**********************Application Fee Waiver**********************

Employees of Erie County CSEA collective bargaining unit shall have all fees associated with County provided promotional civil service examinations waived.

Residence Requirements:

THIS EXAMINATION IS OPEN TO ALL QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES OF THE ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.  There is one vacancy at the Erie County Department of Public Works, Division of Weights and Measures. 

The eligible list resulting from this examination will not supersede currently existing promotional eligible lists for this title, if any.  The duration of all promotional eligible lists is four years from date of establishment unless otherwise indicated.

Examples of Duties:

A Senior Deputy County Sealer supervises and participates in the inspection and  testing of various weighing and measuring devices throughout Erie County; 

Supervises and participates in the inspection, testing, sealing or condemning various weighing  and measuring devices to ensure correctness relative to Weights and Measures Laws;

Tests various scales such as computing, vehicle, platform, spring, hopper, torsion, etc.;

Tests gasoline pumps, oil pumps, meters on petroleum vehicles, liquid measures, etc.;

Inspects various packaged commodities for weight, count, volume, contents; labels, marking, etc.  in accordance with New York State Agriculture and Markets law relating to Weights and Measures;

Calibrates meters on petroleum trucks and in bulk loading plants and calibrates petroleum tanks and test measures;

Explains and interprets to business people and to consumers the various weights and measures laws of New York State;

Prepares reports and maintains records on inspections;

Participates in the more involved and complex inspections, enforcements and prepares papers for resection by the District Attorney;

Supervises the work of inspectors by training in procedures, inspections and investigations and assists them with problems;

Assists the Director of Weights and Measures by making work assignments, reviewing inspection reports, attending to office duties and acts for the Director in his absence;

Reviews and investigates complaints from consumers, assigns deputies to investigate.

Qualifications:

QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE FOR TAKING THE TEST: Candidates must be permanently employed in the competitive class and must be serving and have served continuously on a permanent or contingent permanent basis in the competitive class for 12 months immediately preceding the date of the written test in the position of Deputy County Sealer. 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must have a valid New York State driver's license and use of a reliable automobile.

Notes:

None.

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. Supervision

These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices employed in planning, organizing, and controlling the activities of a work unit toward predetermined objectives. The concepts covered, usually in a situational question format, include such topics as assigning and reviewing work; evaluating performance; maintaining work standards; motivating and developing subordinates; implementing procedural change; increasing efficiency; and dealing with problems of absenteeism, morale, and discipline.

5. 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.

6. 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.

INFORMATION FOR PROMOTION CANDIDATES

Unless otherwise indicated, the eligible list resulting from this examination will have a duration of four years and will not supersede existing promotional lists, if any.

RATINGS REQUIRED:  Test is rated on a scale of 100 with a passing mark at 70.  Test instructions may further divide the tests into parts and set minimum standards for each part.

Points will be added to scores of candidates who achieve a passing mark as follows: Seniority:  For each year of service in the classified service:

Less than 1 year……………………..................…0 points

1 year up to 6 years…………….…........................1 point

Over 6 years up to 11 years.....………......….........2 points

Over 11 years up to 16 years….…........….........…3 points

Over 16 years up to 21 years………..................…4 points

Over 21 years………………………..................…5 points

VETERANS:  Disabled and non-disabled veterans as defined in Section 85, New York State Civil Service Law, will have 5 and 2.5 points, respectively added to their earned scores if successful in the examination.  You must claim these credits when you file application but you have an option to waive them any time prior to appointment.  If you have already used these credits for a permanent position in NYS, you may not claim them again.

**IMPORTANT APPLICATION FEE - READ CAREFULLY**

A None 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.