Public Works Laborer

Statement of Duties

Performs playground equipment maintenance and repair skills with knowledge of carpentry, irrigation systems, rubber surface repair, chain link and wooden fences. Performs gardening work and other manual duties in the care of lawns, gardens, shrubbery, and flower beds; plants and transplants flowers, prunes trees, sprays for control of insects; weeds and waters flower beds. Performs other related manual tasks such as cutting grass, digging, clearing snow, raking leaves and performs maintenance work. Performs maintenance, unskilled labor duties of which the following are typical examples: digging holes, trenches, and other excavations; shoveling materials and leveling areas; maintenance and care of recreational areas, athletic fields, parks and playgrounds, lining playing fields, planting and trimming shrubs, small trees, and using hand tools or powered equipment; replacing and moving grass, repairing fences, swings, slides and other playground equipment; painting and maintenance work; cleaning grounds as directed; assisting other personnel in tasks, loading and unloading materials; emptying barrels and cleaning litter and debris from street, parking lots and recreational areas, removing snow and ice, using manual or small powered equipment; spreading sand on icy areas, using small hand tools; i.e. shovels, picks, axes, saws, heavy wrenches and small power tools. Performs all other duties that may be assigned.

Recommended Minimum Qualifications

• Ability to receive and interpret written and oral instructions and to give written and oral reports to supervisors.
• Must have ability to use tools of trade in a workmanlike manner.
• Must be in good health, dependable, and able to do hard physical work.
• Must possess valid Massachusetts Class D drivers license.
• Must have a safe driving record.

Work Environment

Work requires agility and physical strength, ability to function in close quarters, and is subject to outside environmental conditions, including wet, hot and cold weather. Worker is subject to noise, vibrations, hazards and atmospheric conditions including fumes, dust and air contaminants. Work requires some agility and physical strength, such as moving in, about or over rough terrain, or standing or walking most of the work period.

Physical & Mental Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.

Physical Skills

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to bend, crawl, sit, talk, move about, hear and speak. Noise level may be high when operating power equipment. Employee is exposed to outside weather conditions as a regular part of job. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and greater than 50 pounds using appropriate equipment.

Motor Skills

While performing the duties, employees are regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret data, information and documents; analyze and solve problems; use math and mathematical reasoning; observe and interpret situations; learn and apply new information or new skills; work under deadlines with constant interruptions; and interact with City staff. The position requires balancing, pushing, pulling, grasping, feeling and repetitive motion to complete tasks.

Visual Skills

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Employee is required to use properly use such safety equipment as is appropriate to the work to prevent injury to self or others. Visual acuity is required to operate motor vehicles and heavy equipment.

Hours: Full-Time, Temporary
Union: SMEA B
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Salary: $857.29 weekly, plus benefits
Pre-employment Requirements: Successfully pass a pre-employment physical with a drug screen and driving history review.
Date Posted: May 29th, 2024

City of Somerville residents are especially encouraged to apply.

The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request. Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.

Please Note: The below details do not apply to any Mayor Student Jobs programs OR youth workers with the city.

Pre-Employment Requirements for All Employees:

• MA Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) clearance
• Completion of Conflict-of-Interest Law Education training for municipal employees

Overview of Total Rewards:

• 4 weeks annual vacation (for non-union positions) union positions vary by contract
• Medical insurance through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) - 80% of premium costs paid by City
• Dental coverage low and high plans through Cigna
• Vision care through Vision Service Plan (VSP)
• Long term disability through Sun Life
• Group and voluntary life insurance through Boston Mutual
• Health Care and Dependent Care flexible spending through Benefit Strategies
• Deferred compensation plans through a choice of three vendors
• Free, confidential services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by E4Health
• Annual cancer screening & wellness release
• Somerville Retirement Pension System
• Tuition reimbursement
• MBTA pass program
• FREE Blue Bikes membership
• Eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

Benefits listed are for benefits-eligible positions and the above information is meant to be a general overview of the benefit programs offered by the City of Somerville and not a binding contract.