Environmental Sanitarian Position Copyright 2014
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 10.
ITEM TITLE: Environmental Sanitarian Position
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending approval to eliminate the position of
Environmental Sanitarian Assistant and create an additional Environmental
Sanitarian position, which will be compensated at GE-32.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
❑ Environmental Sanitarian Position-MVM Memo City Manager Memo
❑ Staff Memo Staff Memo
❑ Employee Requisition Supporting Documentation
❑ Job Description Supporting Documentation
THE CITY OF Dubuque
UBE I
erica .i
Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007-2012-2013
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Environmental Sanitarian Assistant Position
DATE: March 9, 2015
The Environmental Sanitarian Assistant position will become vacant effective March 31,
2015 due to a retirement. This position is currently compensated at GE-27. The level
of educational background, judgment, and technical skills require a deeper and more
extensive knowledge base than was required in 1992, the last time the position was
filled. Moreover, the codes and contracts require a higher level of knowledge to operate
scientific equipment, enforce codes, and implement programs.
Public Health Specialist Mary Rose Corrigan recommends City Council approval to
eliminate the position of Environmental Sanitarian Assistant and create an additional
Environmental Sanitarian position, which will be compensated at GE-32.
The current budgeted pay rate for the Environmental Sanitarian Assistant position is GE-27,
Step F ($23.91/hour). With 5% longevity, the current pay rate is $25.11/hour. This is
approximately Step B of GE-32 ($25.21/hour). Therefore, there would be minimal or no
budget impact to the employee expense for FY15 or FY16 if it were increased to a GE-32
level. The position does pay approximately 24% more, so in future years there will be a
budget impact.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Mary Rose Corrigan, Public Health Specialist
THE CITY OF Dubuque
All-AmF�i C!
DUB E 11 I t I
Masterpiece on the Mississippi rP Pp zoos.2012.2013
TO: Mike Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Mary Rose Corrigan, Public Health Specialist
SUBJECT: Environmental Sanitarian Assistant Position
DATE: February 27, 2015
The Environmental Sanitarian Assistant position will become vacant effective March 31,
2015 due to a retirement. The current position is a GE-27, two steps above a secretary,
and has not been filled since 1992. Since 1992, more requirements have been applied to
this position from the contracts we have with the Iowa Department of Inspections and
Appeals and the Iowa Department of Public Health, which include, successful completion
of:
Food Program
1. Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards Program Standard
#2, Curriculum for Retail Food Safety Inspection Officers
2. Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals hands on Hazard Analysis Critical
Control Point (HACCP) class
3. Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals New Inspector Training Field
Training
4. Emergency Management Incident Command system courses:
a. IS 100a, ICS-100, IS 100
b. IS 200a, ICS-200
c. IS 700a, ICS-700
5. FDA Food Code Standardization
6. National Environmental Health Association,
a. Certified Environmental Health Technician OR
b. Registered Environmental Health Specialist
Tanning Inspection
1. IDPH Tanning Inspector Training
Tattoo Inspection
1. IDPH Tattoo Inspection Training
2. Blood Borne Pathogen Training
3. First Aid
1
Pool Inspection Program
1 . Certified Pool Operator course by the National Swimming Pool Foundation
2. Lead Inspector/Risk Assessor Certification
3. Niton Lead Analyzer Training
Since adding the contractual requirements, the position has also advanced by the level of
skill required utilizing both technology and research-based methods and models.
Because of the differentiation in pay grades and skill/education levels, the Environmental
Sanitarian performed the more complex duties. However, due to the amount of these
duties, it is difficult at best for Tim Link, the Environmental Sanitarian (GE-32) to complete
the work load. Neither does this workload provide time for Tim to participate in other City
initiatives, where his expertise and knowledge would be valuable (i.e. Green Team,
Development Review, Leadership Team, Air Quality Task Force, Wellness Committee,
etc.).
The following are essential functions performed by the Environmental Sanitarian, Tim
Link, which are not required of the Environmental Sanitarian Assistant:
1 . Issuing municipal infractions, oversee process start to finish including working
with legal staff.
2. Standardizing food inspection staff based on FDA National Voluntary Retail Food
Protection Standards.
3. Perform DIA food database administration functions.
4. Access risk of retail food establishments and classify based on City of Dubuque
Food and FOG programs policies and procedures.
5. Writing and developing policies and procedures for Environmental Health staff.
6. Oversee/track compliance with DIA 28E agreement (contract) and IDPH
Pool/Tanning/Tattoo contract.
7. Track compliance with FDA National Voluntary Retail Food Program Standards.
8. File documents related to #7 with the FDA and DIA.
9. Conduct food establishment plan reviews, pre-opening, and change in ownership
inspections.
10.Conduct liquor license inspections.
11 .Conduct tattoo establishment inspections.
12. Interact with IDPH epidemiologists and DIA program staff regarding disease
outbreaks and other business.
13. Partner with other agencies for food borne outbreak investigations.
14. Inspect all types of food establishments including high risk.
15. Partner with agencies for County Health Needs Assessment and Health
Improvement Plan planning.
16. Perform phlebotomy (if qualified).
17. Educational presentations to professionals, community-based organizations, and
food workers and citizens.
18. Inspect food establishments when needed after a fire or natural disaster.
19.Work with department manager/DIA for closure order of pools/spas, hotels,
tanning salons, tattoo establishments, food establishments and enforcement of
their codes.
2
20. Participate in Environmental Health Response team with IDPH.
21 . Participate in local public health emergency planning, training, and response.
22. Inspect food establishments with variances to State Law.
The registered Sanitarian element coupled with a new public health department voluntary
certification requirement, require a four-year college degree or equivalent experience as it
relates to environmental health. The current classification for this position does not
require a college degree. In order for the position classification to be compensatory with
the required education and training, I believe it should be raised to a GE-32, the same as
the Environmental Sanitarian position held by Tim Link. The level of educational
background, judgment, and technical skills require a deeper and more extensive
knowledge base than was required in 1992, the last time the position was filled.
Moreover, the codes and contracts require a higher level of knowledge to operate
scientific equipment, enforce codes, and implement programs.
The Environmental Sanitarian job description has been updated to reflect the current job
responsibilities and requirements (see attached).
BUDGETIMPACT
The current budgeted pay rate for the Environmental Sanitarian Assistant position is GE-
27, Step F ($23.91/hour). With 5% longevity the current pay rate is $25.11/hour. This is
approximately Step B of GE-32 ($25.21/hour). Therefore, there would be minimal or no
budget impact to the employee expense for FY15 or FY16 if it were increased to a GE-32
level. The position does pay approximately 24% more, so in future years there will be a
budget impact.
RECOMMENDATION
I recommend elimination of the Environmental Sanitarian Assistant position and the
creation of an additional Environmental Sanitarian position.
cc Randy Peck, Personnel Manager
Jenny Larson, Budget Director
3
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EMPLOYEE REQUISITION
Department: Health Services {
1
Job title of vacant position: Environmental Sanitarian
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Work location or activity: City Hall Annex
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ZFull-Time Part-Time
Funding source(s): Partly by food licenses; pool, tanning, and tattoo licenses.
Reason(s) for vacancy:
Retirement
Justification for filling the vacant position:
Contractural requirements with IDIA,
IDPH for inspections of food establishments, swimming pools, hotels, tanning, and tattoo estab-
lishments, control/inspection/enforcement of nuisance complaints/issues on all non-rental, res-
idential properties.
Requested by: ' e% Date: 3/3/2015
/Y epartment Manager)
Requested starting date: 6/1/2015
Personnel Office review: Date:
Budget Office review: Date:
City Manager approval: Date:
12/02
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ENVIRONMENTAL SANITARIAN
DEPARTMENT: Health
GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES: Performs technical inspection work involving
the enforcement of state statutes and local ordinances and regulations as part of the
city's health services programs; performs related work as required.
DISTINGIUSHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: Work in this class involves
responsibility for the enforcement of applicable state statutes and municipal public
health ordinances, codes and regulations. General programs and policies are
determined by the department manager and specific decisions are made in accordance
with applicable ordinances codes and regulations. Employees in this class have
considerable freedom and are expected to exercise independent judgment. Work is
supervised by the department manager who reviews work through conferences, reports
and results achieved.
EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY):
ESSENTIAL: Inspects public institutional eating and drinking establishments to
determine compliance with municipal public health ordinances, state codes and
regulations pertaining to their operations; inspects motels hotels swimming pools for
sanitation and water quality to assure compliance with the state code and local
ordinances; reviews the design specifications of new and remodeled food and food
service establishments to ensure compliance with state codes and local ordinances;
inspects vending machines, push carts, mobile food units and temporary food stands to
ensure compliance with the state codes and local ordinances; makes field investigations
and inspections of environmental health hazards, private water supplies and waste and
sewage disposal facilities; conducts environmental investigations for lead poisoned
children; determines health hazards; interprets requirements, recommends corrective
measures and prepares written reports; investigates complaints about weeds, air
pollution, noise, hazardous waste, oil spills, fish kills, garbage, illegal dumping,
sanitation and food establishments; inspects refuse and septic tank collection vehicles
for compliance with city ordinances; appears in court as a witness against persons who
violate municipal public health ordinances; interprets the various health requirements to
the media and through contacts with community groups and food service workers.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
ESSENTIAL: Good knowledge of municipal health ordinances, state statutes and
regulations as they apply to public health sanitation; good knowledge of the modern
principles, techniques, practices and objectives of environmental sanitation and public
health; some knowledge of the legal requirements related to preparing contested
inspection cases for court litigation; ability to enforce municipal public health ordinances,
state statutes and regulations, tactfully, firmly and impartially, while maintaining effective
working relations with the public; ability to make technical inspections and to arrive at
independent decisions on the basis of such inspections; ability to establish and maintain
effective working relationships with the general public, representatives of other agencies
and employees; ability to express oneself clearly and concisely, both orally and in
writing; ability to study, analyze and compile technical and statistical information and
make recommendations from such information; ability to utilize a computer, and
software for complaint tracking and documentation, web-based software for inspections,
e-mail, and other basic computer functions; ability to make decisions, recognizing
established practices and to use resourcefulness and tact in solving problems; must
have demonstrated ability to follow a participatory, results-oriented cost-conscious
management style and to be sensitive to the human, as well as, the physical needs of
the city organization and community; demonstrated ability to follow a management
philosophy that is input oriented and values problem solving and the development of
partnerships; demonstrated ability to work effectively as a member of a team; and a
desire to be part of an organization that values service, people, integrity, responsibility,
innovation and teamwork.
ACCEPTABLE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Some professional experience in
environmental sanitation and/or public health and graduation from an accredited four
year college or university with major course work in public health, physical and
biological sciences, environmental sanitation or related field; or any equivalent
combination of experience and training which provides the essential knowledge, skills
and abilities.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: Possession of, or ability to obtain and maintain, a
valid Iowa drivers license. Certified Pool Operator (CPO) Certification within six (6)
months of employment, and become Standardized under Standard #2 of the FDA
Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards within 18 months of
employment.
Rev: 3/3/2015