HARBORMASTER 4233

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS

Under general supervision, an employee in this class is responsible for patrolling town or village waterways to enforce federal, state and local ordinances governing navigation laws, local waterways codes, gamefish and shellfish conservation, fishing, hunting and clamming. Assignments also may include assigning docking and mooring spaces and maintaining navigable channels to ensure the safe and orderly flow of boating traffic in a town or village harbor. The incumbent works with limited supervision and is expected to use good judgment, firmness and tact in carrying out assignments. Work is reviewed through regular inspections, conferences and written reports. Does related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES

Enforces federal, state, and local marine ordinances; Maintains orderly and safe boating conditions;

Investigates reports of boating accidents, drownings, hazards to navigation and other waterway activities and renders assistance;

Operates all types of marine vessels, works closely with U.S. Coast Guards in matters of search and rescue and Maritime Domain Awareness, as well as marine fire-fighting operations with local fire departments;

Investigates hazards to navigation, checks harbor and waterways conditions following storms or hurricanes and submits reports on shoaling or water erosion and other physical damage;

Administers the town or village waterways programs, including marine infrastructure, maintains PATON (marine aid to navigation) in accordance with established federal and state guidelines, boating safety, and aquaculture;

Participates in the training for use of, operation, and maintenance of the agency’s vessels and related equipment in compliance with all Public Employee Safety & Health (PESH)/OSHA standards;

Maintains records and prepares reports of harbor activities;

Surveys and records the number, size and types of boats using harbor facilities;

Lays out and installs various types of buoys, markers, poles, speed floats, and other navigation aids in town harbors and channels in accordance with federal and state guidelines;

May supervise the maintenance of markers, buoys, floats, etc., and submits requisitions for the purchase of harbor equipment;

Assigns mooring spaces to power and sailboats.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Thorough knowledge of the operational and maintenance requirements of harbor facilities and equipment; thorough knowledge of marine law enforcement and vessel operations; good knowledge of nautical calculations and terminology; ability to plan and supervise the activities of personnel in a manner conducive to full performance and high morale; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with town officials, boat operators, shipyard owners, and the public, and all other port partners (Other Government Agencies) at various levels of government; ability to enforce local marine ordinances with tact and firmness; physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

OPEN COMPETITIVE

Either:

a) Graduation from a college with federally-authorized accreditation or registration by NY State with a Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice, Marine Transportation, or a related field; or,

b) Graduation from a standard senior high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and two (2) years of experience in law enforcement, commercial vessel operations, or served in the US Navy, Coast Guard in a rating that operates vessels or conducts marine law enforcement duties; or,

c) An equivalent combination of education and experience as defined by the limits of a) and b).

NOTES:

a) Possession of a current United States Coast Guard Master’s license, for which at least 360 days of service were needed to qualify for examination, will substitute for two years of the above experience.

b) Commercial vessel operation experience is defined as experience as a ferry operator (Coast Guard licensed), tow boat /barge operations or crew member, merchant mariner, or in tanker operations.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT

1) There will be a qualifying psychological evaluation.*

2) Candidates must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age at the time of appointment.

3) Candidates must be certified by or be able to obtain certification by the Municipal Police Training Council as a peace officer. After appointment, candidates must also complete the Initial Firearms and Deadly Physical Force Course within 6 months of their appointment.

4) If employed by east end towns and villages, candidates will be required to complete training requirements as listed below:

Basic Course for or Peace Officer (200 hours) including Vehicle & Traffic Law Module

Standardized Marine Patrol Vessel Operators Curriculum (200 hours)

Marine Law Enforcement (40 hours)

Impaired Boaters Recognition Program (40 hours)

*At the discretion of the Appointing Authority, for appointees with other than competitive status, qualifying evaluations may be waived for candidates with current or prior status in a peace or police officer title who are in possession of current New York State MPTC certification as a peace or police officer within the following guidelines:

a.) Pursuant to §2.30 6) of Criminal Procedure Law:

Separated for less than 2 years after having served for less than 2 consecutive years as a peace officer in NYS, or;

Separated for less than 4 years after having served as a peace officer in NYS for more than 2 consecutive years

b.) Pursuant to §209-q 1) b) of General Municipal Law

Separated for less than 2 years after having served for less than 2 consecutive years as a police officer in NYS, or;

Separated for less than 4 years after having served as a police officer in NYS for more than 2 consecutive years, or;

Up to 10 years after separation with an approved police officer refresher course.

R04/06/2021

SUFFOLK COUNTY

Competitive