The Rockland Report January 31, 2014

OFFICE OF THE HARBORMASTER
 Processed yet more mooring permits, by mail, by phone and in person.
 Met with two members of the Marine Inspection Detachment of the USCG from Belfast to discuss the renewal and update of our Public Landing security plan.
 Met with three different engineers interested in bidding on a redesign of our Snow Park launch ramp.
 Noticed that one of our support pilings from the Snow Park floats was destroyed by the cold weather and ice.
 Took a walking tour of the Sea Scout Building with the city code enforcement officer.

OFFICE OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
 License inspections were done with the Fire Dept. at Clan MacLaren, Rustica and Home Kitchen Cafe.
 John Root attended the MBOIA Board Meeting in Augusta 1/30/14.
 There were no complaints filed this week.
 The following permits were received by the Code Office this week:
o 3 Building permits
o 2 Electrical permits
o 3 Plumbing permits
o 1 Sign permit
o 3 Street Excavation permits

OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL FISH PIER DIRECTOR
 No permits were issued this week.
 Submitted metered electric bill invoices to the Finance Department for billing to users of the pier.
 Current Lobster price remains at $5.40 a pound.

OFFICE OF THE SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR
 Worked on 2014/2015 budget.
 Continued cover placement at the North end of Q2N.
 Participated in a Maine Resource Recovery Association (MRRA) board of directors meeting conference call.
 Removed the left blade angle hydraulic on the D5M bulldozer. The hydraulic rod was accidentally bent and had to be taken to Milton Cat to be replaced.
 Picked litter.
 Sampled leachate and sent in for analytical testing.
 Completed monitoring well measurements.
 Follow up on LD 1483 (the $14 per ton fee on all landfilled wastes). It appears the Legislature’s Environment & Natural Resources Committee met again this week and had another workshop to discuss LD 1483. The bill has now morphed into, no fees but a directive for the Department of Environmental Protection to place the solid waste management hierarchy into all solid waste permits as part of solid waste management rule.
 Cleaned and organized transfer station basement.
 Worked on Annual Report.

OFFICE OF THE RECREATION DIRECTOR
 The Game Room is being used during basketball and other events now. The bar area is the only structure that is not finished. We will be doing the bar top when we have a few days for it to dry. The floor will be stained in the summer when we are not using it as much.
 The Dance rental space downstairs is also complete and being used for a couple different programs.
 A High School student held a fundraising dance last Friday to raise money for the area food bank. This went well for a first time fundraiser.
 We are working with our art program to paint some murals around the building. They are also looking at holding an adult education class here in the summer to do some paintings around the building.
 Mirrors are being installed in the tower room to help make it a better space for the dance class.
 Dirt was added to the new tree on the Union Street side of the building to help it to make it through the winter.
 All the railings in the gym have been repainted and covered with a clear coat to protect them and make the paint last longer.

OFFICE OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
 Final preparations, edits, and submission of a Letter of Intent to Maine CDBG Program to apply for Downtown Revitalization Grant (actual application will be in March, if given approval by DECD to apply).
 Worked with and assisted Farnsworth Art Museum in preparing Letter of Inquiry to Lerner Foundation in support of Community and Arts Development program.
 Prepared and participated in meeting with Parks & Recreation Director and Parks Commission and invited guests from the “arts community” to get input regarding public art displays, ordinance and procedures. Follow up memo on same to Acting City Manager.
 Continued work on TIF and CIP Investment Schedule.
 Completed draft of Department FY2015 budget.
 Toured Penobscot Bay Medical Center.
 Met with two Microloan applicants and coordinated loan committee meeting to review applications.
 Prepared and attended Economic Development Advisory Committee meeting, including preparation and presentation of economic development program to the Committee.
 City staff meeting to review Camden Street Vision Project reports and to identify implementation plan, follow up on same to schedule joint meeting between Comps Committee and REDAC.
 Attended Economic Development Council of Maine annual winter seminar on innovation and entrepreneurship.
 Met with Waste Water Treatment, Public Works, and consultant to consider engineering and plans for Winter Street improvements.
 Meetings and outreach to property owners along Thorndike Parking lot to get input on improvements for Parking Lot.
 Met with representative of Knox County Healthy Partnership coalition.

OFFICE OF THE POLICE CHIEF
 The officers responded to 176 calls for service. Rockland Police Officers responded to five motor vehicle crashes. Nineteen (19) traffic stops and traffic violations were conducted. The officers made 22 arrests of individuals for various offenses, to include bail violations, Warrants of Arrest, Alcohol violations, Trespassing, Obstructing Government Administration and Harassment.
 The City Personnel Board assisted the Police Department with interviews of potential Police Officer candidates on Wednesday evening 1/22/2014.
 Chief Boucher participated in a Uniform Crime Reporting Quality Assurance Review Exit Briefing with a representative of the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting systems.
 C.I.D. has concluded a sex offender compliance check of sex offenders living in Rockland. Seven registered sex offenders were found to be non-compliant during this check. Six of the registration violations were minor and these offenders were brought into compliance voluntarily.
 Detectives arrested a male subject for failing to comply with the Maine Sex Offender Registration Act. The male is living in Rockland and had been non-compliant since May of 2013 when he moved from Bangor to Rockland.

OFFICE OF THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR
 Repair of the ceiling and window area in the restroom on the east side of the building was completed, and looks so much better, thanks to local painter Peter Proeller.
 The Adult Art class by Catinka Knoth welcomed students, as did the Children’s Drawing class which continues each Tuesday afternoon.
 We wrote and submitted the Press Release for Open House, and the giant poster from the Friends has been placed in the lobby: Here's a link
 Wednesday Storytime featured the color red, with Jean Young reading stories with that theme and introduction of other colors. Maggie, the lovely Lurcher, was here with her handler, Steve Seekins, and the big red tunnel was out for some slightly older boys to enjoy.
 Otis Elevator serviced the Library’s unit, and found two issues; a quote for repair will be forthcoming.
 The Arts...for Kids & their Families at the Rockland Public Library continued with sessions of Introduction to Musicality (Djembe drums) on Thursday, and, a new series beginning this week-- Paper doll-making, with artist Susan Beebe on Saturday.
 The Thursday evening Arts & Cultural Events featured a Camden Conference Community Event—local farmer, Cheryl Denz spoke of her experiences as a woman farmer in Maine.
 Upcoming events of note—a Camden Conference talk—Water Issues in Africa, and-- (tell all your friends and relations) the Open House, which was changed to February 14—in addition to food, fun, and information, there’ll be music, and some terrific door prizes, but you need a current Library card to be entered for the prize drawing, so update yours right away!
 Did you know?—we’ve begun scheduling AARP Tax Aide Income Tax preparation appointments (Tuesdays and Saturdays through April 15).

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 met with reporters in reference to his retirement announcement.
 The Fire Chief attended a meeting regarding driveway specifications for flag lots.
 The Department conducted several NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code) inspections.
 The terrible loss of life in the Quebec nursing home fire reminded us all of the value of sprinkler systems, and what can happen when they are not in place.
 The Department held its Annual Meeting.
 The officers assembled in order to discuss training needs for the upcoming year.
 A-shift conducted training on preplanning and reviewed “lessons learned” at a fire in Baltimore in which a firefighter was killed.
 The Department placed five (5) new SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) bottles in service.

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
 Three city-wide sanding call-ins over the weekend of the 25th and 26th. Also sanded streets on Monday during normal operating hours.
 Worked the sand pile with loader and excavator for three days making the remaining sand useable for future storms.
 Roadside trash pickup for two days as well as building and receptacle trash.
 Dropped off 2011 International dump truck to Portland North for starting problem.
 Two crews cold patched roadways on Tuesday and one crew on Wednesday and Thursday. Also, picked up two loads of patch at Lanes in Bangor.
 Assisted Transfer Station hauling garbage.
 Sign crew maintained signs for one day as well as secured some windows on Sea Scout building at Snow Marine Park.
 Replaced several Main Street decorative light pole skirts that were broken.
 Attended meeting regarding Camden Street preliminary designs and another meeting regarding Winter Street area development planning at City Hall.
 Mechanics worked on replacing rear spring and tires on 2008 International dump truck, installed a new muffler on 2002 GMC dump truck and serviced, worked on plows for both sidewalk machines, worked on 2001 GMC dump truck muffler, fuel tank, and brakes.

OFFICE OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY DIRECTOR
 Surveyed collection system on Broadway and Masonic looking for the best connection options for a proposed new home on Broadway.
 Handled a Dig Safe call for a broken water line in the High/Park Street area.
 Worked on transferring files into the collection system database.
 Replaced another valve in the primary pump room.
 Repaired the No. 2 primary sludge pump.
 Worked on planning CIP for FY 2015.

OFFICE OF THE CITY ASSESSOR
 Processing Real Estate Transfers, updating parcel cards, sales book, property splits.
 Processing Personal Property accounts, updating ownership, owned items, depreciation, State BETR’S 801 returns, 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 properties at the owner’s request.
 Updating Tax Maps and posting to the web site.