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.  Preference may be given to successful candidates who have been residents of the municipality in which the appointment is to be made for one month preceding the date of the certification of the eligible list and who are residents of the municipality at the time of appointment.  Non-residents may be required to become a resident of the appointing municipality if local law so states.

There is one current vacancy in the Town of Amherst. The annual salary is $49,412 - $68,499. *Salaries vary among municipalities and districts.   The eligible list resulting from this examination will be used to fill this vacancy and other appropriate vacancies which may occur in municipalities or districts under the jurisdiction of Erie County Civil Service while this list is active. 

A promotion examination will be held at the same time as this examination. The list resulting from the promotion examination will be used first but appointments from this open competitive examination are anticipated. Use of the list may be suspended after it is one year old for any position which it is practical to fill through a new promotion examination.

Examples of Duties:

A Plumbing Inspector makes inspections of the installation and repair of plumbing facilities in buildings and structures, and enforces the provisions of the local plumbing code;

Reviews, checks and passes on plans and specifications submitted with plumbing permit applications for compliance with applicable codes;

Investigates complaints and assists in prosecuting violations of the plumbing codes;

Inspects existing buildings and structures to insure their conformity with standards;

Explains the requirements of codes, ordinances and related laws to plumbing contractors and general public;

Prepares reports on inspections and maintains related records;

May issue plumbing permits and collects inspection fees.

Qualifications:

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

A. Graduation from a standard senior high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and four years of experience as a journeyman plumber; OR

B. Elementary school education and eight years of plumbing experience, four years of which must have been as a journeyman plumber; OR

C. An equivalent combination of training and experience as defined by the limits of (A) and (B).

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: The municipality may also require possession of a Master Plumber Certificate and Plumber's License issued by the local municipality.

Notes:

1. Experience as a qualified municipal Plumbing and Building Inspector or as an Assistant Building and Plumbing Inspector may be substituted for an equivalent combination of the above required experience.

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 procedures and principles

These questions test for knowledge of the appropriate practices and methods to use when inspecting various types of building facilities and projects, including proper adherence to plans and codes, dealing with residents, owners and contractors, and inspection record keeping.

2. Plumbing plans, installations, practices, materials and tools, including plumbing and sanitary codes

These questions test for the ability to read, analyze and perform computations based on plumbing-related diagrams and plans; for knowledge of the tools, materials and methods used when installing or repairing residential and commercial plumbing-related appurtenances; and knowledge of and the ability to apply provisions of the Plumbing Code of New York and other sanitary and health codes applicable to plumbing installations.

3. Water system components, including backflow preventers

These questions test for knowledge of the operation, installation, repair and testing procedures used for water-related outside mains, piping, building connections, valves, meters, drinking water protection devices (i.e., backflow preventers), and similar types of plumbing installations.

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.

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.