Petition for Forester Salary Increase and Career Path

OBJECTIVE:

We, the below -signed Foresters at NYC Parks, are requesting to increase salaries, maximize the salary range and expand into suitable higher-paid titles for current and future Foresters and for those managing Forestry Contracts.

Our intent is to provide a career path for Foresters at Parks with opportunities to increase salaries, improve morale and extend the appallingly short average tenure of Foresters and those working in the Forestry Division at NYC Parks.

Therefore, we agree to the following findings of fact, and to the following proposed remedies to correct our current, underpaid status, and lack of career path.

FACTS:

· There are currently 64 Foresters in title (49 Foresters & 15 Senior Foresters), 4 out of title, 14 unfilled Forester lines. (As of 03/29/2023)

· Of the Foresters that have been hired since 2017, 27 have left the agency.

· Foresters are all being hired at Level II because the salary range for Forester Level I is too low. There was a grievance filed years ago regarding the lack of practical differences in job duties between Level I and Level II.

· Foresters are required to have either a master's degree or a bachelor's Degree with 1 year experience to be considered eligible for the role. The agency considers this entry level.

· Foresters are currently starting at $65,014.00 with the only upward mobility being Senior Forester, for which the salary range is $71,000.00-76,000.00. (These salaries include the recent Union increases, however actual salaries vary due to the new DC37 contract.) 

· Foresters across the Agency often work outside of their title. (See Appendix)

· The Forester job description does not provide specifics on actual job functions. The non-specific “contract management” description enables the Agency to give Foresters multiple projects/contracts to manage.

· Foresters from other Cities and States are earning similar or more compared to Foresters at NYC Parks, yet NYC Parks Foresters have a considerably higher cost of living. (See Appendix)

· The Agency is employing Resident Engineers to perform tree health inspections rather than hiring additional Foresters to survey a large backlog of requests from NYC residents.

· Resident Engineers are paid more ($80,784+) and are not trained to do this skilled survey work that requires specific knowledge of Arboriculture, as well as the Agency’s detailed tree pit, tree planting and sidewalk specifications. (This does not even include the recent Union salary increases).

*Will provide documentation upon request*

 

Forester Committee Proposals:

1.       We are proposing to split the Level II Forester, into two tiers, Level II-A and Level II-B, to accommodate for experience and complexity of work, and to expand into an Administrative Horticulturist Title, for supervisors as of May 2023. Salaries referenced in Table 1 do include 2021, 2022, 2023 union increases. We are requesting a higher minimum salary for Foresters as indicated in Table 1.

2.       In addition, we are requesting that the Forester Civil Service track, from the DC37 Union Forester posting, determine the Direct Lines of Promotion, for a Forester. This can include the option to become a Construction Project Manager (CPM), or an Administrative Horticulturist, for example. The CPM, or Admin Hort. Title, have a higher salary range and both titles have greater opportunities for advancement. Qualifications and responsibilities required by CPMs are easily met by most Foresters.

These different salary levels will recognize different levels of:

-        Experience (in education or employment history)

-        Skills and Mastery of New Technologies

-        Project Size and Complexity

-        Project Significance (i.e. scope, budget, community impact)

-        Employee Productivity

-        Performance Improvement

-        Outstanding Performance

-        Other Services Performed such as Tree Risk Assessments

 

Table 1:  This table illustrates proposed forester salary steps, as well as additional “Direct Lines of Promotion”. It addresses the current Forester II title by providing career mobility as an option for Foresters with NYC Parks. Years of Service – “N/A” defined as an additional promotional opportunity within Environment & Planning Forester roles, in which you must apply for the role. After 3 years of service a Forester can be promoted from Level II-A to Level II-B. The DC37 Union posting for Forester states “Direct Line of Promotion” “TBD”, we are requesting the lines of promotion be determined.

 

 

Appendix
DUTIES AND EXPECTATIONS:

Forester Hiring Posting:

• Under general supervision, perform advanced professional forestry functions in the field and office; perform related work.
• Enforce Parks Department standards for tree pruning removal, planting and replacement. Assess work to be done by contractors; engage directly and supervise employees involved in professional forestry activities.
• Consult with engineers, developers and contractors on a regular basis throughout projects.
• Schedule and supervise field surveys and inspections to assess the conditions of trees for health, structure, insect and disease.
• Compile and manage street tree planting contracts. Survey sites for planting potential and make decisions regarding species selection and site design. Inspect and tag trees at local nurseries. Perform post-planting field inspections and inspect trees.
• Respond to citizen inquiries and maintain working relationships with community boards, community groups and officials within and outside of the agency. Coordinate community-based greening efforts and lead tree stewardship workshops.
• Examine other agency and permit applications to assess impact on trees and landscapes and/or issue tree planting permits.
• Manage borough-wide tree database and track, monitor and produce reports on budgets, productivity, accomplishments and program status updates.

Forester Union Posting Job Duties:

Assignment Level I:

• Under supervision, performs professional forestry functions in the field and office; performs related work.
  • Implements professional forestry plans regarding the selection, planting, pruning, repairing, spraying, removal, and inspection of city trees.
  • Collects data for work load planning and computer model simulation of work to be done by contractors for stump removal, tree pruning, tree planting and related urban forestry contracts; serves as borough liaison to central office staff for assigned contract work; prepares detailed specifications of agency forestry contracts; attends preconstruction meetings to discuss contract specifications, schedules and payment procedures; monitors daily progress of agency contractors and prepares daily status reports on agency contract work; reports results and recommendations to supervisors.
  • Collects statistical data concerning mensuration measurements, silvics indicators, and physiological parameters to maintain a complete and accurate borough or citywide tree inventory update; modifies micro and macro EDP software programs as required.
  • Provides professional support and follow-up on consultancy with private and municipal agencies and private individuals on forestry-related matters.
  • Conducts research and provides entomological and pathological surveys required for the development of plans and programs regarding forestry methods, practices and procedures; as a member of a team, participates in the preparation of reports for proposals, analyses and budget requests.
  • May supervise subordinate employees involved in professional forestry activities.
  • Operates and maintains technical and professional instruments, kits and tools in the performance of the above-mentioned professional research and survey duties; operates motorized equipment and vehicles incidental to the performance of these duties.

Assignment Level II:

• Under general supervision, performs advanced professional forestry functions in the field and the office; performs related work.
  • Formulates and implements professional multi-year forestry management plans regarding the propagation, preservation and maintenance of city and park trees.
  • Schedules and supervises the field surveys and inspections to assess the condition of trees and the extent of damage from insects, injury or disease.
  • Assesses work to be done by contractors for tree removal, tree pruning, tree planting, and related forestry contracts; coordinates reports of results with recommendations to the forestry manager; coordinates and advises the forestry manager on detailed specifications for agency forestry contracts; supervises Level I Foresters in the monitoring of contractors; informs the forestry manager of the schedule and status of agency forestry contracts.
  • Directs the preparation and the implementation of in-house forestry training programs and conducts classes for forestry personnel on trees, insects and diseases, and forestry operation computerization; supervises other instructors and coordinates on-the-job training.
  • Develops and executes professional forestry field operation plans which outline specific procedures for management under the "multiple use" and "sustained yield" concepts.
  • Provides design requirements and monitors the quality control of other governmental and private agencies involved in tree planting, pruning and removal; consults with municipal and private agencies and private industries on forestry-related matters.
  • Supervises and reviews programs and develops new applications for microcomputers for forestry office operations.
  • Researches and develops plans and programs regarding professional forestry policies, practices and procedures, crew configurations and fleet equipment management; prepares and presents reports for proposals, analyses and budget requests.
  • Supervises subordinate employees involved in professional forestry activities.

Actual Forester Duties Within Various Team across Environment and Planning:

Permits and Plan Review:

• Review construction plans associated to new buildings and qualifying Alt 1 & Alt 2 projects. These projects have a zoning requirement set by DOB which Parks enforces.
• Independently perform tree risk assessments and other professional forestry functions throughout the five boroughs. Inspect trees and sites for various tree work including but not limited to removals, planting, pruning, and transplants. Assess tree health before and after construction.
• Communicate with architects, expediters, contractors, and property owners to preserve trees throughout construction projects. Enforce Parks Department tree standards and assess work done by contractors.
• Review plan sets including construction logistics, support of excavation, and surveys to identify potential hazards and opportunities for the urban canopy.
• Review applications and issue permits for tree protection, tree removal, tree planting, tree transplanting, tree pruning, and tree guards.
• Assess tree and restitution value owed for tree damage, destruction, and removal. Work with General Counsel to issue restitution
• Track and monitor applications on Parks database.
• Mandatory storm duty - Perform level 2 tree risk assessments to assess tree health and hazards.

Trees and Sidewalks:

• Operates as a Project Manager/Forester for capital/or expense sidewalk repair contracts
• Create/prepare a site listing and be responsible for routing the contractor to 100s of sites, for a multi-million-dollar sidewalk repair contract. Sometimes a Forester could be preparing 1-3 multi-million-dollar contracts at the same time.
  • Contracts range from $500k-$5 million+
• Expected to manage 1-2 active sidewalk repair contracts, while potentially closing additional non active contracts.
• Expected to manage a supervision contract for Resident Engineers conducting sidewalk inspections.
• Reviews several submittals for products a contractor will utilize and be paid for, for the duration of a contract.
• Expected to ensure the contractor has acquired DOT permits and 811- call outs (underground utility search).
• Expected to review and process unit line-item overruns.
• Expected to process partial payment packages and send to accounting for review.
• Expected to manage and guide Resident Engineers in the field daily.
• Expected to update weekly indicators including contract progress, # of sites repaired/trees preserved, photographic documentation, resident engineer Daily Report review/hours logged, ForMS data system updates, weekly designs tracker, submittal checklist, master calculation book review, payment tracking report, and Unifier Weekly report submissions.
• Directly respond to supervisor requests and contractor correspondence.
• Forester sends several emails in a week to coworkers, the public, and or contractors even if only in the office 50% of the week.
• Conduct field root assessments with field staff to come up with solutions to a sidewalk repair in a troublesome site.
  • Instructing Resident Engineers on slope guidelines and contract requirements.
• Every site is extremely unique, we utilize between 20-48 payable line items.
• Forester must create a presentation highlighting the possible solutions and or ramifications if tree roots are cut or shaved.
• Field work conducting sidewalk inspections and level 2 risk assessment inspections.
  • Expected to sketch out a sidewalk design, to indicate what the before and after of the sidewalk will be. Sidewalks must be marked out with spray paint as well.
  • Supervision in the field of the contractor and Resident Engineers during active work.
  • Expected to create a map and or list of open SR’s (service requests) in a community board.
• Expected to attend legal depositions, acting as a representative of the agency, in cases of citizens getting sued/and or citizens suing the city.
• Expected to compile information into report for the legal dept, to counter a contractor's threat of suing the agency.
• Expected to keep track of contract use inspection, and the 1-year guarantee inspection.
• Trees and sidewalks Forester is doing the equivalent work of a CPM(construction project manager).
• Mandatory storm mobilization, often outside of regular work hours- Perform level 2 tree risk assessments to assess tree health and hazards.

Street Tree Planting:

• Manage capitally-funded tree planting contracts with budgets ranging from $500,000 to $10,000,000+. Ensure that all funding commitments and legal obligations are met: council member funding, private tree replacement funding, interagency tree replacement funding, mayoral funding, zoning funding (Tree Fund), and borough president funding
• Compile and issue contract site listings containing work to be done by contractors including sidewalk excavation, debris removal, tree planting, and tree guard installation
• Direct contractors and resident engineers in the field to complete work issued in contract site listings to NYC Parks' specifications
• Survey for tree planting locations using ArcGIS and other mapping programs to determine focus areas
• Design tree planting locations utilizing knowledge in horticulture, ecology, soil science, urban design, and city infrastructure
• Respond to constituent, other agency, and elected official requests for tree planting and inspection
• Mandatory storm mobilization, often outside of regular work hours- Perform level 2 tree risk assessments to assess tree health and hazards.

Park Planting:

• Manage capitally-funded tree park planting contracts with budgets ranging from $500,000 to $10,000,000+.
• Survey parks and green spaces. Utilize knowledge in horticulture, landscape design, historical park design, and soil science to develop planting plans
• Compile and issue contract site listings containing work to be done by contractors including sidewalk excavation, debris removal, tree planting, and tree guard installation
• Direct contractors and resident engineers in the field to complete work issued in contract site listings to NYC Parks' specifications
• Use ArcGIS to design tree planting plans and maps
• Participate in design walkthroughs with other Parks divisions, other city agencies, landscape architects, and community groups
• Mandatory storm mobilization, often outside of regular work hours- Perform level 2 tree risk assessments to assess tree health and hazards

Boroughs:

• Respond to citizen service requests submitted through 311. Also respond to elected official, outside agency and private institution requests for work on NYC trees. Perform Level two inspections on city street trees to assess tree health and assign associated risk. Prescribe work such as removals, pruning, debris pick up, etc. based on the condition of the tree. Work with NYC Parks climber pruners to ensure assigned work is clear and feasible.
• Manage expense-funded tree maintenance contracts with budgets ranging from $10,000 - $2,000,000. Ensure budgets are properly managed and precise record keeping is maintained to track maintenance records of each tree. Tree maintenance contracts include Block Pruning, EAB Treatment and removals, ITP Contract, Pest and Disease contract, Tree and Stump Removals contract.
• Direct contractors and resident engineers in the field to complete work issued in contract site listings to NYC Parks' specifications
• Perform level three inspections using Resistograph’s (scientific instrument to assess how hollow a tree may be) for detailed reports on trees structural health
• Perform sidewalk consultations and inspections with homeowners or private contractors, to assess sidewalk conditions and give guidance on repairs.
• Issue permits to private homeowners for Tree pruning, removals, sidewalk repair, tree guard installation and light fixture installations. Issue excavation permits to contractors working within the CRZ of NYC Trees. Perform inspections after work is completed or spot check while work is being performed to ensure tree has not been damaged during construction.
• Perform walkthroughs on Capital and Interagency projects to give guidance on tree maintenance during construction. Assess tree's health within project scope to approve condition or design removals. Issue any necessary permits associated with the upcoming work.
• Mandatory storm mobilization, often outside of regular work hours- Perform level 2 tree risk assessments to assess tree health and hazards.
• Inspect illegal tree damage cases within the borough. Perform inspections on the tree, fill out TIVR report, perform investigation of damage to track down witnesses, contact PEP officers, and issue restitution fines.

 

 

 

Table 2: Current Forester Salaries, “status quo”, as of May 2023. Current agreed union Forester contract salary increases across 5 years. The minimum represents the salary of a newly hired Forester, the maximum represents the salary of a Senior Forester.

 

 

 

Table 3: Equivalent Forester titles with salary information from other areas of the US, compared against the NYC Parks Forester salary, with respect to the NYC cost of living (COL). NYC cost of living ranks at the top, being one of the most expensive cities in the world, 127% above the US average, for COL in urban cities. This table helps illustrate the fact, current Forester salaries do not account for the cost of living (COL), in NYC.

 

 

 

Table 4: DC37 salaries for various titles in NYC Parks as of March of 2019. Forester, & CPM salary pay scales represent a major difference in pay. As previously mentioned above, many Forester jobs entail identical work requirements at a substantially lower pay rate. This table does not include the 2021, 2022, and 2023 pay scale increases.