The Rockland Report

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
 Met briefly with the Library Director, Children’s Librarian and Kathleen Deerr, National Coordinator of Family Place Libraries™ to listen and better understand the Family Place Libraries program.
 At the request of the Superintendent, I met with Lew Collins, Neal Guyer, Scott Vaitones, Greg Hamlin - Thomaston, Bob Branco- South Thomaston, Bill Reinhardt – St. George. No specific topic of discussion, just general issues of schools, towns and how to better work together to address common goals.
 Met with Bob Liberty and Marilyn Rockefeller to discuss the future of CMCA and their planned future location on Winter Street.
OFFICE OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY DIRECTOR
 Responded to a plugged sewer line on Laurel Street.
 Found a broken clay sewer pipe on Center Street while cleaning and inspecting. Had to stop inspection due to the camera could not get by the break.
 Cleaned and inspected a portion of Rankin Street sewer line.
 Cleaned and inspected the sewer line between Summer and Lincoln Street at the request of Public Works.
 Cleaned and inspected sewer line starting on Talbot upstream on Tributary B toward Rankin. Found holes in the pipe.
 Rebuilt No. 3 Belt Filter Press Pump.
 Replaced motor and gearbox on No. 2 Secondary Clarifier Drive.
 Worked on the Harbor Trail behind the Headworks Building.
OFFICE OF THE FINANCE DIRECTOR
 Approved Payroll Warrant
 Year End Work – CIP Fund, Sewer Fund
 Webinar – Managing, Budgeting & Planning Capital Assets
OFFICE OF THE HARBORMASTER
 On Sunday, we had our first summer visit of the M/S Regatta, one of our mid-sized cruise ships with 684 passengers aboard. Everything appears to have gone smoothly, the weather was glorious and the guests all seemed smitten with Rockland. She'll be here two more times this fall.
 Still busy, boats coming and going at the Public Landing, though the number of boats in the harbor is thinning out. Just two more visits from the ACL cruise boats and we will start taking some of the floats out.
 The Landings Marina has already started taking some of their floats out.
 We've started to preparing to put things away and get our winter markers for moorings ready. We will begin winterizing some next week.
OFFICE OF THE POLICE CHIEF The officers responded to 196 calls for service. Rockland Police Officers responded to 12 motor vehicle crashes. Numerous traffic stops and traffic violations were conducted. The officers made 24 arrests of individuals for various offenses, to include bail violations, Trespassing, OUI, and disorderly conduct.
 Officers Bagley, Solorzano and Redmun completed a one-week training course in CIT. This vital training assists the officers in their increasing encounters with people displaying mental illness.
 Officers conducted a city wide investigation concerning the service of alcohol to minors at a number of licensed establishments throughout the city this past week. Three violations were cited. This is part of an ongoing initiative to address the use of alcohol by minors within the City of Rockland.
 I attended the two day Maine Chiefs of Police conference and training.
 I attended the Board of Director’s Meeting of Sexual Assault Support Services of Mid-Coast Maine in Brunswick this week.
OFFICE OF THE CITY ASSESSOR
 Reviewed five appeals and working on two more since the bills went out.
 Had a large number of transfers last month. For the year, there have been 143 transfers with only 37 qualified and having an average ratio of 102%.
 Updated some of the Tax Maps.
OFFICE OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
 Dave Kalloch attended the MCRPC Executive Board Meeting.
 There were five complaints filed this week.
 The following permits were received by the Code Office this week:
o 5 Building permits
o 1 Driveway permit
o 1 Electrical permit
o 2 Plumbing permits
o 1 Sewer Connection 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 trained on fire attack at the training trailers located at the landfill. This was a joint session with Thomaston Fire.
 Met with Peta vanVuuren of RDNA to discuss the City’s emergency sheltering plan.
 We welcomed a student from RSU #13 into the job shadowing program.
 Lt. Leo attended the citywide Safety Committee meeting.
 Provided a standby engine at the Oceanside High School Homecoming bonfire.
 On Saturday and Sunday Rockland Fire & EMS hosted Bob Page, a nationally-acclaimed lecturer on Emergency Medical Services topics. By opening the class up to other services from around the state and charging tuition to the approximately 50 attendees, we were able to cover nearly all of our expenses, thus providing training to RFD personnel at a fraction of the typical cost. Paramedic Abby Planeta is to be commended for her entrepreneurial vision and attention to detail in planning and hosting this event.
OFFICE OF THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR
 The week started with some very good news; the Library received a check from the estate of Elizabeth C. Bartlett, in the amount of $29,593.80. A resolution to accept this will be placed on an upcoming City Council meeting.
 Along with Jean Young and the City Manager, we meet with Kathleen Deerr, National Coordinator of Family Place Libraries™; Kathleen was very pleased with the Library’s Family Place™ activities thus far, and offered some very do-able suggestions, aimed at the target audience –-zero- to three-year-olds, and their parents/caregivers.
 Captain David Sulin’s talk about Rockland’s own Hezekiah Long was very well received, and well-attended. A patron called to thank me for offering this program, and the recent one on The Last of the Doughboys. By the way—the Library has the aforementioned title, as well as Sulin’s book—Hard Times, Hard Bread, and even Harder Coffee.
 As the peaches have all been happily devoured, Miss Jean switched to Apple, apples, apples, as the theme for Wednesday Storytime.
 Marty Schindler’s reading aloud of the Redwall books continue... you’ve got one more chance to hear this wonderfully acted reading.
 Thursday evening Arts & Cultural series featured author Elizabeth Macalaster and retired FBI agent and Pacific Crest Trail thru-hiker, Daniel K. Sayner, discussing her exciting book Reckoning at Hart’s Pass (also available at your beloved library).
 The Northern Maine Library District Executive Board (to which I was recently elected) held an hour-long “tele-meeting” on Friday.
 Fairy House Garden Day was held on Saturday, where tiny lovely homes were created to tempt the fussiest fairy.
OFFICE OF THE SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR
 Power washed and painted floor in transfer station with two part epoxy. We have another section to complete. We did it in two parts so we would continue to allow access to the public.
 We have started painting the recycling building.
 We loaded and sent off for recycling 31 bales of 1, 3-7 plastic.
 Attended an MRRA board of directors meeting in Augusta.
 Ordered spare pump and hose for Q2S.
 Mowed & picked litter at facility.
 We are obtaining a third quote for phase two of the gas collection system project.
 Ordered PAYT bags.
 Installed new CB in Dozer.
OFFICE OF THE FISH PIER DIRECTOR
 Commenced work on pier lighting. Replaced damaged light pole lighting fixtures, bulbs, lighting sensors, etc.
 General cleanup of pier, floats, and user areas.
 Moving the fuel hose reels, from anchors into the asphalt on the pier, to a steel fabricated platform system. The hose reels will be mounted by bolt to platforms.
 The Herring closure is still in effect until October 1, 2013; however, it may re-open as soon as September 24th.
 Lobster price is around $3.10 a pound.
OFFICE OF THE RECREATION DIRECTOR
 The punch list at the Ferry Terminal Park is completed. The company that did the railings is coming back to polish them up but they have ground down the joints.
 The electrical is almost complete but we have been waiting for the lights to arrive from the supplier. They are now here and work is now scheduled for next Monday.
 The Games have started for the 5th & 6th grade soccer league. The other leagues start games this Saturday.
 We will be making plans to bring in the float, awning, and buoy line next week.
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
 Watered pole flowers, sweep streets, picked up trash, sign maintenance.
 Cold patched one day and picked up brush half a day.
 Prepped and paved sidewalks on Main Street and Union Street at Grove Street.
 Cut out and adjusted (repaired) two manholes on Samoset Road, three manholes on Schooner Drive, and one manhole on Camden Street and repaved. Some were loose and rattling and others needed resetting for plowing purposes.
 Talbot Avenue paving completed east of Broadway including driveway aprons, curb, sidewalk, and roadway binder.
 Completed painting arrows and catch basins including cleaning off grates.
 Roadside mowing for one and a half days.
 Meet on site with MDOT and Lanes to review Claremont and Limerock Street (Main to Union Street) paving project. The paving prep work is scheduled for September 25th during the daytime hours. One lane of traffic will be maintained on Limerock Street and there will be no parking. September 26th paving schedule has been revised with Claremont Street starting at 2:00pm and then to Limerock Street at 6:00pm. Both roads will be closed to traffic while paving in progress. All paving work should be completed by the morning commute.
 Mechanics worked on replacement of air can, ABS sensor, hood cables on 2002 dump truck, excavator radiator and safety lever, picked up 300 gallons waste oil from Fisher Engineering, 2007 dump truck brake work.
 Delivered street sweeper to the Owls Head Transportation Museum for display as part of their Earth Movers and Shakers event.
 Next week plan to install three concrete bases at the Ferry Terminal Park with granite tables; ditching work on Lake Avenue; backfill Talbot Avenue new paving work; grade, loam, and hydro-seed the old MacDougal School building footprint; complete paving at Home Kitchen Café sidewalk.

Story Sponsor

www.shootmainestudios.com