The Rockland Report Week of January 4, 2013

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
 As we announced in a press release earlier this week, we have hired John Holden as the new Community Development Director. John’s first day on the job will be January 14th.
 Attended REDAC meeting and reviewed proposed value statements and an RFP.
 We were contacted by Central Maine Power to review their proposed 2013 line maintenance program. We have since contacted Carol Maines, Tree Warden and Greg Blackwell, Public Works Director to schedule a day/time that all parties can meet and review this work plan.
 We are moving forward with making contact with local officials to establish a date in January to allow all emergency responders to meet with school officials and review emergency response and school safety procedures and protocols.
 An RFP has been issued for Sewer Line Inspection Equipment. Bids are due Friday, January 25, 2013 at 2:00 PM.
 The CDBG-funded portion of the Downtown Façade project at 2 Park Drive (Tradewinds) has been completed. Further construction is planned to update the entire three-story façade of the structure; however, the City’s involvement with the project has ended. There were originally 12 projects in the Downtown Façade Program, with one project withdrawing due to a change in property ownership. Of the remaining 11 projects, two are complete and have reached their maximum funding amount of $25,000 (2 Park Street and 315 Main Street); two have completed their projects (374 Main Street and 400 Main Street); and seven projects are underway and will be completed in the spring (252, 318, 351, 425, 427 and 475 Main Street and 16 Museum Street). Funds allocated to the one project that was withdrawn will be re-allocated to those projects currently in the program and have not yet reached their maximum funding level.
 We continue to work on audible crosswalk signals at Park and Broadway. Since this is under warrantee, there is no cost associated with having the technicians return; however, it has been a nuisance for area residents as we work to obtain the correct settings.
 Staff met with Will Gartley, Gartley & Dorsky and John Hansen, Architect to review site plans for the proposed Public Works garage at the Transfer Station. This site location looks very promising with significant advantages over the current location. The ground itself is better suited for construction (should require less earth work); provides more space for better access management and vehicle flow; allows the consolidation of administrative offices with the Transfer and Public Works Departments; is a better use of land as the current area will see more commercial growth and activity when Wal-Mart relocates to Thomaston; and we will have the opportunity to review the potential for using the leachate line to draw heat off the effluent by using a heat pump exchange to capture this valuable heat. No promises on the viability of this option; however, it is an exciting thought if we could capture this as it is already a sunk expenditure that we pay to pump this material down to the treatment plant. In conclusion, we are carefully reviewing the current and potential future operations for the Transfer Facility. The last thing we want to do is design a plan that does not adequately anticipate future needs for operations of either the Public Works or Transfer Facilities. We hope to be able to come back to Council in the coming months with a comprehensive plan and associated cost to put this absolutely necessary project back to the voters with a plan they can support.

OFFICE OF THE RECREATION DIRECTOR
 We have refinished the gym floor and it has now reopened. The shine on the floor is much better this year. The new wood is finally sealed and the finish will show and last much better than before.
 Basketball starts back up Thursday night with a boy’s game at 6:30 PM and then a full day of games on Saturday as well as picture day. Come on in and get out of the cold and enjoy some good times.
 Dodgeball sign-ups start this week and we will start games the middle of January.

OFFICE OF THE POLICE CHIEF
In addition to responding to 179 calls for services this past week and making 17 arrests; summons were made for various offenses, including Theft, Violation of conditions of release, Traffic offenses DUI and Warrants. Officers issued summons for 12 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:
 Chief Boucher and City attorney Beal have been working on the parking ordinances for the City.
 The Department has received word on receiving a training grant to enhance Law Enforcement officer’s skills in Use of Force techniques.
 Members of the department have been working with city and county emergency management concerning the winter storms last week.
 Officers met with representatives of the Restorative Justice Court Diversion Program Initiative for juvenile offenders concerning a grant for Knox County.


OFFICE OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
 On Monday John met with a young entrepreneur from New York about relocating her business to Rockland in the building at 279 Main Street. She is the owner of Bixby & Company; makers of all natural, organic, specialty chocolate bars. She submitted a building permit on Thursday.
 Final Inspection for Certificate of Occupancy (CO) was done for renovations at 3 Camden Street, the Irving Mainway Convenience store.
 John inspected and issued a Temporary CO for Bartlett Woods.
 A CO was issued for 684 Main Street, the new home of Sisters Two Hair Design.
 License inspections were done with the Fire Department at Pizza Hut and Park Street Grille.
 There were two complaints filed this week.
 Reviewed for, inspected, and issued the following permits:
o One Building permit
o One Electrical permit
o Three Plumbing permits
o One Sewer Connect permit
o One Street Excavation permit

OFFICE OF THE GENERAL ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATOR
 Handled 26 different calls, walk-ins and e-mails.
 Handled 13 different appointments.
 Processed year end reports for the State.

OFFICE OF THE FISHERMAN’S PIER DIRECTOR
 The price for lobster has increased to $3.30 per pound.
 Lot Storage, Bait Dealer Permit, and metered electric bills were submitted to the Finance Department for mailing.

OFFICE OF THE CITY ASSESSOR
 Had one abatement request on a single family home this week.
 Processed real estate transfers.
 Analyzed the sales ratio for the past year.

OFFICE OF THE FINANCE DIRECTOR
 Approved payroll warrant.
 Month end journal entries.
 Audit work.
 Met with Ann Matlack on capital improvement plan.

OFFICE OF THE HARBORMASTER
 Mailed out our mooring permits for 2013.
 Sent out some of the individual mooring letters for owners that still owe past fees.
 Contacted another cruise ship agent to discuss the fee increases for 2014 and proposed improvements to our ramp.
 Attended a Board of Directors meeting of the Maine Harbormaster's Association and discussed the association's annual training in Castine.

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:
 Continued to work with the State Fire Marshal’s Office and others regarding pellet stove installations and operations.
 Crews shoveled all hydrants on Sunday and Monday following last weekend’s storm.
 Assistant Chief Micelli inspected the new wing at Bartlett Woods in anticipation of the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy for the same and I am happy to report that he was very pleased with the construction and its compliance.
 Park Street Grille and Pizza Hut were inspected for code compliance as part of their license renewal process.
 Early Saturday morning the Department responded to a report of a person in the water off the pier near Archer’s Restaurant. On arrival they found an adult male clinging to the pier/rocks. Although they had called for Thomaston Fire Department’s boat, the crew realized that the person needed immediate rescue so they donned water rescue suits and utilized a skiff tied up at the dock to row out to the victim. The man was transported to Penobscot Bay Medical Center where we wish him the best in his recovery.
 The Department ended 2012 having answered 2,183 calls for service, which equates to six calls per day.

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
 Hauled snow for two nights in hired trucks from George Hall and sons from back to back snow storms. Four triaxle dump trucks worked with our snow blowing crew. The snow was removed from sidewalks and roads from the downtown area; many of the main roadways including Park Street, Broadway, Maverick Street, South Main Street, and some of the secondary roads that are problematic. We also remove snow that was stockpiled in parking lots. All of this snow is dumped overboard at the fish pier within a 72 hour period after the end of the snowfall, per our DEP permit. Approximately 8,000 yards of snow was disposed of.
 Cleared off catch basins of snow and ice in preparation for melting snow and future predicted rain to help minimize flooding.
 Addressed large snow piles at intersections that interfere with vehicular visibility.
 Met with Gartley/Dorsky engineers and John Hansen, architect, to discuss future analysis/game plan for future location of Public Works building & salt/sand shed.
 Worked with AD Electric, Gorrill-Palmer consultants, and MDOT to resolve loud beepers for new pedestrian signals at Broadway/Park Street intersection.
 Decorative light pole on Main Street in front of Brass Compass was hit by an unknown vehicle during the snowstorm. CMP owns the pole and they were notified to remove it. Public Works assisted them in taking it down. CMP has ordered a new pole including a skirt for an adjacent light pole that was also damaged.

OFFICE OF THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR
 I’m very pleased to write that the shade/blind from the Community Room has been repaired and replaced, at long last.
 We have a live musical performance scheduled for Thursday evening—Spike & Co (standing bass, piano, and guitar) will offer jazz as part the ongoing Thursday Evening Arts & Cultural Events programming.
 We have two exciting programs planned for Saturday. For adults and older children, we are offering Astronomy 101: Ron Thompson’s talk covers the Big Bang, the Universe, our Galaxy and Solar System. For cowboys and cowgirls, from around four to nine years old; the Children’s Area is having a Wild West Party, with games, group activities, costumes, campfire stories, and ice cream!
 We received a donation of $1,000.00, with the request that it be used for books.

OFFICE OF THE SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR
 We will be conducting an exploratory dig in the alleged locations of paint waste on the east side of the dump road. DEP has been notified and will be present.
 Submitted pumping and waste water analytical report.
 Plowed, sanded and salted from last storm event.
 Prepared weighmaster license applications for submission.
 Continued work on annual report.
 Compiled gas monitoring results.
 Worked with DM&J on completing solid waste contract.

OFFICE OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT DIRECTOR
 Investigated possible force main leak at the pump station for Region 8 school.
 Received estimates from Lyman-Morse and Rockport steel for handrails for the stairways on the Harbor Trail and the treatment plant entrance.
 Wilcox Electric continued work on the electrical and instrumentation upgrade at the treatment plant. The level indicators for the chemical tanks are 90% completed.
 Submitted an annual reduced toxicity testing waiver certification letter per Chapter 530 to DEP.

CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
 Library
o Change Order # 4 for Cordjia (HVAC) has been signed, submitted, and received. It looks as though this work will be scheduled for January 22nd (mid- to late-January) as parts need to be ordered.
 Recreation
o The flashing work is moving forward this week, we are in hopes that this work will be done in another week.
o The new lights look great on the front of the building. They really finish off the new look.
o Pen Bay Glass was here this week to install the new gaskets in the gym windows. This should be completed by Friday.