OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
Completed nearly all department head annual evaluations, with only a few remaining to be completed next week.
Held a successful unveiling of the public art piece near Sandy Beach, along the Harbor Trail. The art was titled “Ridin’ the Rails to Rockland” and was created by Rockland native, Jay Sawyer.
Attended EDAC meeting as well as Camden Street Revisioning meeting.
Along with John Holden, I met with Senator Mazurek to discuss transportation issues important to the City of Rockland.
Met with Will Gartley to review public works garage project.
Along with the Harbor Master, and City Attorney, I met with members of the Rockland Yacht Club to discuss the building lease agreement.
OFFICE OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY DIRECTOR
We narrowed down the location of the Waldo Avenue Pump Station leak and will begin excavation for repairs.
The No. 2 Secondary Clarifier was taken off line to replace the center well draft box seal.
The Gravity Belt Thickener was taken off line to replace a main drive seal.
Worked to track down the source of an intermittent odor on Grace Street.
The Chief Mechanic and the Environmental Technicians completed a Pipe Line, Manhole and Lateral Assessment and Certification Program this week, and are now certified.
OFFICE OF THE POLICE CHIEF
In addition to responding to 201 calls for services this past week and making 13 arrests; summons were made for various offenses, including Bail Violations, Warrants of Arrest, and Theft, Domestic violence, Burglary, Theft Offenses, OUI Offenses and Traffic Offenses. Officers handled five traffic crash investigations and 10 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:
Officers assisted Maine State Police Department in the investigation and apprehension of a Homicide suspect from Belfast.
Chief Boucher attended the Rockland Metro Clinic community advisory committee meeting on Wednesday at the Clinic location on New County road.
Officers assisted cruise ship visitors with locations of points of interest within our fair city this past week.
Officers presented hunter safety training this past week held at City Hall.
OFFICE OF THE HARBORMASTER
It's not a lot of money, but just as an example of how busy we've been this summer, this week we surpassed our whole year's budgetary line for income from rental moorings. It may not go up too much more for this year, since summer is slowly leaving, but it will be a little higher than anticipated.
The sheer size of the yachts in Rockland this summer is amazing. Without doubt, this week we've had some of our largest boats ever at the Public Landing. Four of them were in at once this week.
Our dock stewards are going back to school, so our summer help is winding down.
Sent out reminder letters to the approximately 50 remaining permit holders that still owe this year's fee, payments along with late fees have starting coming back in.
Meeting with the City Manager, the City Attorney and the Commodore of the Rockland Yacht Club to discuss the harbor building lease.
OFFICE OF THE FINANCE DIRECTOR
Approved Payroll Warrant.
Approved A/P Warrant.
Auditor was in this week – audit begins.
OFFICE OF THE CITY ASSESSOR
Finding new addresses for tax bills being returned.
Processing Personal Property 801s.
Tax bill questions for RE/PP.
OFFICE OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
Received ISO score moving from a 7 in commercial and residential to a 4 in commercial and residential. The scale is 1-10, where 1 is the best and 7 is the worst. Lowering our ISO rating will save private property owners money on their insurance rates. We were informed by an ISO representative that no community in the State of Maine received better than a 4!
License inspections were done with the Fire Department at The Waterworks and Fog Bar & Café.
There were three complaints filed this week.
The following permits were received by the Code Office this week:
o 3 Building permits
o 1 Electrical permit
o 4 Plumbing permits
o 1 Street Excavation permit
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 conducted two Life Safety Code inspections.
Lieutenant Rick Johnson is on loan to the Maine Forest Service as they have crews out west battling one of the many wildfires we have all seen in the news. Thanks to our personnel for picking up the extra duties.
The annual aerial lift test was performed on Tower 3 and the report is forthcoming.
Annual personnel reviews are underway.
The Department held an EMS training session on patient packaging.
OFFICE OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Assisted in coordination and announcement of art display at South Beach.
Met with Senator Mazurek and City Manager to review transportation projects.
Met with owner of Thorndike building to review final plans for CfMF funds and submission of a budget and work plan to the State.
Along with the City Manager and Finance Director, I worked on drafting financial plans for grant funding applications this fall. This will allow us to have a solid understanding of the financial component of projects for Council consideration and approval before we seek various grants for projects.
Followed up with an existing business that is seeking expanded space.
Participated in a property tour with potential new business and additional review of possible financing for relocation of business to City.
OFFICE OF THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR
Wednesday Storytime focused on getting small students headed to nursery school or day care ready for those changes. Children’s librarian Jean Young read books about colors, shapes, and numbers; the kids sang a cappella; they “sewed” paper, and enjoyed a game of hopscotch!
Reference staff has been helping to get kids ready for back-to-school; some ninth graders need to read Of Mice and Men, and with our physical copies all checked out, Dan O’Connor added the eBook version to our eReaders.
I met with the City Manager for my Annual Review.
Marty Schindler’s reading aloud of the Redwall books continued...come in on Thursdays as he reads though the series.
Made changes to the Library (all Minerva libraries) catalog, which was redesigned by Maine InfoNet staff to be more user-friendly, and easier to search.
Friends’ Board member Jeanie Schaden (again) held Storytime at the Rockland Farmers’ Market. We love being able to reach a new audience.
Thursday evening Arts & Cultural series is The Big Easy Express, a concert documentary that should be a wonderful treat for the eyes and ears.
I met Ben Blackmon, who is interested in doing some volunteer work for the Library.
Upcoming events of note: Do-it-yourself acupressure program; don’t forget about the Teen/tween book-covering workshop (we’ve had lots of nostalgic comments from older patrons on this one).
The Library is closed on Sunday and Monday for Labor Day weekend.
Don’t forget to finish reading the Maine Readers’’ Choice Award finalists-- voting starts in September!! http://mainereaderschoiceaward.org/
OFFICE OF THE SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR
Met with City Manager for employee evaluation.
Completed facility mowing and litter pick up.
Worked on scheduling a speaker and training for the Rockland Safety Day.
Contacted Tim Pokey about additional tonnage of MSW going to PERC under Rockland’s GAT. I contacted Gary Stacy from PERC to see if we can have a non-PERC community dispose of waste at the PERC facility under Rockland’s account. The extra waste would help Rockland’s performance credits, GAT and we would expect an administrative fee for our efforts.
We have been trenching out an area south of the recycle building in order to install underground power and air so we can PM the compactor and Dozer outside where we park the equipment.
Submitted waste water pumping and analytical data to Rockland Waste Water.
Sampled waste water and sent out for testing.
Travelled to South Portland to inspect one of our contracted sources of construction and demolition debris.
Worked with Victor Parrish from Creative Information Systems on revising the Cash Reconciliation Report that we use in our SMS Turbo Software system.
OFFICE OF THE FISH PIER DIRECTOR
The F/V Western Sea off loaded 740,000 lbs. of herring.
The F/V Western Wave off loaded 45,000 lbs. of herring.
Lobster price is around $2.65 a pound.
OFFICE OF THE RECREATION DIRECTOR
The Ferry Terminal Park is moving along. The Park is starting to really look nice as they reach the south end of the property. The stairs are currently being installed. Bricks for the performance area and extended sidewalk are in the process of being laid down.
The Recreation Crew did some work at Sandy Beach in preparation of the unveiling of the new statue. The unveiling was on Thursday at Noon.
The Parks are being touched up around the City.
The Summer Day Camp ended last week and the beach is looking empty without the kids running around every day.
Summer staff is leaving and heading back to school. This is the last week with a crew.
OFFICE OF THE GENERAL ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATOR
Made appointments for clients who did not have any scheduled.
Met with clients who had scheduled appointments.
Handled General Assistance inquiries.
Updated General Assistance paperwork and client files.
OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
Trash pickup including roadside and watered pole flowers.
Roadside mowing for three days primarily in the south end of the city.
Prepping and paving work including Main Street and Union Street sidewalks, Park Street in front of Dominos, Orange Street and Prescott, and several manholes.
Sign maintenance work for two days including weeding and tree trimming of two city entrance signs.
Sweeping city streets for two and a half days.
Prepped base area at Sandy Beach for art structure. Picked up structure in Warren, delivered and set in place. Coordinated all work with Jay Sawyer, artist.
Trimmed trees/bushes in the pocket park at Thorndike parking lot.
Picked up 250 gallons of waste oil at Transfer Station.
Mechanics worked on 2007 JD backhoe ram seals and window, 2007 dump truck turbo replaced, and replaced door pins to 2008 Chevrolet one ton truck.
Attended City Council workshop for presentation of proposed new Public Works facility including salt/sand shed located at Transfer Station property.
Performance paving started stripping existing curb and sidewalk on Talbot Avenue from Broadway east 260 linear feet. Will be installing new asphalt curb and sidewalk and repaving this section of road.
Next week plan to paint four cross walks on Union Street/Main Street, sign maintenance, sidewalks on Union and Main Street, paving work on Talbot Avenue at Broadway, and roadside mowing.
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