Sanford Public Works employees Matt Daney left, and Steve Grames, right, flank director Matt Hill as they wrap up a job adjusting a catch basin on Russell Streeton Wednesday. Sanford is hosting a job fair Nov. 26, and is seeking to hire staff for public works, the police department, communications agency and others. TAMMY WELLS/Journal Tribune
SANFORD — Looking for a career close to home? The City of Sanford is looking to talk to you.
Faced with a record number of job openings — about 15 — the city is looking to fill full-time positions from codes officers to public safety dispatchers, public works employees, police officers and more, along with some part-time gigs.
Sanford isn’t the only municipality in Maine looking for workers. A look at the MMA jobs page shows openings from Caribou to Kittery.
“Perhaps the number one challenge facing Maine towns and cities right now is recruitment for key positions that people really rely on, like first responders, snow plow operators, tax collectors and assessors, water-treatment specialists – jobs like that,” said Eric Conrad of the Maine Municipal Association. “Many municipal employees are retiring or on the verge of retirement.”
Those employed by the city say Sanford is a good place to work.
“Sanford has very competitive benefits, “said Sherry Lord, the executive assistant to the Sanford City Manager. Lord has been a city employee for about 18 years. She said the benefits package was one of the perks that attracted her to Sanford.
Lord is heading up a municipal job fair, set for 1 to 4 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 26 in the city council chambers on the third floor of City Hall, at 919 Main St. Folks interested in exploring a job with the city are urged to attend and bring a resume.
Specifically, the city is looking for two police officers, two public safety dispatchers, two codes enforcement officers, and an array of folks at public works – all full-time, and a part-time clerk. As well, those looking for a more flexible work schedule could consider becoming as a substitute for the Sanford School Department – which will be taking applications in three substitute categories – teachers, ed techs and custodians, Lord said.
At Sanford Public Works, Director Matt Hill said some people have retired, some lave left for other reasons – and there are two new positions for which he is seeking workers – a mechanic’s helper and an individual to take care of signs in the traffic division. Hill is also looking to hire a mechanic and two equipment operators.
“The benefits are unrivaled,” said Hill, who had previously worked in the private sector before coming to work in Sanford a few years ago.
As well as the full-time positions at Public Works, Hill said he’s also looking for some on-call snowplow drivers.
Depending on the job, hourly wages start in the mid to high teens, with some in the $20 per hour range, according to the various union contracts on the human resources section of Sanford’s web page.
In all, the city employs about 220 full-time, part-time and seasonal workers.
Conrad, of the MMA, said job listings by municipalities and counties on MMA’s web page are up 17 percent from a year ago – and that the job listings attract 60,000 views a month. He said the municipal membership agency has put together a social media Hometown Careers campaign to attract applicants.
“We want to do all we can to educate young people that there municipal government offers good jobs that offer great quality of life, right here in Maine,” said Conrad in an email. “Some require college degrees but many do not, and many towns and cities are willing to pay or help pay for required training and certifications.”
— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 780-9016 or twells@journaltribune.com.
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