Residence Requirements:

RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS:  CANDIDATES MUST HAVE BEEN LEGAL RESIDENTS OF ERIE COUNTY FOR AT LEAST ONE MONTH IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE DATE OF THE WRITTEN TEST AND MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENTS OF ERIE COUNTY AT THE TIME OF APPOINTMENT. There is one anticipated vacancy at the Erie County Department of Public Works.

Examples of Duties:

A Deputy County Sealer inspects and tests weighing and measuring devices throughout Erie County to insure accuracy; 

Inspects and tests weighing and measuring devices such as weights, scales, and pumps to determine accuracy and correctness by utilizing standard testing
methods and equipment such as weights, scale leverages and volumetric devices, and seals the same for approval;

Condemns such weighing and measures as found to be incorrect by withholding seals, recommending correction, and when necessary, filing papers for
prosecution of violations by the District Attorney;

Inspects packaged commodities for retail trade as to their weight, contents, labels, and markings in accordance with the various Weights and Standards Laws;

Prepares, files, and maintains reports of all inspections;

Explains and interprets the various Weights and Measures Laws to business people and users of measuring devices and also to the public in the process of handling complaints;

Transports various equipment to job locations.

Qualifications:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  Candidates must meet one of the following requirements on or before the date of the written test:

Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and four (4) years of experience in the use, sale or inspection of weighing and measuring devices; two years of which must have been involved in direct contact with the public.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:

Candidates must possess a valid New York State Driver's License and have available automotive transportation for the performance of their duties.

Notes:

1. Verifiable part-time and/or volunteer experience will be pro-rated toward meeting full-time experience requirements

The New York State Department of Civil Service has not prepared a test guide for this examination. However,candidates may find information in the publication "How to take a written test" helpful in preparing for this test. This publication is available on line at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm

Subjects of Examination:

SUBJECTS OF EXAMINATION: A written test designed to evaluate knowledge, skills and /or abilities in the following areas:

1. Inspection and interviewing techniques

These questions test your ability to select the proper course of action in situations which might occur during routine inspections. Question topics may cover, but will not be limited to, such areas as interviewing, gathering information and evidence, maintaining proper attitude, and handling irregularities and violations with integrity and sound judgment. Some questions may be in a situational format while others may deal with the proper principles and practices of inspection.

2. Preparing written material

These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.

3. Determining the accuracy of scales

These questions are designed to test a candidate's ability to determine if weighing scales are reading accurately and, if not, the extent of error associated with each scale. The candidate is shown a test load and given the weights of single units in the load and must calculate the total weight of the test load. The candidate is also shown two separate scale readings and must determine if either or both readings are fast or slow and by how much.

Knowledge of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division will be necessary. Specific knowledge of weights and scales is not required.

4. Understanding and interpreting written material

These questions test for the ability to understand and interpret written material. You will be presented with brief reading passages and will be asked questions about the passages. You should base your answers to the questions only on what is presented in the passages and not on what you may happen to know about the topic.

5. Weights and measures

These questions test candidates' knowledge of the various types of weighing and measuring devices and systems commonly used throughout business and industry. They deal with, but are not necessarily limited to, such areas as

-The conversion of weights and measures from the Metric System to the English System and from the English System to the Metric System;

-Types of linear and liquid measuring devices in common use;

-Various types of weighing devices in common use;

-Basic construction and operation of the various types of weighing and measuring devices in common use.    

NOTICE TO CANDIDATES:  It is recommended that candidates use a quiet, hand held, solar or battery powered calculator.  Devices with typewriter keyboards, "Spell Checkers", “Personal Digital Assistants", "Address Books", "Language Translators", "Dictionaries", or any similar devices are prohibited.  You may not bring books or other reference materials.

**IMPORTANT APPLICATION FEE - READ CAREFULLY**

A $20.00 filing fee is required for this exam. The required fee must accompany your application. Send or bring check or money order made payable to Erie County Personnel Department and write the examination number(s) on your check or money order. Do not send or bring cash, as the County cannot be responsible for cash payment. As no refund will be made, you are urged to compare your qualifications carefully with the requirements for admission and file only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified.