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FY2014 PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT REQUEST FORM <br /> Department Priority:F-21 of F7 <br /> Department: Community Development <br /> Program: 7100 <br /> Element: 7130 Conservation <br /> Accounting Crept #: <br /> Supplemental Title: Town Ranger <br /> REQUESTED PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT FUNDING <br /> Object Object One-Time Cast Ongoing Annual Cast TOTAL <br /> Cade Description FY2014 Only) FY2014&Future FY2014 Request <br /> Compensation 0 <br /> 51110 Regular Wages $24,353 $24,353 <br /> 0 <br /> Benefits $0 <br /> Expenses 0 <br /> 54160 Clothing 250 250 <br /> $0 <br /> $0 <br /> $0 <br /> TOTAL $0 $24,60731 $24,603 <br /> PURPOSE I DESCRIPTION OF REQUEST <br /> Currently,the town has a part-time 19 hours/week Animal Control Officer(ACO)who is earning full-time benefits since this <br /> individual also works 7.5 hours/week as a school crossing guard.This request involves creating a new full-time Town Ranger <br /> position by consolidating the 19 hours/week ACO responsibilities with 16 hours/week of additional Ranger-related <br /> responsibilities.This new Town Ranger position would serve the pressing need for increased presence,education,and <br /> enforcement on the Town's 1800 acres of open space as well as continue to perform ACO-related duties.The increased cost <br /> would only be 16 hours/week compensation since full-time benefits are already being provided. <br /> In Lexington,approximately 1800 acres,or 18%of the town,consists of Town-owned open space,including conservation land, <br /> recreation land,parks,school properties,cemetaries,etc.These open spaces provide many benefits for the town,but insufficient <br /> resources for patrolling them leads to problems,such as violations of open space-related regulations,improper use by dogs, <br /> encroachment by neighboring properties,illegal dumping,partying,and improper after-hours usage.These problems could be <br /> effectively addressed by increased presence,education,and enforcement provided by the Town Ranger. <br /> The Town Ranger's responsibilities would require an enhanced set of job skills,including communication,education,problem- <br /> solving,and technology.The Town Ranger position would also require 1 weekend day/week in order to address weekend usage <br /> of open space,which is often when usage is highest(the current working schedule of the ACO is Monday through Friday <br /> between 10 am to 2 pm).The Ranger's new duties would include: <br /> * collaborating with related departments to develop solutions to ongoing Town open space issues <br /> * educating the public about open space,including public health concerns on Town open space(mosquitos,rabies,ticks, <br /> wildlife,etc) <br /> *patrolling Town land and tracking associated public use by GIS technology <br /> * addressing complaints and violations on Town land <br /> * conducting enforcement as needed <br /> * coordinating a task force of appropriate departments related to open space and animal concerns <br /> * manage and coordinate a new regional animal shelter <br /> SERVICE IMPLICATION <br /> Without the enhancement of 16 hours/week to create a Town Ranger position: <br /> The Town will continue to have difficulty developing solutions to ongoing Town open space issues. <br /> The Town will continue to have difficulty vatrollin4,enforcing rules,and maintainin4 public safety and eniovment on the over 1800 <br /> Program Improvement Requests Page 10 12/3/12 <br />