State of Maryland

A Veterans Cemetery Caretaker I is the entry level of groundskeeping and building services work involving the care, beautification and maintenance of State cemetery grounds. Employees in this classification perform a variety of duties necessary to create a positive impression of the cemetery grounds and facilities. Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive close supervision from a Veterans Cemetery Supervisor. Employees may be subject to call-in on a 24 hour basis. Employees may be assigned to shifts to include weekends and holidays. Employees may be subject to limited time restrictions for completion of duties, especially when preparing for scheduled events, such as Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Veterans Day memorial services. Employees will occasionally interact with and assist veterans, veterans’ family members and the general public during their visits to cemetery grounds. The work may require the use of protective equipment, such as goggles and ear protection when operating machinery and power tools, and back braces, safety shoes and gloves when performing grounds work. The duties may also require working in confined spaces at various heights and moving heavy objects.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology. The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Veterans Cemetery Caretaker I, Veterans Cemetery Caretaker II, and Veterans Cemetery Caretaker III are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees. The Veterans Cemetery Caretaker I learns to perform duties under close supervision. The Veterans Cemetery Caretaker II performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed. The Veterans Cemetery Caretaker III performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Learns to perform grounds keeping and building services work involving the care, beautification and maintenance of State cemetery grounds;

Learns to transport casket from the committal chapel, lowers casket at the gravesite, and maintains gravesite area;

Learns to locate and measures gravesites for future interments, sets initial grave markers, fills gravesites and installs permanent headstones;

Learns to Operates large landscaping vehicles, pick-up trucks and dump trucks;

Learns to Operates large power lawn mowers, power edgers and manual grounds equipment and tools;

Learns to perform minor maintenance and repair on equipment, tools and buildings;

Learns to remove snow and ice from designated areas, including roofs, sidewalks and roads;

Learns to maintain roads, storm drains and parking areas on cemetery grounds;

Learns to plant, water and prune trees, shrubs and flowers;

Learns to spray for weeds and insects, in compliance with Maryland State Pesticide Law, using unrestricted chemicals as required;

Learns to remove debris from cemetery grounds and ensures that lawns and grounds are properly manicured;

May assist in opening and closing graves;

May operate varied snow removal equipment, including those that are motorized;

May load and unload supplies and equipment from trucks, and move and arrange furniture and equipment for meetings, special events and memorial services;

Performs other related duties.

Ability to learn the safe use and maintenance of manual and power tools and equipment used in the care, beautification and maintenance of grounds and buildings;

Ability to learn the methods, materials and techniques used in routine equipment maintenance and repair;

Ability to learn to perform cemetery caretaker tasks, such as placement and alignment of grave markers, placement of sod, handling of caskets and repair of sunken gravesites;

Ability to learn to apply the methods and materials used in the care, beautification and maintenance of State cemetery grounds;

Ability to learn to safely operate grounds equipment, such as power lawnmowers and trimmers;

Ability to learn to move heavy items, including headstones weighing up to 230 pounds using motorized or power equipment;

Ability to learn to clean and maintain State cemetery grounds and buildings;

Ability to learn to use and maintain manual and power tools and equipment;

Ability to learn to remove snow and ice from outdoor areas;

Ability to learn to read warning labels and directions for safe use of supplies, materials and equipment;

Ability to learn to follow instructions.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System. All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions. Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit A, Labor and Trades classes. As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.
Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation. An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series. NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classification series. In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class, as defined by the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.