City Manager’s Weekly Report
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
Attended the Rotary lunch as a guest of Amie Hutchison and Seth Walton.
Attended the Recreation Building construction update meeting.
Held a conference call with Travis Pryor of Wright-Pierce to review project status and financial drawdowns.
Met with Deb McNeil of the Coast Guard City Committee to discuss ways to better promote Rockland as a Coast Guard City and to improve communications.
Attended a tour of the World Cruise Ship on Saturday.
City staff had heard a rumor that MDOT was considering delaying the Route 1 improvement work. This prompted me to call Commissioner Dave Bernhardt of the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) to discuss the status of the Route 1 work scheduled for this spring. The Commissioner stated that the project is still scheduled for next spring; however, he would check with staff to determine if there were any pending issues. We will continue to work with MDOT and the Commissioner to impress the importance of this road work.
Along with the Fire Chief, the City Manager visited the command posts of various state agencies and volunteer groups participating in the joint Waldo-Knox County Penobscot Bay exercise on Saturday.
Worked with the Parks Commission and City Staff to develop a tree planting plan to remove trees stored at the Transfer Station out into the community.
Received a phone call from the Teamsters Business Manager, Carl Guignard requesting to meet with the City on negotiations and hopefully avoid mediation and the associated cost of mediators. We plan to reconvene negotiations on Monday.
“HOORAY!” The Rockland District Nursing Association’s Basket Social was a huge success! According to RDNA Executive Director, Peta vanVuuren, an estimated 75-100 people attended the event at The Trackside Restaurant and about $4,000 was raised. “The outpouring of support warmed all of our hearts,” Peta said. “Two of our nurses were there, and they commented the next day on how much they enjoyed the evening, and appreciated people being so positive about RDNA. The breadth of donors and outreach into the community was simply incredible.” In addition to very creative baskets donated by individuals, restaurants, shops, the Rockland Fire Department and others throughout the RDNA community, a silent auction featuring treats from local bakers sparked attendees’ interest before Bruce Gamage got the live auction underway. One particularly delicious platter of baked goods founds its way to the City Hall kitchen, where it was enjoyed by all. The evening culminated with a grand prize raffle of a romantic evening for two at the Samoset, which was won by our own Stuart Sylvester!
City Manager’s Weekly Report
OFFICE OF THE CITY ASSESSOR
The Office is working on one official appeal and two reviews of property.
Continued to process personal property BETR applications.
Processed real estate transfers.
OFFICE OF THE RECREATION DIRECTOR
I am working with Ken Pride to organize a work day for the kids at the skate park and also working to get a contractor in to repair some of the damage to the half pipe.
The swim float at the beach came off its mooring. We will attempt to get it in on Friday and determine the problem.
Benjie and Jeff went around the City with two members of the Parks Commission to mark where we will be planting trees that have been stored at the Transfer Station. We hope that they will be in the ground very soon.
OFFICE OF THE POLICE CHIEF
In addition to responding to 175 calls for services this past week and making ten arrests; summons were made for various offenses, including violation of conditions of release, OUI, possession of drugs and alcohol offenses as well as 10 traffic offenses. Officers handled 10 traffic crashes. Along with other duties and shift assignments, members of the police department were involved in the following highlights this past week:
Rockland officers assisted the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office with a sexual assault investigation.
The detective division conducted a sex offender compliance check which resulted in the arrest of one sex offender who was found living in Rockland. This subject failed to notify his probation officer or the Sex Offender Registry of his change of address.
A woman has been charged with Filing a False Report.
An employee at Staples in Rockland was charged with Felony Theft. This charge was the result of a lengthy investigation in which it was determined they were stealing money from the store by creating false merchandise returns and then keeping the cash.
OFFICE OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
Attended the Planning Board Meeting on Oct. 16, 2012 where the Board approved the Bar Harbor Bank & Trust site renovation project as well as a Flag lot at 77 Waldo Avenue.
Performed an inspection at a residence on the corner of Broadway and Talbot Avenue regarding excessive outdoor storage. Notice of Violation will follow.
John and Adam Micelli had a preliminary discussion with Tim Massey regarding the addition of new stairs at the back of the building at 449 Main Street and a potential Change of Use.
City Manager’s Weekly Report
Liberty Hospitality of Maine submitted a Site Plan Review Application for a small addition to the Trade Winds Motor Inn at 2 Park Drive. The addition will serve the restaurant entrance and additional room space on upper floors. This application will be brought before the Planning Board at its next meeting on November 6, 2012.
Mid Coast School of Technology applied for a permit for an addition to the fire training building. More details were necessary for thorough review and John met with the school’s engineer who will be revising the plans. Consideration is being given to doing a presentation on the Residential Code Basics to the building trade students.
The owner of Rockland Plaza called to discuss the possibility of updating their directory sign, incorporating a location sign, identifying the Plaza (a relatively new provision).
There were two complaints filed this week.
Reviewed for, inspected, and issued the following permits:
o Four building permits
o Five electrical permits
OFFICE OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT DIRECTOR
Finished recoating the secondary system west contact chamber
Replaced two potentiometers on the belt press sludge pump VFD
Replaced the UPS batteries at Glenwood Avenue
Vacuumed the Glenwood Avenue pump station wet well. The wet well was last cleaned two weeks ago, i.e. the floating material in the well is building up much faster.
Repaired a plant water hydrant.
Planted a tree by Sandy Beach walkway and four trees in front of the PCF.
Wrote an request for proposals (RFP) for the roof repair/replacement project at the Pollution Control Facility
Met with Wright-Pierce and Electrical Installations Inc. to review and approve the design for the new controls and SCADA system for Park Street and Glenwood Avenue pump stations.
Delivered drawings and followed up with a site visit to Pleasant Street with Frank Ferriaolo to review and estimate the cost to install the pipe trench drains designed by Wright-Pierce.
OFFICE OF THE GENERAL ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATOR
Handled 31 different calls, walk-ins and emails for Housing, Electricity, Heat, Follow-ups, Homelessness, Motel, Free Overnight Municipal Parking, Withdrawal of Application, and Code Inspection/1st Month Rent.
Met with 17 different clients.
Processed 12 applications.
$11,826.09 was requested. $5,809.93 was granted.
Received an anonymous donation for $100.00 for Home Heating Assistance.
City Manager’s Weekly Report
OFFICE OF THE FINANCE DIRECTOR
Approved Payroll Warrant.
Approved Accounts Payable Warrant.
Finished Federal Government new grant reporting criteria.
Performed Accounts Receivable invoicing duties.
OFFICE OF THE HARBOR MASTER
We've been lucky with this fall's weather - so far. As far as I can tell, all of the boats that planned on going south for the winter have already left, so the boats that are still in the water are just courting trouble. One of next week's jobs is to try to convince the owners to get their boats hauled out.
We welcomed the M/S Regatta for her second and final trip to Rockland this year.
Winterized the last of the city's rental moorings.
Started the repair and residing of the Harbor Building cupola - it is basically sound, though much of the trim was starting to show signs of rot. We are using a pvc wood substitute and cement fiber clapboards in an attempt to prevent future problems.
Towed an incredibly large floating log to the Middle Pier launch ramp for Public Works to dispose.
I gave a deposition to attorneys working on the city's Fish Pier insurance claim.
Prock Marine Construction started the float project at the Public Landing.
Maybe it is the especially low tides, but we've had a great blue heron as a regular visitor at the beach near the Public Landing every morning this week.
OFFICE OF THE FISHERMAN’S PIER DIRECTOR
200,000 pounds of herring landed this week by F/V Western Sea.
Lobsters bought by Lobster Buyers have remained constant all week at $2.95 per pound.
No permits issued.
Removed old traps, crates, and totes from public float to make room for Lobstermen to haul out trap gear. Temporary storage of traps, buoys, and pot warp will be near public floats on pier. (Three days maximum temporary storage.)
OFFICE OF THE FIRE CHIEF
In addition to responding to the normal flow of fire and EMS calls, daily shift training, apparatus checks, cleaning, repairs and maintenance to the fleet and cleaning and maintenance of the quarters, the following occurred:
The Chief and an ambulance crew participated in the joint Waldo-Knox County Penobscot Bay full-scale exercise which simulated a plane crash with numerous victims in Camden. Harbor Park played host to the Incident Command Post and all went well at our location.
The Chief attended the Knox County EMA Director’s meeting in Hope.
The Chief attended the Knox County Chief’s Mutual Aid meeting in Hope.
City Manager’s Weekly Report
The Department hosted numerous station and apparatus tours as part of our Fire Prevention Program.
OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
Replaced culverts and installed under drain pipe on Prescott Street and Orange Street.
Attended an MDOT on site meeting regarding preplanning of Main Street and Union Street paving work with regional engineer, project manager, and project engineer.
Two Main Street light poles reset by CMP as part of the streetscapes project.
Region 8 student worked with us for a day as a job shadow. He is interested in truck driving and construction work in the future.
Moved voting booths at Recreation Center so that they don’t interfere with the contractors work.
Provided assistance to locate and dig safe approximately 20 tree planting locations throughout the city.
Flowers on the Park Street and Main Street poles removed for the season.
Secured 13 broken windows at MacDougal School.
OFFICE OF THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR
Amy helped set up for last Saturday’s Green Buildings Tour; nine people attended the Evergreen presentation, and Larry reports he escorted two dozen “tourists” during the course of the afternoon.
Prepared a letter of “in-kind” support for the continuation of RSU 13’s Family Literacy Program; the Library’s support is the space used for the Know & Grow portion of the program
We participated in a state-wide initiative, Snapshot Maine 2012 – Libraries Connect: People, Community, Jobs. Snapshot Maine 2012 provides a way to capture the diversity of activities and learning made possible by libraries. We will compile statistics, customer comments, and photographs chronicling a typical library day. The results collected will be added to those of other libraries across Maine to demonstrate the ways that libraries provide invaluable services to Maine citizens every day. City and Council has seen the results of past year’s Days, and we look forward to sharing those from this one.
Met with Library Advisory Committee, PLEA, and the Friends.
Two separate visitors travelled from Massachusetts to use the Library’s local resources: one is researching Spruce Head, and the other will spend two days using the microfilm collection of local newspapers.
An event, “How To Fight Against Six Types of Digital Harassment”, will be held Tuesday, October 23, at 6:00 p.m. in the Community Room.
OFFICE OF THE SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR
New hydrogen peroxide distribution system and leachate pump are up and running.
City Manager’s Weekly Report
Page 6 of 6
Fence surrounding the 5,500 gallon 50% peroxide tank was installed.
Flare Manifold was installed.
Radiator was replaced in the Road Tractor.
Metal header and former bulky waste header were repaired.
Flare shipment was received and assembly was started.
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
Library
o Cordjia’s Change Order #3 was implemented—Energy Chair Pritchett filled me in on details of the work done by Maine Controls. Of the nine sensors checked, most were fine or required small changes to make them work properly.
o Two reheats (Teen Room and Stairwell) were replaced.
o Two sensors were bad and were replaced as per the terms of the change order.
o ABM pumped 8-Way corrosion inhibitor into the boiler. This additive balances the PH, neutralizes the oxygen in the boiler water, and reduces scale forming compounds as well as other benefits.
Recreation Building
o The phase 1B portion of the project is moving along this week and we have multiple contractors here working around the building. The front section is being dug up and a bridge has been constructed to get into the front of the building.
o The “tin knocker”, as he is being referred to, is working on the rubber roof over the entrance and getting ready to cap the chimneys and concrete on the roof.
o Audette returned this week to put the finishing touches on the roof and to block in an old window that was filled in years ago. This will make the space disappear and look better as it was below the grade of the new sidewalk.
o We are currently looking into drainage in the old bowling alley and how to best get the roof drains to tie into the perimeter drain.
Wastewater System Improvement Project
o Completed landscaping and site restoration at 42 Masonic Street as agreed to in the terms of the sewer line easement. Scheduled the completion of the work at 41 Grace Street next week.
o Worked with Stephanie Hubbard of Wright-Pierce to see that the final change order, pay requisition and other necessary documents are completed and delivered for signatures to complete the Wastewater System Improvement Project.
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