Dispatcher
: Job Details :

CIVIL SERVICE OPPORTUNITIESCortland County Office of Personnel/Civil Service60 Central Avenue, Cortland NY 13045-#######-753-5076/www.cortlandcountyny.govDispatcherSalary Range: $27.2602-39.5459/hr. (2024Rate) $27.8736-40.4357(2025 Rate)Exam # 60003-210EXAM DATE: 02-08-2025Applications MUST be received in the Personnel/Civil Service Officeby the last filing date: 01-08-25 at 4:30 p.m.VACANCY(IES): NONE. The list to be established as a result of this exam will be used to fill this existing vacancy and any future vacancies that may occur during the life of this list.NOTE: If a part-time position becomes full-time, an incumbent may be appointed to the full-time position without further canvassing.RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT: Candidates must have been legal residents of Cortland County or one of the seven contiguous counties of Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Madison, Onondaga, Tioga, or Tompkins for at least one month immediately preceding the date of examination. Preference in certification may be given to successful candidates who are residents of the municipality for one month prior to the date of certification.DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: The work involves responsibility for receiving and recording E911, police, fire and emergency medical services (EMS) calls and dispatching the appropriate law enforcement agency, firefighters, paramedics and equipment to the scene. The incumbent is required to operate computers, related peripheral equipment, radios, telephones and a variety of other emergency communications equipment in order to receive and relay police, fire, emergency medical service and other personnel to incidents and emergencies. Dispatchers must maintain a high degree of alertness, accuracy and a steady demeanor in responding to crisis situations. Dispatchers perform a wide variety of clerical duties related to their communication functions. The work is performed in accordance with established policy under the general supervision of the Dispatch Coordinator. Does related work as required.MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma.ANTICIPATED ELIGIBILITY- AGE AND EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:According to Civil Service Law, section 54 which became effective September 4, 2024, applicants who are within 12 months of meeting the minimum age or attaining the minimum educational requirements following the date of examination, may take the civil service exam, but will be restricted from certification until such a time that the minimum age or educational requirements are met.SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:The following certifications: Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD), Public SafetyTele communicator through APCO, and NYS E-Justice (Police Network) must be obtained within one (1) year of appointment. Failure to obtain and/or maintain all of the above noted certifications will result in dismissal.SCOPE OF THE EXAMINATION: A test designed to evaluate knowledge, skills and /or abilities in the following areas.Coding/decoding information:These questions test for the ability to follow a set of coding rules. Some questions will require you to code information by converting certain information into letters or numbers. Other questions will require you to decode information by determining if the information that has already been converted into letters or numbers is correct. Complete directions will be provided; no previous knowledge of or training in any coding system is required.Name and number checking:These questions test for the ability to distinguish between sets of words, letters, and/or numbers that are almost exactly alike. Material is usually presented in two or three columns, and you will have to determine how the entry in the first column compares with the entry in the second column and possibly the third. You will be instructed to mark your answers according to a designated code provided in the directions. Understanding and interpreting written material:These questions test for the ability to understand and interpret written material. You will be presented with brief reading passages and will be asked questions about the passages. You should base your answers to the questions only on what is presented in the passages and not on what you may happen to know about the topic. Following directions (maps):These questions test your ability to follow physical/geographic directions using street maps or building maps. You will have to read and understand a set of directions and then use them on a simple map.Retaining and comprehending spoken information from calls for emergency services:These questions test for your ability to retain specific information that is heard in calls for emergency service, such as a street address, or to comprehend spoken information from emergency service calls, such as determining the location of a site in relation to landmarks. Simulated 911 calls will be played via MP3 download. Immediately following each call, candidates are given audio instructions identifying which questions they are to answer within the test booklet. The questions that candidates are directed to answer for each simulated call will not be in sequential order. Candidates will need to retain and comprehend the information and instruction provided in this portion of the test to respond appropriately to the questions asked and to determine which questions to answer. The time allotted to answer these questions will be limited. At the end of each answer period, the MP3 download will automatically play the next call. Note paper will be provided. Candidates will be permitted to take notes and to refer to them when answering the questions. Test guide: The New York State Department of Civil Service has not prepared a test guide for this examination. However, candidates may find information in the publication 'General Guide to Written Tests' helpful in preparing for this test. This publication is available on line at: OF CALCULATORS IS ALLOWED FOR THIS EXAM: Devices with typewriter keyboards, ‘Spell Checkers', ‘Personal Digital Assistants', ‘Address Books', ‘Language Translators', ‘Dictionaries', or any other similar devices are prohibited. You may not bring books or other reference materials.POLICIES FOR ALTERNATE TEST DATES: May be obtained online at: Alternate-Test-Date-PolicyRELIGIOUS ACCOMODATIONS/DISABLED PERSONS: If special arrangements are required for testing, please indicate this on your application.VETERANS OR DISABLED VETERANS who are eligible for additional credit must submit an application for veteran's credit with their application for examination or at any time between the dates of their application for examination and the date of establishment of the resulting eligible list. Applications for veteran's credit may be obtained by going to www.cortland-co.org. Veteran's credits can only be added to a passing score on the examination.Effective January 1, 1998, the State Constitution was amended to permit a candidate currently in the armed forces to apply for and be conditionally granted veteran's credit in examinations. Any candidate who applies for such credit must provide proof of military status to receive the conditional credit. No credit may be granted after the establishment of the list. It is the responsibility of the candidate to provide appropriate documentary proof indicating that the service was in time of war, as defined in Section 85 of the Civil Service Law, and that the candidate received an honorable discharge, or was released under honorable conditions, or was released under other than honorable conditions in accordance with the New York State Restoration Act in order to be certified at a score including veteran's credits.CROSS FILER STATEMENT: If you wish to cross file, you need to fill out the cross filing form located at This form needs to be returned to the Cortland County Civil Service office no later than two weeks before the exam date.TIME AND PLACE OF EXAMINATION: Approved candidates will be notified by mail regarding the time and place the exam is to be held. If notice of approval or disapproval is not received three (3) days prior to the exam date, please call this office at 607-###-####.An Equal Opportunity EmployerThis examination is being prepared and rated in accordance with Section 23(2) of the Civil Service Law. The provisions of the New York State Civil Service Law, Rules, and Regulations dealing with the preparation and rating of examinations, as well as establishment and certification of eligible lists for positions in the classified service will apply to this examination.GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION ARE AVAILABLE IN THE OFFICE OF PERSONNEL1.Falsification of any part of the “Application for Employment” will result in disqualification.2.Applicants must answer every question on the application form and make sure that it is complete in all respects. Incomplete applications will be disapproved.3.If you have applied for other Civil Service examinations for employment with New York State or any other local government jurisdiction to be held on the same date as this exam, you must make arrangements to take all the examinations at one test site. If you have applied for both State and Local government examinations, you must make arrangements to take all your examinations at the State examination center by calling 518-###-#### no later than two weeks before the test date. If you have applied for other local government examinations, call or write to each Civil Service Agency to make arrangements. You must make your request for these arrangements no later than two weeks before the date of the examinations. You must notify all local government Civil Service agencies with whom you have filed an application of the test site at which you wish to take your examination(s). For this examination, call 607-###-#### or write to Cortland County Personnel, 60 Central Avenue, Cortland, NY 13045-2746.4.Appointments from an Eligible List must be made from the top three candidates willing to accept appointment. The duration of an Eligible List may be fixed for a minimum period of one (1) year and a maximum period of four (4) years.5.It is the responsibility of the candidate to notify the Office of Personnel/Civil Service of any change in address. No attempt will be made to locate candidates who have moved.6.Under specific circumstances, an alternate test date may be arranged. Your request with written documentation must be received in this office no later than the Thursday preceding the exam date.WEATHER/EMERGENCY EXAM CANCELLATION: Listen to your local TV station (NBC) or radio station (WXHC 101. 5 FM) for information.Issued:11-26-24Minimum Salary: 27.2602 Maximum Salary: 39.5459 Salary Unit: Hourly