The Church of the Transfiguration

The Church of the Transfiguration is looking for someone to assist us with very part‑time (initially about four hours a week at most) building management and maintenance. This could be a perfect for for a someone who does building management full time for a larger facility and wants to pick up a few extra hours, or for a retiree who wants to get out of the house on a flexible schedule.

Interested? Call Lane Hensley at (708) 448-1200, ext. 25, and let's talk!

This position is a work in progress, and this document is an effort to define the scope of work. We are not currently attempting to hire someone to perform all the tasks described below, which is why we see it as taking only about four hours at first. But the position could easily grow, depending on the skills and availability of the person who fills it, by consolidating functions that we currently pay other vendors to perform now. We're thinking through how best to approach getting these tasks accomplished, within two extremes of possibility:

1. We could hire someone and ask him or her to take on all the tasks described here. In my perfect world, we'd find a high-energy, experienced retiree who would do some of this work himself or herself, and contract out the rest based on a strong knowledge of construction and maintenance trades. Or ...

2. We could pay someone on a contract/consulting basis to manage specific projects on an ad hoc basis, ranging from very large (e.g., oversee a construction or major maintenance project) to very small (e.g., fix a broken coat rack). This might be a building manager for another, larger facility who does work for the church on the side after hours.

In actuality, we'll probably fall somewhere in between. The shape this position takes will depend heavily on the skill set and availability of the person who takes it on.

I don't need a janitor. We already have that covered. With minor exceptions, this is about maintenance, not cleaning.

Most Immediate (Not Most Important) Needs

Set up tables and chairs for events, especially monthly (second Wednesday of the month) meetings of Mothers of Multiples. This particular one is time sensitive: Because Day Care operates from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and because outside workers can't be in the building while day care is in session, tables and chairs must be set up between 6 and 7 p.m., and taken down between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. the next morning.

We also have several open "fix-it" projects, including broken door closers, doors that need to be rehung or planed, broken office furniture, etc.

See also the section on "Lighting" below, and the air filters section under "Heating and Air Conditioning" below.

Secondary Urgency

On all Sundays after church, close and lock the building after the last person has left (usually 12:30-1 p.m.), turn off all lights, straighten up Leach Hall and classrooms as necessary. Remove trash from kitchen to dumpster. Over time, this might expand to include opening the building no later than 7:30 a.m., and turning on lights, checking room temperatures, paper towels and toilet paper in rest rooms, setting up Leach Hall as necessary, and propping doors as appropriate.

Maintain the parking lot by keeping it sealed and repaired as necessary.

Oversee regular maintenance of sprinkler system, including regular repairs (especially in the spring), spring startup, autumn flush and shutdown, and maintenance of well.

Large Projects

Oversee large projects as needed, including roof and gutter repairs, tuck pointing, drainage projects, painting, etc.

Inspections and Oversight

At least weekly, the building manager should inspect the buildings and grounds for items that require attention and check in with church and day care staff to see if they’ve identified any items themselves.

Ongoing Maintenance

Receive and fulfill maintenance requests at least weekly from church and day care staff. Occasionally this will include specialized plumbing, carpentry, or electrical work, and repairs to fence, drywall, and railings, which can be contracted out as needed. Installation and repair of shelves and storage units is required from time to time. The current list can be found here.

Setups for Special Events

Set up and remove tables and chairs for special events as needed. Most of the events for which this is required are scheduled well in advance.

Snow and Ice

On mornings when snow or ice is on the ground, ensure that sidewalks and entry ways are cleared and well salted by 6:30 a.m. Monday-Friday, and by 7 a.m. Sunday. Maintain inventory of non-corrosive ice melting chemicals. Hire and supervise snow removal service to ensure lots are clear by 6:30 a.m. Monday-Friday, and by 7 a.m. Sunday.

Lighting

Change light bulbs, ballasts, and emergency lighting batteries as necessary throughout the building, and maintain the inventory of bulbs, ballasts, and batteries.

Lawn Care and Gardening

Supervise or perform regular lawn mowing, gardening, weeding, mulching, application of sod, and leaf removal, including maintaining the equipment used. Retrieve toys that have gone over the playground fence and put them back in the playground area. Remove excess brush, dead trees, etc. as needed. Store hoses, watering cans, and other gardening equipment neatly out of sight at the end of the season. Remove wasp/hornet nests as needed.

Memorial Garden

Dig graves for burial of ashes (18" deep x 12" square) as needed. (Currently, the lawn care staff perform this function.)

Fire Safety

Receive reports of fire inspection from alarm company and state and local fire inspectors, making corrections as necessary to eliminate violations.

Heating and Air Conditioning

Program nine thermostats at least four times a year: when Daylight Savings Time begins and ends, and when weather calls for heating/cooling to switch over. Change furnace filters in nine furnaces monthly, and maintain supply of replacement filters. Oversee the work of our heating and air conditioning maintenance company, including installations of replacement equipment as necessary.

Electrical Timers

Adjust and reset three electrical timers at least twice a year when Daylight Savings Time begins and ends.

Plumbing

Confirm proper operation of all plumbing on a regular basis, and add copper sulfate to the sewer line every two months to prevent root incursion.

Vendor Supervision

Supervise the following contractors and inspectors, selecting vendors as needed: church bells, exterminator, window washer, sprinkler system, fire extinguishers, backflow inspectors.

Floor mats

Maintain inventory of entry area floor mats, cleaning them at least once a year. Most mats are put out only in months when snow or ice is expected, and they need to be rolled up and stored when not in use.

Parking Lot

Maintain parking lot by keeping it sealed and repaired as necessary.

Cobwebs in Church

At least quarterly, and always just before Christmas, Easter, and Labor Day, remove cobwebs throughout the church.

Clean Closets

Reorder and clean storage closets on a regular basis.

Kitchen Equipment 

Maintain stove, oven, refrigerator, and dishwasher, including changing air filters and deep cleaning at least quarterly.

Miscellaneous

Water plants
Repair cabinet doors and locks in Day Care, Leach Hall, and kitchen as needed
Repair window cranks, hinges, and other hardware as needed
Repair pew kneeler hardware as needed
Empty outside ash cans at least twice a year