The Rockland Report May 23, 2014

OFFICE OF THE FINANCE DIRECTOR/ACTING CITY MANAGER
 Approved Payroll Warrant.
 Attended Budget Meeting.
 Met with Auditors – preparing for FY14 audit.
 Met with Will Gartley – Lindsey Brook Issue on Summer Street.
 Met with Will Gartley – Talked on Landfill reorganization, Public Works Garage & Sand/Salt Shed.
 Met with John Holden – TIF spending and Grant applications.

OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL FISH PIER DIRECTOR
 No permits were issued this week.
 Conducting upper lot storage inspections for authorized gear in lot with general cleanup of trash. Permit holders of storage lots to mow and weed same.
 Lobster price locally is around $4.50 a pound.
 Received updated cost estimates for resurfacing fish pier. Plan meeting with John Holden to go over new cost estimates and Grants.

OFFICE OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY DIRECTOR
 Met with FMC to finalize the plant study.
 Replaced the rusted exhaust pipe on the plant backup generator.
 Repaired No. 2 Plant Water Pump.
 Repaired the headworks motor control room exhaust fan.
 Mapped the sewer main across 38 Summer Street and 110 Union Street.
 Inspected the sewer lateral at 743 Main Street.
 Inspected sewer and drain connections at 435 Main Street.
 Received Certificate of Occupancy for the public restrooms. Still on target for a June 1st opening.

OFFICE OF THE CITY ASSESSOR
 Processing Real Estate Transfers, updating parcel cards, sales book, property splits.
 Processing Personal Property accounts, updating ownership, owned items, depreciation, State BETR’S 801 returns, BETE exemptions.
 Processing building permits, reviewing, updating property cards and assessments.
 Analyzing qualified sales of all properties and neighborhoods for a fair and equitable assessment.
 Completing State forms and returning for processing.
 Listening and reviewing properties at the owner’s request.
 Updating Tax Maps and posting to the web site.

OFFICE OF THE HARBORMASTER
 Another busy week, we've already got boats at the Public Landing and we are offering dockage with water and electricity.
 Our outboard isn't working quite right, so we are limping along into the summer season a little.
 We are aiming to get the rest of the floats in and hooked up next week, while they are still ashore we are rebuilding the water service that goes down to the docks.
 Taking care of some details - changing light bulbs, fixing little leaks, etc. - it's almost showtime.

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
 Receptacle and building trash pickup for two days.
 Sweeping streets and parking lots with both sweepers Tuesday through Thursday. Also had sidewalk sweeper out on Thursday assisting with parking lots. One sweeper cleaning for ½ day on Friday including the downtown area for Memorial parade.
 Most of city wide spring cleanup has been completed this week. One crew worked the entire week. Final pickup will be planned for Tuesday.
 Scraped out and mulched large island on Pleasant Street next to the City Hall.
 Working on sign maintenance for two days.
 Painting roads including railroad crossings for one day.
 Assisted Recreation Department installing two benches, including concrete bases, in Mildred Merrill Park.
 Picked up 52 flower baskets at Barley Joes in Warren. Mounted on Main Street light poles along with American flags and on poles along Park Street in preparation for Memorial Day parade.
 Graded Thompson Meadow Road and on Glen Street at Waldo Avenue.
 Preparing Kubota tractor with sickle bar to begin roadside mowing.
 Set out float at Johnson Memorial Park. Removed section of fence at playground on Limerock Street in preparation of grinding of tree stump.
 Ferraiolo Construction has completed drainage project in Pen Bay Acres. Walked the project with Gartley/Dorsky and created punch list. We also looked at drainage issues on Acadia Drive south for future engineering.
 Met with engineer at Lindsey brook (intersection of Summer and Union Street) to review game plan to remove hazardous sink holes. Also, looked at Transfer Station to review location plans for future Public Works facility including disposal of snow.
 Met with City Manager on Traverse Street to review a ditch and cross culvert that is a hazard and needs repair work.
 The centerline striper is now scheduled for one night the week of June 2nd because of rainy weather.

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE The officers responded to 249 calls for service. Rockland Police Officers responded to one motor vehicle crashes. Ninety-nine (99) traffic stops and traffic violations were conducted. The officers made 16 arrests of individuals for various offenses, to include Bail violations, Alcohol offenses, Disorderly Conduct, Theft, Drug violations, Warrants of Arrest, and OUI.
 Officers charged a woman for felony theft (Class C). The women had stolen over $3,000 in cash from a store by creating false cash returns.
 Detectives charged a man of Rockland for Failure to comply with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act of 1999.
 Detectives are currently working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the B.A.T.F. regarding the possibility of federal charges for a weapons offense that occurred in Rockland.
 Officers conducted a physical security assessment at the Puffin Stop on Park Street in Rockland. This was done at the request of management.
 At the request of the Sex Offender Registry, Detectives conducted a number of sex offender compliance checks. These checks were the result of anonymous tips phoned in to S.O.R. stating that the offenders were non-compliant. All offenders checked were found to be in compliance with S.O.R.
 Chief Boucher met with a member of Naval Criminal Investigative Services concerning a Harbor/Port Security Risk Assessment this past week.
 Deputy Chief Tower participated in the Maine Lobster Festival planning meeting concerning emergency management issues for this season’s festival.
 Officers participated in Career day at Oceanside East High school.
 Officers assisted with the March of Dimes annual walk a thon fund raiser throughout the city.

OFFICE OF THE RECREATION DIRECTOR
 The Island at the junction of Pleasant Street and Route 1 has been redone and mulched.
 The JMP parking lot has been graded and the swim float has been put in the water.
 We had a work day on the 21st with a group from Boston Financial and a couple Recreation Employees. They cleaned up Sandy Beach. The roses were weeded and mulched, trash was picked up and some scrub brush was removed.
 The pads and benches at Mildred Merrill Park were installed this week.
 The Recreation staff has worked very hard this last week with the help of Public Works to get the parks looking good. They have also worked on Main Street and the surrounding areas for Memorial Day.

OFFICE OF THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR
 Catinka Knoth’s Adult classes drew migratory birds and warblers while the Children’s Drawing classes drew pictures celebrating Memorial Day this week.
 Children’s Librarian Jean Young, and Librarian Patty King made a number of school visits this week, in response to an invitation from the Media Specialist from the South School, Deanne Tibbetts, for presentations about the Summer Reading Program. This has been a fabulous opportunity to connect with so many kids, and to let them know all the Program will offer.
 The fourth of five Family Place™ workshops took the place of Wednesday Storytime. The Play with Me Program designed for children ages 0 to 3 years old and parents or caregivers, this week had Florence Baker, a clinical dietician from PenBay present to address any parental concerns in this area. New families continue to join this wonderful program.
 Rockland Rhythm Masters Drumming Troupe, co-sponsored by Midcoast Music Academy and the Rockland Public Library met at the Library on Thursday.
 My Man Godfrey, a delightful comedy film classic, was hosted by Erika Pfander for the Thursday evening’s Arts & Cultural Event.
 On Saturday, Children’s Librarian Jean Young hosed a special Garden Storytime.
 Upcoming events of note : Friends’ Annual Book, Plant, and Bake sale on June 14th & 15th ; Summer Reading Kickoff!, June 21st. The Friends are looking for donations of books, plants, and baked goods for this event. To contact the Friend in charge of each, please see the Library website.
 Did you know? There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the earth as the Free Public Library, this republic of letters, where neither rank, office, nor wealth receives the slightest consideration. ~Andrew Carnegie

OFFICE OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
 Attended National Main Street (Downtown) Conference. Met with developer in Detroit with interest in Maine.
 Reviewed Downtown TIF Amendment with DECD to address technical revisions.
 Reviewed two applications for Knox County Regional Microloan funds, finalizing for Committee review.
 Reviewed grant opportunity with Fish Pier Director.
 Continued development of insert in Progress Magazine.
 Prepared for and met with Economic Development Advisory Committee.
 Attended Midcoast Economic Development District (MCEDD) Board of Directors meeting.

OFFICE OF THE FIRE CHIEF
In addition to responding to the normal flow of fire and EMS calls, apparatus checks, cleaning, repairs and maintenance to the fleet and cleaning and maintenance of the quarters, the following occurred:
 On Friday Rescue 1 returned to service after work was performed in Bangor to correct fuel system issues that affected the ambulances reliability. Unfortunately on Saturday morning our newest ambulance, Rescue 3, suffered an apparent failure of a sensor affecting the air ride suspension system and was removed from service. This problem is being addressed with the manufacturer’s representative and we believe will be corrected by the end of this week or early next week. This appears to be related to the amount of electronics and sensors that all new vehicles rely so heavily on, as we’ve seen a significant increase in sensor issues that affect all emergency apparatus at a much greater rate than past purchases.
 On Saturday all FD personnel took part in the annual driver recertification program “cone competency course”. Each member drove an ambulance and Engine 1 through a course in the Oceanside H.S. parking lot. This course allows the instructors that each driver understands the fundamentals of driving beyond the normal passenger car standards. Operators maneuvered through a variety of tight obstacle sets showing their ability to judge when to turn and how to avoid blindspots that lead to accidents of any type.
 On Sunday our personnel hosted the retirement party for Chief Charles Jordan Jr. It was a bittersweet moment for many of us seeing a man who was so well liked and respected move on, but we’re all thankful he’s not leaving the area and will remain a friend and mentor to many. His service to the City was an example for all to follow and his shoes will be extremely difficult to fill.
 Lt. Camber and Interim Chief Miceli attended the Maine Building Officials & Inspectors conference in Phippsburg on Monday and Tuesday, along with John Root and Dave Kalloch of the Code office. The Conference allowed us to attend numerous programs designed to enhance our knowledge of both fire and building codes. Lt. Camber and I attended programs regarding Commercial Cooking Hoods systems, Fire Alarm systems and Sprinkler systems.
 Tuesday evening Chief Miceli and A/C Mazzeo attended the first of the Emergency planning meetings for the Maine Lobster Festival hosted by the Knox County EMA office. This process allows us to ensure our plans to address potential issues are current and seamless so that residents and guests of Rockland during that time have an enjoyable experience.
 Captain Benner attended a critique of the Rollins Lane Fire in Rockport, hosted by the Rockport FD on Tuesday night as well. Critiques such as this allow all agencies to understand decisions and policies that may have affected the incident and to ensure any glitches are addressed for future incidents.
 Wednesday evening Chief Miceli attended the Council workshop on Capital Improvement Projects for FY 2015, presenting CIP’s on replacing our Cardiac monitor/Defibrillators and one Thermal Imaging Camera.
 Also on Wednesday night, all FD personnel attended the last piece of the driver training recertification program. This piece was a class reviewing motor vehicle laws that govern emergency vehicle operation and department driving policies.

OFFICE OF THE SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR
 Applied cover to the southernmost cell in Q2N.
 Mowed grass and picked litter.
 Contacted several of our volume C&D contractors to understand why this spring our landfill volume is down. It appears the wet cold spring and obtaining trucking to the mid-coast area is resulting in lower volumes of C&D.
 Met with the City Manager, the Public Works Director and Will Gartley to review the layout of the Solid Waste Facility, Public Works Sand & Salt Shed and the future Snow Dump.
 Participated in an MRRA Board of Directors meeting.
 Collected and mailed out waste water samples for analytical testing.
 Conducted water level monitoring.
 Worked with Drumlin Environmental on a follow up letter to DEP acknowledging the Departments recommendation on reducing our water level monitoring frequency.

OFFICE OF THE GENERAL ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATOR
 Made referrals to Disability Advocacy Program.
 Updated General Assistance paperwork and client files.
 Handled General Assistance inquiries.
 Met with clients who had scheduled appointments.
 Made appointments for clients who did not have any scheduled.

OFFICE OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
 There was standing room only at the Public Hearing on the proposed Boutique Hotel at 250 Main Street on May 20th. The Planning Board has scheduled another meeting on June 10th to review the proposal further.
 John and David attended the MBOIA Annual Code Conference which was held in Sebasco Estates on May 19th & 20th.
 There was one complaint filed this week.
 The following permits were received by the Code Office this week:
o 8 Building permits
o 3 Electrical permits
o 1 Plumbing permit
o 3 Sign permits
o 3 Street Excavation permits