The Rockland Report

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
 Met with various departments to discuss operations and performance
expectations.
 Continue working with staff on Capital Improvement Plan and other
budgetary matters.
 An addendum was issued for the Ferry Terminal Park Project, providing a
description of the fence and an aerial view showing utilities. Bids are due
Wednesday, June 26, at 2:00 PM.
 Assistant to the City Manager introduced Community Development Director
to Knox County Regional Micro-Loan Committee and reviewed current status
of loans and loan funding pool.
OFFICE OF THE RECREATION DIRECTOR
 The first week of Summer Camp is under way at Johnson Memorial Park. The
kids are playing and the place is looking good. We finally have some
weather that is making people want to go to the beach.
 The landscaping at the front of the building is going in this week and we
hope to have it completed by the first of next week. There was a hold up on
some of the plants that were ordered.
 A group of senior ladies who knit at the Recreation Building has completed
bib packages for the Lobster Festival. They prepared 12,000 packages.
 The forms for the memorial benches have been built and the pads will start
being set this week.
OFFICE OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY DIRECTOR
 Repairs to the sewer line at the intersection of Maverick and Camden streets
were completed this week. It appears the pipe was damaged when Maine
Water completed a water line repair located just above the sewer pipe.
 We found the sewer lateral from 5 Beech Street was leaking into Lindsey
Brook. This leak is likely the source of elevated e-coli test results at the Lindsey
Street Apartments sample point. A repair is scheduled for June 21.
 Drainage problems on Payson Lane were taken care of this week.
 Basin cleaning also took place this week.
 Replaced backup generator batteries at Waldo and Glenwood avenues
pump stations and the portable generator alternator belt was replaced.
 The Sodium Hydroxide Tank was removed from service this week in
preparation for a containment lining and tank replacement.
 Valves and stems on the clarifier drive units were replaced due to corrosion.
OFFICE OF THE GENERAL ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATOR
 Handled 11 different calls, walk-ins and e-mails.
 Handled 5 different appointments.
 Updated client files.
OFFICE OF THE POLICE CHIEF
The officers responded to 207 calls for service. Rockland Police Officers
responded to 10 motor vehicle crashes. Thirty-four (34) traffic stops and traffic
violations were conducted. The officers made multiple arrests of individuals for
various offenses, domestic violence, unauthorized use of property, aggravated
assaults, assaults, disorderly conduct, operating after license suspension,
warrants and several motor vehicle offenses.
 The Patrol and Detective Divisions assisted Maine Drug Enforcement in the
interception of drugs being transported into the City.
 Sgt. Finnegan met with the Knox County Community Health Coalition
regarding grants.
 Chief Boucher, D/C Tower, Sgt. Finnegan and Sgt. Smith met with the
Department of Probation and Parole regarding the functions of Probation
and Parole concerning probationers.
OFFICE OF THE FISH PIER DIRECTOR
 Issued 1 Lobster Vessel permit.
 The F/V Western Sea off loaded 385,000 lbs. of herring.
 The F/V Western Wave off loaded 140,000 lbs. of herring.
OFFICE OF THE CITY ASSESSOR
 Working with Munis to finalize the bridge with Vision.
 Processing real estate transfers from prior months.
 Processing Personal Property declarations that are being returned.
 Reviewing building permits for completion of work done.
 Calculating assessed values on those permits.
OFFICE OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
 Visits to Downtown storefronts and property owners together with Lorain
Francis to consider development opportunities or interests in vacant spaces
as well as review of plans for Tillson District.
 Visit with two existing business owners regarding expansion of their businesses,
funding opportunities, guidance.
 Review of capital investment projects with City Manager and review of
variety of funding sources for same.
 Preparation and review of plans for potential release of bond funding for
Communities for Maine’s Future Project.
 Review of application and meeting with Regional Micro-Loan applicant,
together with Assistant to the City Manager, for new Rockland business.
OFFICE OF THE FINANCE DIRECTOR
 Approved Payroll Warrant.
 Approved A/P Warrant.
 Month-end closing of books.
 Reconciliation work.
 Attended Midcoast Veterans Committee Meeting.
OFFICE OF THE HARBORMASTER
 Welcomed the ACL Independence to the dock on her regular summer
schedule on Tuesday evening.
 Welcomed the horde of lobster boats to the Public Landing for the night
before the Rockland Lobster Boat Races.
 Built a new door for our "oar shed".
 Trimmed back over a dozen pieces of rebar from cement slabs at Snow Park
launching ramp to prevent damage to trailer tires.
 Inspected 3 City's rental moorings and rigged them for summer use.
 Moved one vessel mooring that had dragged too close to another.
 Started work on the harbor speed limit buoys.
OFFICE OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
 Met with the Insurance Services Office (ISO) representative to review and
complete the City’s Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule
Questionnaire.
 The Planning Board met 6/18 and approved a Home Occupation Level 3
application from Karen Talbot for an artist’s studio in part of her home on
Cedar Street. The Board also approved, with conditions, the Change of Use
for 110 Union Street.
 Provided a computer presentation for the Mid-Coast Assessors’ meeting.
 The Zoning Board of Appeals meeting for 6/19 was cancelled due to the
appellant withdrawing his appeal.
 Attended the Mid-Coast Regional Planning Commission meeting.
 Attended the Maine Building Officials & Inspectors Association’s Board
meeting in Augusta.
 There were 5 complaints filed this week.
 The following permits were received by the Code Office this week:
o 1 Driveway permit
o 2 Electrical permits
o 3 Plumbing permits
o 1 Sewer Connect permit
o 2 Sign permits
OFFICE OF THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR
 Check out this great new feature which just debuted (soft opening) on the
Teen Zone of the Library’s website. Conceived of and executed by Ben
Blackmon, and implemented by Dan O’Connor — it’s pretty cool. Turn up
your sound and point your browser to: http://www.rocklandlibrary.org/cs/?
render=page&id= caf3af84-30fe-4f16-9282-29062a2c8b11 Click on one of the
titles under “Take our word for it.”
 I knew it would happen one night or weekend — the Union Street door could
not be locked on Tuesday evening; it had been worked on that day. There is
no other way to secure it, so Midcoast Locksmith (24 hour service) met me at
the Library just past 9:00 PM. Thanks to Patty King for waiting ‘til I arrived.
Thanks to Gus for coming out so late and working to make sure we could lock
it, and to (John) Sargent Lock for agreeing to pay for Midcoast’s emergency
work, and for installing the Library’s brand new, easy to use and hard-tomess-
up new crash bar and lock.
 Two therapy dogs; two handlers — it was twice the fun at Wednesday
Storytime as Steve Seekins was joined by Naomi Howe and pups Jinga and
Mo (their smallest and largest).
 Dan O’Connor and Patty King conducted a well-enjoyed tour of the Library
— stories, objects, and clippings from its past and present; an overview of the
Historical Society’s artifacts was included via curator Ann Morris.
 The first of the season’s Storytime at the Farmers’ Market was held, to be
continued every Thursday, weather and the Market permitting.
 The Arts & Cultural Events series on Thursday evening was a presentation of a
Dream Workshop with Renee Chrystefor.
 Summer Reading is underway! Go to: http://www.rocklandlibrary.org/cs/?
render=homepage
 Two Summer Reading Events were held this week: Garden Planning for Teens
and Tweens, and Garden Planter Crafts for children, and for teens and
tweens.
 Here’s another reminder about the Maine State Book Award: Started just this
year by the Maine State Library and Maine Library Association, it recognizes
excellence in fiction published the previous year. Other states are eagerly
watching this initiative, with plans to do the same, so please help make this a
major success for Maine: http://mainereaderschoiceaward.org/
OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
 Backfilling, grading and compacting sidewalks with gravel on Main and
Union streets.
 Resetting granite curb on Union Street (both Public Works and Farley crews)
and Performance Paving installing asphalt. Added granite curb on island at
Limerock and Union streets.
 Adjusted sewer manhole on Union Street.
 Mowed City-owned properties 59 Broadway, 67 Warren Street, 328 Limerock
Street, 9 Pine Street, and 14 State Street, as well as Snow Marine Park area by
building. Also, repaired steps at 9 Pine Street.
 Cold patching various areas.
 Saw-cut along curb on Claremont Street in preparation of new granite curb.
 Completed street sweeping at the Transfer Station and middle area of City.
 Completed equipment repairs on the 2002 GMC dump body, 1993 van
engine, air conditioner in 2007 John Deere backhoe, 2004 Vactor lights, and
jumping jack compactor.
 Completed roadside mowing with sickle bar attachment.
 Completed trash pick-up and watered flowers.
 Attended meeting with Community Development Director regarding
Thorndike parking lot.
 Attended MDOT progress meeting. Lane’s is installing final pavement coat on
Main Street and final coat on Union Street starting Sunday night.
 Completed street painting at 5 Corners, Park Street and Camden Street
areas including stop bars, crosswalks, and arrows.
 Water Company replaced 2 laterals on Union Street between Pleasant and
Myrtle streets. Also, working on installation of new water main on Camden
Street (Maverick to Front) This work is planned to take 3-4 weeks.
 Set out barricades, cones, and signs for Summer Solstice Festival.
 Next week plan to paint roads, install granite curb on Claremont Street, and
backfill, sweep streets, adjust basins on Claremont and Limerock streets, and
clean up ramp at Public Landing and move moorings at Snow Marine park
for Harbormaster.
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 attended a planning meeting for the 2013 Lobster Festival
Tabletop Exercise (TTX) which will be held at the Knox EMA Office at 301 Park
Street on July 9th at 1800 hours.
 The Department participated in the national safety stand-down week by
checking on the physical fitness of all members using criteria developed by
the United States Navy. This included a 1.5 mile run on the track at Wasgatt
Field.
 The Department continued its annual driver recertification with all members
completing the obstacle course at the Oceanside High East parking lot and
members beginning their annual road time training and evaluation.
 The Fire Chief attended the monthly Local Emergency Management
Directors meeting at the Hope Fire Station. Topics of discussion included
reimbursement for the February blizzard, Vigilant Guard ’15 national exercise,
FEMA Flood May work sessions and 2013 EMPG program awards.
 Participated in the Victory Parade for the Oceanside High Softball Team.
Congratulations on your State Title.
OFFICE OF THE SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR
 Replaced the small overhead door on the north side of the brick section of
the recycle building. The bottom portion of the tracks for the large overhead
doors on the north and south side of the recycle building were also replaced.
The bottom angle bars on all 6 doors at the Transfer Station were replaced.
 Bollards were installed on the inside door openings at the Recycling Buildings.
 Quarterly gas readings were taken at the facility.
 Painted north gate of the facility.
 Created fire breaks around the wood pile and tires accumulation area.
 Cut grass.
 Investigating the potential to replace the propane heating units inside the
recycle building with heat pump units.
 Continue annual employee evaluations.
 Researched and purchased a new water level meter; the old one that is
used weekly is no longer is working.
 We are working on covering the extraction well pump to limit odor
emanating from the well.