The Rockland Report November 15, 2013

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
 Met with Public Works Director and Will Gartley to review schedule for moving the salt and sand shed forward.
 Met with Public Works Director and Finance Director to review plan for moving away from the bare roads policy. Staff continues to work on providing a viable operational plan to accomplish this Council Directive.
 Followed up on various construction projects.

OFFICE OF THE FINANCE DIRECTOR
 Approved Payroll Warrant.
 Approved AP Warrant.
 Audit Work.
 Conference Call with Bar Harbor Bank and Trust on our reserve fund investments.
 Met with City Manager and PW Director on Snow Plow operations.

OFFICE OF THE HARBORMASTER
 And the summer ends: Public Works helped again and we removed the floats at the Snow Park boat launch. Despite the turn towards cold weather we're thankful that we really haven't had any early fall storms this year.
 The last sailboats are leaving the middle and southern parts of the harbor, though there are still a few in the slightly more protected northern part.
 Talked to a nice young woman who is looking to set up a family food wagon in Buoy Park for next summer.
 We weren't counting on them, but one of our big cruise ships that was tentatively scheduled for 3 visits, late summer of 2014 has backed out. So, at this point we've only got one signed up for next summer.
 Started gathering our miscellaneous tools, sorting them out and organizing them so they are ready for next spring's projects.

OFFICE OF THE CITY ASSESSOR
 Processing Real Estate Transfers, parcel cards, sales book, & property splits.
 Processing Personal Property accounts, updating ownership, owned items, depreciation, State 801returns, BETE exemptions.
 Processing building permits, reviewing, updating property cards and assessments.
 Analyzing qualified sales of all properties and neighborhoods for a fair and equitable assessment.
 Completing State forms and returning for processing.
 Listening and reviewing property owner’s request.
 Updating Tax Maps.

OFFICE OF THE POLICE CHIEF
The officers responded to 177 calls for service. Rockland Police Officers responded to 10 motor vehicle crashes. Twenty-nine (29) traffic stops and traffic violations were conducted. The officers made 19 arrests of individuals for various offenses, to include bail violations, OUI, drug violations, assault, theft, disorderly conduct, Protection from abuse violations and arrest warrants.
 Chief Boucher and Sgt. Camporaile are preparing for an FBI audit of the Departments Uniform Crime Reporting procedures on 11/18/2013.
 C.I.D. is working with Detectives from Kennebunk P.D. regarding a theft of money from a business in their town. C.I.D. is continuing to conduct follow-up interviews and all information will be forwarded to Kennebunk P.D.
 C.I.D. continues to investigate three open burglaries that have been committed within the city over the last few months.

OFFICE OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
 John Root, along with the Fire Chief, performed a pre-conveyance inspection at 34 Pleasant Street.
 The Code Office received a Planning Board Application for the construction of a 576 sq. ft. fabric structure at 127 Main Street that will be used for boat storage. The Planning Board needs to review this application as it is over 300 sq. ft. in size.
 John Root followed up with an “after the fact” compliance agreement for a 5- family dwelling at 21 Brewster Street. Much of the Building will be totally renovated.
 There were five complaints filed this week.
 The following permits were received by the Code Office this week:
o 3 Building permits
o 3 Electrical permits
o 2 Plumbing permits

OFFICE OF THE FISH PIER DIRECTOR
 The Fish Pier has received the following applications for 2014. All applications must be in by November 27, 2013 to be considered for January 1, 2014.
o 1 Herring Carrier greater than 70’ in length
o 1 Herring Carrier less than 70’ in length
o 3 Lobster Buyer Stations
o 1 Coastal fuel delivery
 Commenced reviewing files for pile work construction maintenance that was completed in 2005. Next step is to acquire estimate on work that needs to be done in 2015.
 Current Lobster price is still $3.65 a pound.

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:
 Continued its annual testing of all Department-owned fire hose.
 Tested fill times for tankers to gather fill times in order to improve standard operating procedures in the areas of the City without fire hydrants.
 Paramedic Planeta completed the City’s EMS license renewal application.
 Toured Fisher Engineering’s new IT room and became familiar with its specialized fire extinguishing system.
 Tower 3 was sent to Fire Line, Inc. in PA for maintenance and repairs.
 Replaced all missing or expired heat sensor labels on the Department’s portable ladders.
 A/C Miceli and Chief Jordan met with the officers of the Owls Head Fire Department to discover what we may do additionally in terms of working together.
 A/C Miceli and CEO Root met with the purchaser of an apartment building to outline repairs and any changes that must be undertaken to meet the Life Safety and Property Maintenance Codes.
 Provided confined space rescue stand-by coverage for FMC.
 One Life Safety Code inspection and one NFPA 211 (Solid Fuel Burning Appliance) inspection were completed.
 The Department drilled on the use of hand tools at the fire scene.
 Two fuel oil leaks/spills and two carbon monoxide calls remind us that we are heading into the heating season. Citizens are reminded to check their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors for reliability and to have their heating appliances, oil tanks, and chimneys inspected, and if need be repaired, by qualified professionals.

OFFICE OF THE SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR
 Conducted monitoring well data collection.
 With the help of the Waste Water Department we have continued our annual leachate line inspection and cleaning. The inspection reveals the leachate line is in great condition.
 Bret Mank, the Solid Waste Facility landfill operator, has successfully completed his CDL Tractor trailer permit test.
 We have been awarded an $1,800 grant from Maine Municipal Association Risk Management Services. The grant was for ergonomic safety improvements to the 816F compactor and the D5M bulldozer.
 I have started looking at contractors to sandblast the two municipal solid waste trash compactors in the basement of the transfer station. One of the units’ ram support needs structural replacement but in order to begin the work the area needs to be sandblasted. Once the structural work is completed we will coat the compactor units to help make them last.
 We had to cut and roll back part of fence on the west side of the transfer station to access the leachate line as part of the line inspection. We plan to install a gate in this location so the area can be accessed easily in the future.
 Submitted monthly and quarterly pumping and analytical leachate test results to the Waste Water Treatment Facility.

OFFICE OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
 Continued preparations and drafting of grant applications for Boardwalk and Harbor Trail. Completed and submitted application to Land and Water Conservation Fund for Boardwalk at Harbor Park.
 Met with Rockland Main Street, Farnsworth, and discussed with other art organizations outreach and potential grant applications to further promote and develop the City as a major arts location.
 Continued to meet with prospective new (small) business prospect interested in the City.
 Completed close out and audit requirements for CDBG Multi-Family Housing Program, with assistance from Finance Department.
 Submitted quarterly report to EPA for Brownfield Program, with assistance from Finance Department.
 Assisted City Attorney as he prepared contract documents for Community For Maine’s Future Program.
 Attended Mobilize Midcoast Maine meeting hosted by Midcoast Economic Development District, to represent City’s interests in development of Year Two MMM program and project identification.
 Attended regional economic development roundtable with representatives from Midcoast region and from the State’s business incubator programs.

OFFICE OF THE GENERAL ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATOR
 Made appointments for clients.
 Met with clients who had scheduled appointments.
 Handled General Assistance inquiries.
 Sent appropriate reports to various State agencies.
 Updated General Assistance Paperwork and client files.
 Successfully completed an onsite audit review from the State and the City of Rockland was found to be in complete compliance with all of the statutes regarding General Assistance.

OFFICE OF THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR
 The Adult Art class by Catinka Knoth welcomed students, as did the Children’s Drawing class which continues each Tuesday afternoon.
 Wednesday was World Kindness Day, and the Library is celebrating it for the first time by agreeing to be a collection point for the AIO Food Pantry.
 Patty King provided lists of many ideas for any (all) to perform “random acts of kindness”, and we’d love for all readers of this to participate.
 Jean Young hosted a special Wednesday Storytime; guest reader Armelle Sigaud read Stone Soup, Miss Jean collected contributions of vegetables for the soup pot. Steve Seekins brought therapy dogs Mo and Jinga to the event, which added another, lively dimension.
 National Novel Writing Month (aka NaNoWriMo) continued this week. The challenge: to complete a 50,000 word novel in a month. We’re happy to have anyone join—even if you don’t make the total, you’ll be off to a good start, and the Library provides coffee.
 Thursday evening Arts & Cultural series featured the Camden Conference Community Event- Resilience in Cuba, India, and the US, with sustainability pioneer, James Merkel.
 I went to the Langlais estate in Cushing to pick up the Bernard Langlais articles, donated to the Library by the Kohler Foundation. Please look for them soon!!
 Saturday brought Storytime and crafts (a special poster-making session for World Kindness Week), as well as a pot of Miss Jean’s stone soup, and her husband’s freshly made bread.
 Hosted the Rockland Historical Society’s Annual Meeting, followed by the unveiling of a newly obtained painting of the Red Jacket.
 Upcoming events of note: film and discussion--Montaigne on Self-Esteem and the Holiday House Tour and Festival of Trees.

OFFICE OF THE RECREATION DIRECTOR
 Basketball try-outs for the boys and girls 5th & 6th grade league were held Wednesday and Thursday. This will be the basis for the new league. The grade levels will be closer together for a better progression from one level to the next.
 There is the Petchakucha being held here at the Recreation Building Friday night. This is our first time hosting this and hopefully it becomes a regular occurrence.
 Saturday we will be hosting a special event for the Good Turn Co-Op. They will be having a social and slide show for their members and board.
 The senior class at Oceanside had a fundraiser planned for this Saturday but lost their space at the last minute, so we are helping them out with a space for this event. This will be held during the morning and early afternoon.
 The Art Program here at the Recreation Department will be working on the mural for the Hope Elephants this weekend.

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
 City wide leaf/brush pickup all week.
 Completed float removal for harbormaster.
 Assisted with boulder/plaque installation for Jay Sawyer at Sandy Beach.
 Trash pickup including roadside as well as sweeping streets for leaf control.
 Cleaned up debris from two traffic accidents, and misc. sign repairs.
 Removed graffiti on library steps, cleaned gutters, and trimmed some limbs.
 Met with City Manager and Gartley/Dorsky Engineers for pre-planning of new salt/sand shed.
 Mechanics worked on snow blower for MacLean sidewalk machine, 2001 GMC dump truck oil leak, Vactor sewer jet repair work, service work on both loader mounted snow blowers, bucket truck exhaust system.
 300 lineal feet of drain pipe installed and three catch basins for Pen Bay Acres drainage project this week.
 Next week Public Works Department planning on installing filter fabric/ rip rap/ and pipe at brook area on Acadia Drive as part of the drainage project, prep for paving area on Glen Street at Waldo Avenue, and continuing with leaf and brush pickup as needed, and coordinating with Rockland Main Street for flag removal and pole wreath mounting.

OFFICE OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY DIRECTOR
 Began construction of the new public restroom building.
 Continued cleaning and inspection of the landfill leachate line.
 Used the new inspection equipment to locate and mark the collection system laterals on Acadia Drive.
 Met with a contractor regarding a new sewer connection at 260 Broadway.
 Located and marked storm drain lines on Cedar Street for CMP.
 Replaced a broken belt sensor on No. 1 Belt Press.
 Continued No. 1 Primary Clarifier metalwork sandblasting and recoating.
 Continued the Kruger Actiflo trial