4.c) Questions for Maintenance Superintendent Interviews Meeting Date: 11/08/2011
Agenda Item: �/ �
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City Council Agenda Report
City of Scandia
14727 209`h St. North
Scandia, MN 55073 (651) 433-2274
Action Requested: Review and finalize interview questions for the Maintenance
Superintendent position.
Deadline/ Timeline: Interviews are scheduled for Wednesday, November 9 (3:00 p.m.)
Background: • One-hour interviews with 5 candidates have been scheduled for
November 9. A draft set of questions has been prepared for the
Council's review.
• Interviews should also include an explanation of the process and
approximately timeline for selection of the preferred candidate. Each
candidate should be reminded that any job offer made subsequent to
the interviews would be conditioned upon reference checks, driving
record and criminal history background checks and a physical and drug
screening prior to final City Council approval.
• The Council will be supplied with the complete application packet
from each candidate at the meeting on the 9`h
Recommendation: • The Council should finalize the questions to be asked and their order.
You should also discuss the process (who will ask questions, etc.) for
the interviews.
Attachments/ • Draft Questions
Materials provided: . Position Description, Maintenance Superintendent
Contact(s):
Prepared by: Anne Hurlburt, Administrator
(maint sup questions)
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11/03/11
Interview Questions
Maintenance Superintendent
November 9, 2011
1. Review for us your education and work experience and how they qualify you
for this position.
2. Please tell us about your experience supervising employees. Please be
specific about how many and what types of employees you supervised.
3. Please tell us about your experience operating, maintaining and selecting
heavy equipment.
4. What knowledge and experience do you have with maintaining roads,both
paved and unpaved?
5. Scandia's roads are aging and a recent pavement management study� showed
that we are falling behind on maintenance. Tell us about how you might
approach this problem?
6. Snow plowing season is coming up. What are some of the best strategies for
effective and fast snow and ice control?
7. What knowledge and experience do you have with sewer and water systems?
We are particularly interested in smaller sewer systems with sub-surface
treatment (Scandia has 3.)
8. Maintenance of our surface water and drainage infrastructure has been
somewhat neglected. How would you incorporate this into the maintenance
schedulelprogram?
9. Much of our building maintenance has been about reacting to problems. How
do you make sure there's adequate preventive maintenance?
10. How do you know when it's best to contract out a job, or do it in house?
11. Tell us about your experience working with contractors. How do you make
sure that the city gets what it paid for?
12. Tell us about your computer skills and experience?
13. How do you foster team work with and among the staff inembers you
supervise?
14. How do you track citizen complaints and ensure follow-up?
15. What questions do you have for us?
Approved by City Council, August 30, 2011
City of Scandia, Minnesota
POSITION DESCRIPTION
TITLE: MAINTENANCE SUPERINTENDENT
STATUS: Full-time (40-hours/week) regular position
Normal working hours per personnel policy
FLSA Exempt
REPORTS TO: City Administrator
City Council
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: Provide oversight and work direction for maintenance
personnel and contractors to ensure that all city infrastructure (including roads, street
lights, drainage systems, sewer and water) and facilities (including parks and public
buildings) are operated and maintained in good condition. Draft and recommend
policies and participate in long-range planning for all areas of responsibility.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
1. Coordinate, schedule and participate in activities of maintenance personnel.
2. Assign personnel for emergency repairs and activities.
3. Perform and/or oversee preventative and corrective maintenance services on all
equipment, vehicles and facilities.
4. Oversee contractors performing maintenance activities and projects.
5. Keep records of all maintenance activities.
6. Coordinate maintenance and construction projects with the City Engineer and
ensure that that all engineering standards and best practices are met.
7. Draft and recommend policies for all maintenance functions including but not
limited to snow and ice control, pavement management, street signs and utility
system operations.
8. Recommend and administer the budget for the Public Works Department.
9. Develop specifications and make recommendations for purchase of equipment
and vehicles. Purchase all supplies and materials needed for effective
operations.
10.Provide recommendations for the capital improvement plan concerning needs for
infrastructure, city facilities and equipment purchases and replacements.
11.Maintain a high level of safety practices through coordination of safety programs
and policies and regular inspections of facilities and equipment.
12.Ensure and document that employees receive appropriate training.
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13.Coordinate activities with other city departments and other agencies and
jurisdictions, such as the state and county highway departments and watershed
districts.
14.Answer questions and complaints. Prioritize and respond in an appropriate
manner to service requests.
15.Supervise public works staff in accordance with the city's personnel policies.
Maintain discipline and make recommendations concerning hiring and other
personnel actions.
16.Prepare reports to the City Administrator and the City Council.
17.Perform other duties as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
1. General knowledge of road construction and maintenance practices.
2. General knowledge of building and grounds maintenance practices.
3. General knowledge of tools and equipment used to perform maintenance
responsibilities.
4. Mechanical aptitude.
5. Knowledge of subsurFace sewage treatment systems and small water systems.
6. Ability to perform, plan, prioritize and coordinate work responsibilities and
effectively utilize time, equipment, materials and personnel.
7. Skill in handling customer complaints and general information requests through
phone and/or personal contacts.
8. Basic skill level with personal computers and Microsoft Word and Excel
spreadsheet software.
9. Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with a wide variety
of City personnel and the general public.
10.Ability to occasionally attend meetings or respond to emergencies on weekday
evenings and/or weekends.
11.Ability to deal discreetly with confidential information.
12.Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
13.Ability to do some lifting, bending, climbing, reaching, overhead pushing and
pulling.
EXAMPLES OF PERFORMANCE CRITERIA:
1. Infrastructure and facilities are maintained according to adopted policies.
2. Makes sound policy and budget recommendations.
3. Requirements of state laws, local ordinances and city policies are met.
4. Records are accurate, current and efficiently maintained with information readily
available, and reported in a timely manner.
5. Preparation of required and requested materials and reports is timely, thorough,
and complete.
6. Public contacts are courteous and businesslike and the information provided is
accurate and timely.
7. Develops a positive relationship with residents, contractors and others.
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8. Performs assigned tasks with minimum direct supervision.
9. Maintenance workers perform as a team to accomplish objectives.
10.Equipment and labor are utilized appropriately, effectively and safely.
11.Expenditures are within budgetary limits.
12.Keeps supervisor informed of all significant matters he/she must know to perform
his/her responsibilities effectively.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
1. Graduation from high school or GED equivalent required.
2. Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in construction
and maintenance methods, materials and equipment as employed in road,
drainage and other public works projects.
3. Minimum of three years experience supervising employees.
4. Experience with building and grounds maintenance.
5. Experience in work safety standards and implementation of OSHA regulations.
6. Valid Minnesota Class E Water Supply system Operator certificate or ability to
obtain that certificate within six months.
7. Valid Minnesota SubsurFace Sewage Treatment Provider certification or ability to
obtain that certification within one year.
8. Valid Minnesota Class "A" driver's license and good driving record.
SUPERVISION OF OTHERS:
1. Maintenance Worker, Full-Time (2)
2. Maintenance Worker(s), Seasonal (Winter/Summer)
3. Some direction may be provided to office support personnel.
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