The Rockland Report March 29, 2013

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
 A Request for Proposals has been issued for Sodium Hypochlorite for the Wastewater Treatment Facility.
 Attended Appropriations Committee hearing in Brewer, where the committee heard testimony on negative impacts on municipalities that are under consideration with the current budget proposal.
 The contract to provide Sewer Line Inspection Equipment has been awarded to Bahr Sales, Inc., of Wallingford, CT.
 A reminder that Rockland Main Street’s 2nd Annual “Experience This … Only In Rockland” live and silent auction will take place Tuesday, April 2, at the Trackside Station
 Along with the Community Development Director we met with local businesses.
 Attended REDAC meeting and workshop #6 for Camden Street Revisioning.
 Along with the Assistant-to-the-City Manager, we met with our insurance provider to review our current policy in preparation for renewal and the budget.
 Along with city staff, met with a consultant to consider tri-generation project as a possibility for the WWTP.
OFFICE OF THE POLICE CHIEF
In addition to responding to 305 calls for services this past week and making 25 arrests; summons were made for various offenses, including Assault, Criminal Threatening, OUI, Drug offenses, Bail Violations, and warrants. Officers handled two 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 attended class day at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy on Wednesday.
 Officers conducted High Profile targeted enforcement events this past week for impaired driving. 60 motor vehicle stops were conducted resulting in numerous violations were citied.
 The department conducted candidate testing and interviews with 10 potential candidates for our vacant Police officer positions.
 CID investigated a Gross Sexual assault and charged a juvenile suspect.
OFFICE OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
 Outreach to existing business and property owners including Home Depot, Linwood Windows, Rockland Seafood, EL Spear.
 Attend and assisted REDAC with the “Camden Street Vision” project.
 Continued review of TIF investment strategy for capital projects and the budget.
 Prepared “pre-application” for inclusion of Harbor Trail funding as part of MCEDD application to Economic Development Administration.
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:
 The Fire Chief assisted with the instruction of crews at the live fire training event on Sunday, March 24th.
 The Emergency Management Director has received confirmation that the disaster declaration for the historic February storm has been approved by the President and that an additional 24-hour period has been approved for Knox County. This means that the City’s reimbursable expenses of $57,000 for the two days should climb even higher. Of the reimbursable expenses, the federal government will cover 75% and the state will cover 15% for a total reimbursement of 90%.
 The Fire Chief met with the Code Officer to review site plans for 1) an addition to a warehouse and 2) the conditional use of a former school. Both site plans met the Fire Department’s requirements.
 Monthly EMS training was held with the topic being CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) in the field.
 Shift training included the topics of fireground size-up and firefighting foam application.
 On Tuesday March 26th, A-shift responded to 16 calls for service including an elevator rescue and an alarm at a local rooming house caused by a resident preparing dinner in his room with a home-made, open flame cooking device.
OFFICE OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
 A Notice of Violation was sent to a property owner and business owner for operating a towing & recovery business in a Residential B Zone.
 Met with the new owner of 59 Camden Street to discuss the possibilities and requirements for development of this property. Further discussions are pending.
 A house at 286 Talbot Avenue was demolished this week.
 David attended the MCEOA meeting.
 Attended the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting.
 There were three complaints filed this week.
 The following permits were received by the Code Office this week:
o Five Building permits
o Three Electrical permits
o Five Plumbing permits
o Two Sidewalk Display permits
o Two Sign permits
o One Street Excavation permit
OFFICE OF THE FISHERMAN’S PIER DIRECTOR
 No Permits were issued this week.
 Issued a docking lease agreement for the month of April, 2013.
 Held Fish Pier Advisory Board meeting.
OFFICE OF THE CITY ASSESSOR
 Worked with Vision on problem exporting data.
 Reviewed building permits.
 Processed Personal Property declarations being returned.
OFFICE OF THE FINANCE DIRECTOR
 Approved Payroll Warrant
 Accounts Payable Warrant
 Budget Work
 Audit Work- auditors were in town 3 days this week.
OFFICE OF THE GENERAL ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATOR
 Handled 31 different calls, walk-ins and e-mails.
 Handled 10 different appointments.
 Updated client files.

OFFICE OF THE HARBORMASTER
 Wrapped up most of our winter and started to get ready for spring outfitting.
 Attended the spring meeting of the Maine, New Hampshire Port Security Forum, discussing coastal weather forecasting, cruise ship visits to Maine ports, and upcoming changes in USCG rules.
 Met with a regulatory representative of the Army Corps of Engineers to discuss getting a permit for O'Hara's to continue operating their herring pumping barge in the North End.
 Started the letter to the mooring permit holders who haven't paid yet, reminding them that it is due, and that they now owe the $30 late fee too.
OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
 Continued sweeping city streets and sidewalks both day and night.
 FEMA storm NEMO declared for Knox County. A kickoff meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at 10:00am at the Knox County Court House.
 Attended Electric Light Company training in Ogunquit, Maine.
 Cold patching roadways all week.
 Secured three buildings on Warren Street, Pine Street, and Broadway of which the city now has ownership.
 Roadside shouldering work in various areas throughout city.
 Annual city wide spring cleanup is scheduled for the week of April 29th.
OFFICE OF THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR
 Book Soup met on Tuesday, for a lively discussion.
 Giant thanks to Dave St. Laurent and the SW staff for furnishing a cleaned up refrigerator door, for the Library’s “Magnetic Poetry Board”.
 Although I haven’t dealt with the front lawn yet, I did a major cleanup of debris around the perimeter of the building and sidewalks.
 After being snowed in last week, Maggie, the lovely lurcher was back for Wednesday Story Time, with her handler, Steve.
 I met with two members of the Library Advisory Committee. Although we did not have a full group, we discussed the upcoming budget, and building issues.
 This Thursday Evening’s Arts & Cultural Event is the film In the Garden of Sounds
 Last chance!!! The deadline for the fourth Annual Poetry Contest is April 1. .
 Looking ahead: Poetry Month Rockland is upon us—beginning Monday, April 1st with the opening of the landscape (this year’s theme) art exhibit.
OFFICE OF THE SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR
 Attended an MRRA Board meeting in Augusta.
 Met with Bill Michaud form Casella Organics to review the use of short paper fiber.
 Finalized and submitted the 2012 DEP annual report and proposed updates to the operations manual.
 Began installation of the D5M final drive guards on the Bulldozer. The guards were built by Fisher Engineering.
 Almost finished chipping the brush pile. Should be done by Friday.
 Placed the swamp mats for the landfill compactor with wood chips being placed around the mats. This is a big improvement and allows the equipment to be parked out of the mud so daily inspections and maintenance can be done on the compactor. Just in time for mud season.
 Attended Community Advisory Meeting at the Bolduc Correctional Facility.
 Had the two kingpins on the road tractor replaced as well as the thermostat.
 Collected monthly waste water samples and sent out for analytical testing.
 Picked up litter around the facility.
OFFICE OF THE RECREATION DIRECTOR
 The Rockland Recreation Department will be holding the Boys 5th & 6th Grade basketball tournament here this weekend. Games start Friday night and continue all day Saturday.
 The information about the main street parks is coming in this week and should be ready for the Monday Council Meeting.
 The girl’s tournament ran very well.
 The plans for spring work are on the drawing board and we hope the weather holds so we can get outside.
OFFICE OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY DIRECTOR
 Reinstalled No. 1 belt filter press water booster pump.
 Changed out brushes on No. 2 belt filter press drive motor.
 Repaired the secondary clarifier polymer pump.
 Getting ready for Lindsey Brook bacteria testing. We may start routine testing next week if water temperatures are in line.
 Completed manhole surveys in the South End this week.
 EPA submitted comments regarding our permit renewal. We will be meeting with DEP to discuss on April 11th.