The Rockland Report March 28, 2014

OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL FISH PIER DIRECTOR 
 One permit was issued this week for gear storage.
 Collecting all trash, pallets, etc. around pier for possible clean up by Public works next week.
 Lobster price has dropped to around $5.40 a pound.

OFFICE OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR 
 Finalized and submitted CDBG Downtown application.
 Responded to and submitted to DECD technical revisions for Fisher Engineering TIF Amendment.
 Responded to DECD pre-review and submitted Downtown TIF Amendment.
 Attended Economic Development Council of Maine meeting (subject energy)
and board meeting.
 Attended Maine International Trade Center event (trade with Canada).
 Attended REDAC meeting, updated Committee on activities, opened planning
for Brownfield and Downtown development event in Rockland in November.
 Followed up on plans for Thorndike Parking lot with engineer and WWTP Director.
 Attended Arts in Rockland meeting to share status of Cultural Plan and
Community and Arts Development strategy and to engage AIR members input in
those planning efforts.
 Note: CD Office Director will be on vacation March 31-April 10 with limited or no email service.

OFFICE OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY DIRECTOR 
 Accepted low bids for process chemicals. Monson and Harcros will be our
suppliers.
 Accepted the low bid for belt filter press and gravity belt thickener overhaul.
 Atlantic Construction Services was the low bidder.
 Attended a meeting with DEP and EPA regarding new wet weather and
secondary system blending requirements. Although far from complete, we’re
beginning to get a better picture how the requirements will be implemented.
 Completed annual oil change out on process equipment this week.
 Installed filter fabric under 22 manhole covers to prevent road sand from entering the collection system.
 Responded to a sewer backup on 305 Broadway, found it was a homeowner
issue.
 Completed a Dig Safe check on Florence Street for Maine Water due to a water
line break.
 Replaced the jetter hose on the vacuum truck due to too many splices in the
existing hose.
 The masonry work on the new public rest room was completed and roof framing was started.

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.

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.
 Filed Interim Assistance forms with the State and Social Security Administration.

 OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR 
 Scraping and sanding/salting city streets on Wednesday for ½ inch of snow.
 Cold patching pot holes. Two crews Monday, one crew Tuesday, and two crews Thursday.
 Picked up two loads of cold patch at Lanes in Bangor.
 Sign and mailbox repairs for one day.
 Trash receptacle and building trash pickup for two days.
 Roadside trash and limb pickup on Thursday including a fallen tree on South Street at Suffolk Street (windy conditions on Wednesday).
 Started sweeping downtown streets on Friday.
 Worked on frost heaves for one day.
 Cleaning off catch basins and checking brooks Friday in preparation of rain this
weekend.
 Picnic table and trash can holder repair work for one day.
 Washing down vehicles/equipment and cleaning.
 Mechanics working on water tank installation and broom for sidewalk machine, replaced alternator on 2008 Tymco street sweeper, 2011 International dump truck
starting issue, and other misc. repair/service work.

OFFICE OF THE HARBORMASTER 
 Finishing up on the last of the winter's work and hoping for spring.
 Buoys mostly finished and ready to go, City Manager’s Weekly Report
 Any mooring renewals that will come in are now subject to the $30 late fee - there are still about 80 outstanding.
 The new Vinalhaven ferry ran aground in the channel near the Rockland ferry
terminal. The USCG is investigating and the Army Corps of Engineers sent a survey team to make sure that the channel still meets the design standards. The question is if there is something in the channel, or if the ferry was just out of the channel.

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE
The officers responded to 212 calls for service. Rockland Police Officers responded to nine motor vehicle crashes. Twenty-four (24) traffic stops and traffic violations were conducted. The officers made 18 arrests of individuals for various offenses, to include bail Warrants of Arrest, Bail violations, Drug offenses, alcohol offenses, traffic offenses, Disorderly Conduct, and OUI.
 Deputy Chief Tower represented the department at The School of Legal Studies at Husson University, Fourth Annual Career Day in Bangor on Wednesday.
 Chief Boucher attended the Maine Criminal Justice Academy Chief’s Inspection day during the 10th week of training for Officer Scott Redmun who is attending
the Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy in Vasselboro.
 Parking Enforcement Officer Troy Peasley attended the annual Law Enforcement Torch run conference for Special Olympics in South Portland this week.
 Sgt. Finnegan and Chief Boucher attended a substance abuse prevention task
force community meeting at City Hall. This event was put on by Knox County
Community Health Coalition (KCCHC)* A Local Healthy Maine Partnership.

OFFICE OF THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR 
 Participants in Catinka Knoth’s Adult Drawing and Children’s Drawing classes
enjoyed creating circus-themed pictures this week.
 The Children’s Writing Club held a lively session; members asked a couple of
interview questions of me, and at least one other staff member. I look forward to
seeing the results in context.
 Along with handler Steve Seekins, therapy dog Mo (gentle giant that he is) was
present for Wednesday Storytime, which featured Eric Carle’s Best Friends, and
other stories about friends; Jean Young used the flannel board to illustrate one of
the stories.
 The Arts...for Kids & their Families at the Rockland Public Library continued, with Dena Davis leading Family Stories; Families Writing Together, the Introduction to Musicality (Djembe drums), and with Fairies and Elves with Susan Beebe.
 Jean Young made the weekly trip to North Haven’s Community School.
 The Thursday evening Arts & Cultural Event was a presentation of the
documentary film, Inside Job, which examines the financial crisis of 2008.
 AARP Tax Aide trained volunteers provided income tax preparation on Tuesday and Saturday. This program is now fully booked through their last day of service.
 Upcoming events of note—a Poetry Month Rockland event, Graphic
Shakespeare, where teenagers will make their own graphic/comic adaptations of
a Shakespeare sonnet, experimenting with creative ways to illustrate, update, City
alter, undermine or even challenge Shakespeare’s own words; Financial
Resources for Adult Learners.
 Did you know?— 81% of Americans ages 16 and older agree overall that “public libraries provide many services people would have a hard time finding
elsewhere,” including 48% who say they “strongly agree” with this statement (Pew Research Center)

OFFICE OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
 John and Dave attended an MCEOA Meeting in St. George 3/26/14.
 John attended the MBOIA Board Meeting in Augusta 3/27/14.
 License inspections were done with the Fire Department at The Brass Compass, Jess’s Market, L&H Burgers, Wasses Hot Dogs (North Main) and Sunfire Mexican Grill.
 There were two complaints filed this week.
 The following permits were received by the Code Office this week:
o 1 Building permit
o 3 Electrical permits
o 2 Sign 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 provided confined space rescue coverage for FMC.
 The Fire Chief met with Acting City Manager Luttrell to discuss the FY 2015
operating budgets for Fire and EMS.
 Sent the T-3 Thermal Imaging Camera out for repairs – again.
 B-shift attended the Grand Opening of Ocean State Job Lot at 265 Camden
Street.
 Paramedics met with a representative from PBMC to discuss our new medication
pumps and the training of our personnel.
 The Department trained on forcible entry.
 The Department performed five NFPA 101 Life Safety Inspections.
 C-shift repaired the traffic light at Old County Road and Maverick Street which
had been damaged by Wednesday’s high winds.

OFFICE OF THE SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR 
 Prepared for storm water inspection again, picking litter and placing erosion
control. The inspection ended up being canceled by The DEP inspector due to
the weather. The follow up inspection is unknown at this time.
 Attended an MRRA board of directors meeting in Augusta at MMA with Garett
Corbin and Eric Conrad. We are working with MMA to help municipalities
become more informed about potential solid waste legislation. We plan to have
a symposium on up and coming solid waste issues at the 2015 MMA conference. I
have attached the final letter drafted by the Environment and Natural Resource
Committee and sent to Patricia Aho, the DEP Commissioner, regarding the
outcome of LD 1483 which the City and most other municipalities opposed.
 The MRRA is having the 21st annual solid waste conference on April 28 & 29 at the Samoset Resort (in our back yard). In an effort to help municipalities the MRRA is trying to expand its audience to municipal leadership. I have attached an
invitation to this weekly report.
 The wind storm created a significant amount of work picking litter over the entire facility.
 Reorganized chipping area.
 Bret Mank has completed his class A CDL training at Mid-Coast School of
Technology and has passed the written/ road test and obtained his state Class A
CDL license. We now have a back-up tractor trailer driver.
 The Municipal Review Committee (MRC, the group we belong to that are parts
owners of PERC) has provided its members with a status update. The update
which was just received explains how the MRC is submitting an application for a
Public Benefit Determination to the DEP for an integrated solid waste
management system. Looks like MRC is trying permit a Landfill,
recycling/processing operation and an incinerator or other type of technology. I
expect we will be provided more specifics shortly. The MRC status update is
attached. Rockland has not signed the MRC Resolution to Continue the
advancement of Post 2018 Planning process as of yet.

OFFICE OF THE RECREATION DIRECTOR
 This past weekend we held the annual girls 5th & 6th grade Invitational Basketball Tournament here at the Recreation building. There were teams that came to town and made a weekend out of it, staying in local hotels. Other teams traveled back and forth but spent the days here playing games. In between games they would go out to eat and shopping around town.
 This weekend will be the boys 5th & 6th Invitational Basketball Tournament and we have eight teams from around the state coming in to play. Some are local and some will be coming in to stay for the weekend. The tournament this weekend will be all three days so there will be families using the hotels and the local restaurants.
 Last Sunday we held a 3rd & 4th grade boys’ basketball play day with three local teams. This went really well and all the teams had a great time.
 The Dodge ball league had a double elimination tournament Wednesday to
close out the season. The eight teams came ready to play with lots of energy,
uniforms, improvised costumes and even props.
 Check out our face book page to see more pictures of the youth basketball
tournaments.