The Rockland Report

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
 The Assistant to the City Manager attended the 2013 Brownfields Conference in Atlanta as part of the required training for the Brownfields grant.
 The Assistant to the City Manager met with the Economic Development Advisory Committee to discuss having the Committee serve as the City’s Brownfield Advisory Committee.
 Attended two “Welcome to Rockland” events for new businesses.
 Met with Recreation Director and Engineer to discuss the closeout paperwork for the Recreation Building Improvements.
 Attended the Economic Development Advisory Committee meeting.
 Continued with the City Council Budget workshops and gathering information for Council consideration.
 The Civil War cannon have been restored and placed in Chapman Park for Memorial Day. They will need some minor touch up paint work done after Memorial Day and when we have more favorable weather.
OFFICE OF THE RECREATION DIRECTOR
 The mulch was installed at Winslow Holbrook Park and Chapman Park.
 The lights at Chapman Park were fixed this week and are ready for Memorial Day.
 General Berry Square was weeded, mulch was added, and the bricks were cleaned of all excess grass.
 I met with the Engineering firm and the Contractor from Phase 1B to close out the project. All items were done and the last requisition was submitted.
 The new panels for the front door have been ordered for the front entrance.
 The day camp staff held their first meeting and is getting ready for the summer.
 In the event of rain, the Recreation Department will be available for the Memorial Day Celebration.
OFFICE OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY DIRECTOR
 DEP was on site for two days auditing our industrial user pretreatment program. DEP is requiring we renew/update our treatment agreement with Rockport which will include pretreatment language, mainly due to Pen Bay Hospital.
 Region 8 School pump station force main needs to be replaced. We’re working on obtaining a quote to do this work.
 The Environmental Technicians are attending a week long GIS class at UMaine - Machias this week.
 Working on plans to repair the sewer line on Upper Rankin Street by Tributary B.
 The belt filter press incline conveyor was repaired this week.
 One of the belt filter press water booster pumps was repaired.
OFFICE OF THE POLICE CHIEF
In addition to responding to 192 calls for services this past week, fourteen arrests/ summons were made for various offenses, including Criminal Mischief, Domestic Assault, Bail Violations, Warrants of Arrest, OUI Theft and traffic offenses. Officers handled 14 traffic crash investigations and six domestic and wild animal problems. Along with other duties and shift assignments, members of the police department were involved in the following highlights this past week:
 Chief Boucher attended the board of directors meeting of Sexual Assault Support Services of Mid-Coast Maine in Waldoboro.
 Officers participated in the “Every 15 Minutes” event at Oceanside East.
 All officers participated in annual firearms training during the week in Union.
 Officer Jacob Shirey graduated from the 24th Basic Law Enforcement Training program at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy on Friday.
OFFICE OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
 Confirmed and executed contracts for bid and oversight services for Ferry Park and Winslow-Holbrook Parks.
 Attended Cruise Canada New England Symposium; followed up on same.
 Followed up on development of strategy for investments to Old County Road.
 Met with applicant for regional Microloan Program (new business in City).
OFFICE OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
 Attended the MBOIA 2 day Spring Code Conference at Sebasco Estates on Monday and Tuesday of this week.
 There were three complaints filed this week.
 The following permits were received by the Code Office this week:
o Five Building permits
o Two Electrical permits
o Five Plumbing permits
o Three Street Excavation permits
OFFICE OF THE CITY ASSESSOR
 Processed Personal Property declarations that are being returned.
 Reviewed building permits for completion of work done.
 Calculated updates on those permits.
OFFICE OF THE FINANCE DIRECTOR
 Approved Payroll Warrant.
 Met with Fish Pier on CIP Plan.
 Attended Budget Meetings.
 Finalizing Audit with Auditors.
OFFICE OF THE FISH PIER DIRECTOR
 Fresh water on pier has been turned on for season.
 Lobster traps have been removed from impound lot by owner.
 Held Fish Pier Advisory Board meeting.
OFFICE OF THE HARBORMASTER
 With loads of help from Public Works we launched the rest of our Public Landing floats and got the Snow Park parking lot vacuum swept.
 Repaired and launched the floats that the Lighthouse will be using this summer.
 Installed almost all of the Public Landing floats, though there appears to be a little problem fitting the new floats - I have a meeting scheduled with Prock Marine tomorrow to see how we can solve the problem.
 Welcomed our first guests at the Public Landing, a couple from the islands on shopping trips and some overnight yachting visitors.
 Reviewed new materials, produced by the Chamber of Commerce, for distribution to cruise ship companies interested in visiting Rockland.
 Met with a representative of the O'Hara Corporation to discuss their lobbying efforts with our Washington delegation to de-authorize a portion of the North End channel turning basin.
OFFICE OF THE GENERAL ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATOR
 Handled 39 different calls, walk-ins and e-mails.
 Handled 16 different appointments.
 Updated client files.
OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
 Adjusted five sewer manhole frames on Union Street.
 Utilizing a four man crew, we completed resetting granite curb and locking in with concrete at the Rankin Block. Approximately 250 LF were set, including 125 LF of concrete curb removed and replaced with granite.
 Cold patching on Old County Road and West Meadow Road.
 Two cannon transported by Public Works from Lyman Morse to Rockland Marine. Then picked up from Rockland Marine after painting and set in Chapman Park.
 Street sweeping in the middle section of town.
 Picked up flowers at Barley Joes in Warren and set out on Park Street poles after we straightened and repaired. Flowers also mounted on various light poles on Main Street as well as American Flags set on all poles.
 Assisted Harbormaster setting out remaining floats at south end boat launch.
 Remounted refurbished plaque on rock at Ulmer Park that was damaged by vehicular accident last year.
 Mechanics worked on Treatment Plant truck fuel pump and setting up with tank to water flowers; setting up Treatment Plant Kubota with sickle bar attachment; sign truck exhaust; mechanical sweeper, and the side mower attachment for the MacLean machine.
 Roadside mowing on Mechanic Street and Old County Road.
 Pre-marked areas for painting of roads.
 Remaining picnic tables and trash cans set out for the summer season.
 Farley & Sons Construction will be starting on Tuesday to assist resetting granite curb starting at North Main Street and working north to Cottage Street on Main Street. We will also start to set curb near James Street. The centerline painter is scheduled to come in Tuesday night. Other planned work includes adjusting seven manhole frames on Union and Main, complete sweeping of all streets, mow city owned properties, road painting, water flowers, sweep Boston Financial, trash control, and road side mowing.
OFFICE OF THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR
 The Library received a proposal for the repair of one of two separate leaks to the Air Conditioning component of the HVAC, which has been accepted; Cordjia indicated that they would be ready to begin on approval and expect the work completed within two weeks. The other leak will be monitored; locating and repairing this underground leak could likely be done by the City.
 The yearly rush to get the several inspections for the elevator license renewal completed is underway.
 With the heavy rains we are seeing some seepage from the peak of the atrium; drips do not occur with every rain or snow, only those at a particular angle penetrate the glass.
 Know & Grow has increased their hours for the remainder of the school year, adding Mondays, so they are here four days a week.
 We’re noticing more newcomers to the area, as well as visitors. With the chilly rain, we’ve had the fireplace glowing in the Reading Room, and it was chock full of people reading and/or working on laptops, and just enjoying the ambience of that lovely space.
 With the Children’s Librarian on vacation this week, therapy dog handler Steve Seekins not only brought Scottish Deerhound Mo, but did the entire Wednesday Story Time. The number of attendees is increasing at this program, and this week included some visitors to the area.
 It was a return to Sherlock Holmes with Empty House, with Jeremy Brett as Holmes as part of the Arts & Cultural Events series. Another reminder: almost every movie shown at the Library is available for borrowing.
 The second of a two-part Teen Video Tournament is on tap for Friday; Forza Motorsport 4 is the competitive game on the big screen; however, smaller screens are also available for other games.
 As we’ve been advertising for a couple of weeks, the Library will be closed on Sunday and Monday of Memorial Day weekend.
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 Department responded to a fire at the Trade Winds Motor Inn on Friday morning. Fortunately the fire, which originated on a stove in the basement area, was confined by the operation of a single sprinkler head. The hotel was reported to be 100% occupied at the time. This is the second fire in less than two years at this location which has been extinguished by the sprinkler system. In the former case, the hotel was also fully occupied.
 The Department participated in the Every15 Minutes program at Oceanside East. This is an opportunity for us to reach out to our younger citizens in order to assist them in making better decisions.
 Shift training was conducted with the topics being the impact on the body of heat exposure and firefighter rehab during emergency operations.
 Met with the Finance Director to discuss Department capital items, rolling stock and fixed assets.
OFFICE OF THE SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR
 Attended the Maine Resource Recovery board of directors meeting.
 I will have submitted the slide show of the images and factoids of the facility and PERC that will be placed on the local public channel to create awareness of the magnitude of the problem of waste generation. I will follow up with some educational clips on how to reduce and recycle.
 Completed and submitted the MCEDD solid waste inventory to the MCEDD steering committee.
 Conducted monthly waste water sampling.
 Submitted the scheduled maintenance report to CAT.
 Collected water level data from 12 monitoring wells and 23 piezometers.
 Scheduled and shipped out a building full of universal-waste.
 Conducted a waste water inspection of the facility with Jim Crowley of DEP and David Bolstridge from the City’s POTW.