment Plant Relief Operator/Manager Person shall possess any combination of training or experience equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade with emphasis on mathematics and science background. He or she will have completed one year of actual water or wastewater treatment plant experience at the time of application. He or she shall be required to obtain an Ohio E.P.A. Class I Operator's Certificate in both water and wastewater within four years from the date of his or her appointment. He or she shall possess mechanical aptitude; ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with associates and fellow employees as well as management; and ability to maintain records and prepare reports required of him or her. He or she shall demonstrate and continue to possess the ability and willingness to learn to make repairs and actually repair a variety of machinery and equipment, as well as to use machinery and equipment in both treatment plants.
(c) The Treatment Plant Relief Operator/Maintenance Person shall substitute for any and all other treatment plant operators during times of absence when so assigned by the Utilities Manager. During such times, in addition to any other related duties that may be assigned to him or her from time to time, he or she shall operate pumps, control panels, valves, pumping station equipment, chemical feeders and other equipment, and maintain and repair the same as needed.
He or she shall perform various laboratory analyses and collect samples as required; adjust flows and chemical feeds as indicated by such lab tests to produce optimum plant results; make periodic rounds of the treatment plant and its facilities, checking charts, equipment operations, meters etc.; and maintain a log of plant operations. He or she shall assist in maintaining the plant in a clean and orderly condition by sweeping and mopping floors, shoveling snow as required and mowing grass. He or she shall assist in plant maintenance by disassembling machines, pumps and other equipment and reassembling the same; perform routine equipment lubrication and equipment testing as required; repair damaged parts; replace any other parts; and make creative and meaningful recommendations to management.
(d) The appointee to such position shall serve a six-month probationary period during which time he or she may be dismissed by the Mayor upon recommendation of the Utilities Manager for any reason whatsoever and without cause. During such probationary period, his or her compensation shall be established at Range Eight, Step Three. In the event an existing employee shall be appointed to the position, he or she shall not be decreased in pay during his or her probationary period, and in the event an existing employee shall be initially appointed to such office and shall be removed during his or her probationary period, he or she shall automatically be reassigned to his or her former classification as before such appointment. After the probationary period has been successfully fulfilled, he or she shall possess all the protections and responsibilities granted by Civil Service laws and shall be given a one step pay raise increment and successive one step pay raises every six months thereafter to a maximum of Range Eight, Step Nine, provided that each step pay raise has been previously approved by the Utilities Manager, who may withhold the same at his or her sole discretion. The Finance Director is hereby authorized and directed to compensate the Treatment Plant Relief Operator/Maintenance Person in accordance with the terms hereof along with the general payroll of employees of the City of Vermilion, Ohio.
(Ord. 88-38. Passed 6-6-88.)