The Rockland Report March 7, 2014

OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL FISH PIER DIRECTOR
 John Holden, David Cole, and I met with Bruce Van Note; Deputy Assistant of the Maine DOT, for a site visit of the Fish Pier for the Resurfacing Construction Project. Mr. Note was very interested in the workings of the pier and the proposed project. He said that no funding was available this year but it’s very promising for funding sometime in Calendar year 2015 pending signing of the current approved bond legislation by the Governor.
 Attended City Council agenda setting meeting.
 Attended City Manager’s Department Head meeting.
 No permitted Lobstermen working from the pier this week.

OFFICE OF THE RECREATION DIRECTOR
 After having the roof drain thoroughly examined, the problem has been identified. The problem is how the drain has been held together over the last few renovations. There are multiple types of materials that have been used to connect the drains and then they have been sealed together. This system is inadequate and will need to be replaced with a roof drain that is comprised of one type of material.
 Interstate Septic came in Tuesday to clear the roof drains of ice and debris.
 We had the first weekend of travel team games and there were teams from the Rockland Recreation Program in Warren, Waterville and Brunswick. This weekend we will be at it again. The kids are having fun and getting lots of game experience.
 There was a Parks Commission meeting Wednesday at the Recreation Building.

OFFICE OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
 City and project tour with Maine DOT Deputy Commissioner. Reviewed DOT related projects including Fish Pier, Harbor Park, Public Pier, Camden Street, and Old County Road.
 Prepared and made presentations to Council on proposed CDBG Downtown Grant and use of TIF funds to support that grant as well as TIF Investment Schedule for future projects in the Downtown.
 Attended Economic Development Council of Maine Board Meeting (am on Board and am in-coming President).
 Assisted micro enterprise company in preparation for possible grant application that will assist her expansion.
 Met with new Executive Director of Rockland Main Street, Inc. to discuss projects.
 Distributed information on Stakeholder Meeting to discuss plans for Thorndike Parking Lot.
 Met with two other existing businesses to discuss their business expansion plans and any role City may have in assisting.
 Reviewed and advised on administration of CFMF grant project.
 Met with interested partners and made calls with others to prepare possible redevelopment renderings of brownfield properties and possible meeting or conference to encourage developers to consider these sites.

OFFICE OF THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR
 We continue to be pretty busy this week.
 Participants in both Catinka Knoth’s Adult and Children’s Drawing classes drew sled dogs and Iditarod races, this week. Catinka also began putting some of the art work up on the walls in the hallway leading from the Community Room. This was something I’d asked to be able to share for the Open House, but we are very glad to see it there now.
 I attended the Council’s Agenda Setting Meeting, and a meeting of City Department Heads.
 A new series in the ongoing The Arts...for Kids & their Families at the Rockland Public Library began this week, with Jess Day’s Movements, Arts and Literacy.
 Jean Young celebrated all things Seuss-ian, in honor of the birthday of Dr. Seuss (aka Theodor Geisel), with a special Cat in the Hat Storytime, with stories, games, treats, and prizes.
 The Friends hosted a small (his preference) get together farewell for Dan O’Connor, whose resignation took effect last month. Dan will be sorely missed indeed, both professionally and personally. We also look forward to being able to fill this critical position once the FY 15 budget is passed; after the city-wide cuts last year, we are now down two highly crucial staff positions.
 The Arts...for Kids & their Families at the Rockland Public Library also continued, with Jess Day’s Music Play (above), with the Introduction to Musicality (Djembe drums), and with Super Sculptures with Susan Beebe.
 Jean Young made the Thursday trip out to North Haven this week.
 The Thursday evening Arts & Cultural Event was Carolyn Locke’s slide show and reading from her new book Not One Thing: Following Matsuo Basho’s Narrow Road to the Interior.
 Teens and Tweens had an opportunity to learn to crochet on Sunday’s Teen Crafts Afternoon.
 Upcoming events of note—March Book & Bake Sale, with low, low prices! and a slide-talk from continental divide hiker Tom Jamrog.
 Did you know?—according to research by the Pew Research Center, Adults living in lower income households are more likely to say public library services are very important to them and their families.

OFFICE OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY DIRECTOR
 Worked with Joel Lufkin from Landmark Corporation to locate and verify sewer and drain lines and basins in the Thorndike parking lot.
 Completed the piping and vent on the new condensing boiler being installed in the garage at the south end of the sludge handling building.
 Repairs and body work were completed on the 1996 GMC one ton truck to put it back in service. The frame was repaired in two places, the windshield and front bumper were replaced, new mirrors, one new cross member, replaced starter, replaced grill, bodywork, and painted the cab. Repair cost will total approximately $4,000.00 vs. $35,000.00 replacement cost.
 Responded to a dig-safe request from C.M.P. to check five locations where they are replacing poles.
 Continued investigation of the sewer lateral from 111 Broadway. The pipe is four inch clay and runs cross country across at least three properties. The pipe is in poor condition and the owner has been having problems with sewer back-ups. The city’s interest is that this line may possibly be shared by more than one residence. The current ordinance does not allow this and if the line needs to be repaired this issue needs to be looked at also.
 While troubleshooting pump problems at the Park Street pump station we found that one of the pump control floats was malfunctioning. This is the second control float failure since the pump station upgrade. We are working with Wright Pierce and EII, Inc. to resolve this issue.
 Marston Industrial Services was on site to complete warrantee work to the sodium hydroxide tank containment liner. Following the repairs we took the opportunity to modify the sodium hydroxide transfer pump piping.
 While troubleshooting No. 2 sludge pump malfunction, we found the pump discharge pressure switch was faulty. We repaired the faulty pressure switch.

OFFICE OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
 John attended the City Council Agenda Setting Meeting on 3/3/14.
 John also attended the Planning Board meeting on 3/4/14 and the Board approved the Site Plan Review Application for Rockland Harbor Park, LLC to convert a former restaurant space located in the existing building at 12 Water Street into a Fitness Center and Daycare.
 License inspections were done with the Fire Dept. at Ripples Inn, Conte’s Restaurant and the Captain Lindsey House.
 There was one complaint filed this week.
 The following permits were received by the Code Office this week:
o 1 Electrical permit
o 1 Plumbing permit
o 3 Street Excavation permits

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 PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
 Cold patching roadway potholes for four days.
 Building and receptacle trash pickup including roadside for three days.
 Meeting with MDOT deputy commissioner regarding Old County Road condition and other MDOT owned roads in Rockland.
 Sign maintenance for one and a half days.
 Shouldering Old County Road and Limerock Street for one day.
 Picked up a load (9 tons) of cold patch in Bangor.
 Call-in for city wide sanding on Wednesday morning.
 Delivered 2012 International dump truck to Portland North for warranty engine related work.
 Washing down and cleaning vehicles and equipment.
 Mechanics working on Treatment Plant boom truck, 2008 Chevrolet 1 ton fuel line and wiring issues, leaf spring on 2007 International dump truck, air brake leak 2002 GMC dump truck.
 Limb trimming/pruning roadsides for two days.

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 attended the monthly Department Heads’ meeting.
 Three Life Safety Code inspections were completed.
 B-shift held an internal critique of a propane leak response.
 A-shift trained on the deployment of portable ladders for firefighting and rescue.
 C-shift trained on fireground size-up.

OFFICE OF THE SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR
 Submitted pumping totals and analytical test results to treatment plant.
 Submitted equipment hours to CAT.
 Completed & submitted reimbursement for safety enhancement grant awarded to the City from MMA.
 Worked on Annual Report.
 Conducted ground water monitoring.
 Submitted 2013 composting annual report written and electronically.
 Organized having Planet Aid Boxes for shoes and clothing delivered to the swap shop. Remaining clothes and shoes in the swap shop will be placed in the Planet Aid shoe and clothing boxes. The boxes will be picked up periodically and the City will be paid 6 cents per pound. Right now clothing items do not move in the swap shop and end up being thrown away and we have to pay for disposal at PERC.

OFFICE OF THE GENERAL ASSISTANCE DIRECTOR
 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 end of the month reports with the State.
 Filed Interim Assistance forms with the State and Social Security Administration.
 Met with clients regarding Hardship Abatements.
 Filed requests for Interim Assistance reimbursements for Social Security Disability claims.

OFFICE OF THE HARBORMASTER
 More visitors and permit renewals - we're well over half-way, both in numbers and revenue.
 Talked to the State's SHIP project manager so that we could move ahead with the RFP for a new gangway at the Public Landing.
 Met with more engineers, this time to discuss the new Public Landing gangway and get a rough estimate for the cost of engineering or designing a new Public Landing.
 Painted a few more mooring buoys as we begin to think about getting ready for spring.

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE 
The officers responded to 167 calls for service. Rockland Police Officers responded to four motor vehicle crashes. Twenty-nine (29) traffic stops and traffic violations were conducted. The officers made 14 arrests of individuals for various offenses, to include bail violations, Warrants of Arrest, Bail violations Traffic Offenses, Domestic assault, Protection from abuse violations, Criminal Mischief and OUI.
 Chief Boucher attended the Board of Director’s Meeting of Sexual Assault Support Services of Mid Coast Maine in Brunswick this week.
 Chief Boucher and Det. Sgt. Pease met with representatives of the Rockland Metro Clinic Community Advisory Committee this week.
 Chief Boucher met with Deborah Meehan, M.Ed Director, and University College at Rockland concerning the marketing of the Justice Studies program within the region.