The Rockland Report July 18, 2014

OFFICE OF THE FINANCE DIRECTOR/ACTING CITY MANAGER
 Approved Payroll Warrant.
 Attended Council Meeting.
 Preparing for Year End – audit work.
 Union Street Sidewalk work continues.
 Snow Marine Park remains closed as high E Coli counts were still detected after Wednesday’s rainfall.
 Met with EMS billing company to go over concerns.
 Met with employee who was laid off during reorganization plan of FY14. The open Reference Librarian Position has enacted the call back provision in the Teamster Contract for the Clerical Unit.
 Attended Website meeting with staff, mayor and two citizens on how to improve web design and information.
 Attended MidCoast Veterans Memorial Wall Committee meeting.
 Met with City Tree Warden Terry Pinto and Peter Fletcher of Dunkin Donuts to discuss Ulmer Park. We have decided to prune a tree in the park and to cut one down as half of it is unhealthy. Dunkin Donuts will also be redoing the flower garden near the cannon.

OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL FISH PIER DIRECTOR
 No permits were issued this week.
 Another bait cooler has arrived and has been put in place. Two more bait coolers to go.
 The f/v western sea has offloaded 430,000 pounds of herring this week.
 The f/v western wave has offloaded 120,000 pounds of herring this week.
 The price per pound for new shell lobster is $3.30 and old shell lobsters is $5.45.

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 LIBRARY DIRECTOR
 Another very, very busy week; among other things, the rainy weather made the Library a haven for locals and visitors.
 With Linda Barnes on jury service this week (and likely next), Patty King and Teresa Verrill have taken on the inter Library loan picking/packing and unpacking, etc. of the delivery service.
 Catinka Knoth’s Adult Drawing class worked on the theme of “Rosa Rugosa - Beach Roses by the Maine Seashore" and the Children’s drawing class theme was “Let’s draw Rockland!”
 I stopped in to a meeting of the volunteers of the Friends’ Bookstop; it was great to have the opportunity to thank so many of them for their dedicated service to the Library.
 A Documentary & Panel Discussion: Consider the Conversation was presented as a rare Tuesday evening program, co-sponsored by the Library and Kno-Wal-Lin Healthcare & Hospice and Pen Bay Healthcare. This is a documentary about advance care planning, followed by a panel discussion, featuring local experts.
 Representatives from Maine Controls were on site to work on the programming portion of the Cordjia work on the HVAC. Among other work, they updated the programming’s Java platform, which means the Automation system can be accessed from most computers, now, and a separate schedule added for the Community Room, so it will not need to be as warm or cool, when not in use, saving energy, and allowing the rest of the facility to heat and cool more quickly.
 I attended a meeting of the Friends’ Board.
 The free summer lunch program continues, and we are now seeing regular participants.
 Once again, Judith Anderson presented Wednesday Storytime this week. Boating was the theme of the week, and Dr. Anderson read , Robert Louis Stevenson’s poem, Where Go the Boats?, Flora McDonnell’s picture book, I Love Boats, as well as a handpicked group that Judith chose ( Mo Willems is favorite). After the stories the children helped Children’s Librarian, Jean Young decorate the large window with boats, lighthouses, waves, and buoys. Steve Seekins, brought Leeloo as this week’s therapy dog.
 Farley’s Landscaping brought the Library’s newest addition, a lovely young sugar maple; this was donated and planted by Casella, one of a number of trees generously donated to the City.
 Friends’ President, Rebecca Albright presented Storytime at the Farmers’ Market; once again, special thanks to Friends’ Board member (and adjunct) Jeanie, and Jim Schaden for doing the set-up and take-down this year!
 We hosted an Author Talk: Harry Gratwick-- Historic Shipwrecks of Penobscot Bay as the Thursday evening’s Arts & Cultural Event.
 On Saturday, the Children’s Room held a follow-up program with Hope Angier, who led a workshop entitled Painting Fruit on Fabric. Participants learned a few basic, traditional, decorative painting techniques and created three pieces of fruit by learning how to fit the elements of the design together like a puzzle using a
layering technique. After a brief practice session, each student was able to paint their own “finished” original Angier design on fabric.
 Ongoing—Summer Reading Program, with something for all ages. Check the Library’s website, or visit us in person for more information.
 Upcoming: A new Wellness Series, co-sponsored by the Library and the PenBay Chamber of Commerce, starts in July, and will be held on the last Wednesday of each month —Therapeutic Hypnosis is the first topic up.

OFFICE OF THE FIRE CHIEF
In addition to responding to the general response to fire and EMS calls, conducting apparatus checks, daily cleaning, routine repairs and maintenance to the fleet and of the quarters, the following occurred:
 Friday CEO Root and I met with an architect about possible changes to a downtown multiple use building.
 Continued to update the Maine Lobster Festival plan for this year and to incorporate the potential issues that come with the USCG Eagle visit.
 Tuesday through Thursday the FD detailed extra staff to cover confined space entry work at FMC. FMC reimburses the City for these extra details as the two personnel are dedicated to this duty and cannot be tasked with things that would prevent them from immediately responding.
 The City Manager, Wanda and I all met with our EMS billing company to ensure all parties were meeting expectations and to see what we might do to be more efficient and increase our revenue/reimbursement.
 On Wednesday I met with the Division Supervisor of Northeast Mobile Health to discuss mutual aid ambulance coverage.
 Personnel continued to trial the Phillips Cardiac Monitor/Defibrillator to ensure our upcoming bid process represents the best value for the City.
 Attended the Knox County Fire Chief’s Mutual Aid meeting in St. George on Wednesday evening.
 FF Whytock presented a training program on Rapid Intervention Teams. These groups are required to be standing by at the ready anytime firefighters enter a hazardous environment. We will be working with mutual aid partners to ensure our personnel are properly covered by this safety margin as well as our providing the same to them as necessary.
 The department responded to an arson fire at the Scott Street Beach area Wednesday evening and found that the two porta-potties there had been damaged when someone used the paper and sanitizer to light separate fires in each. RPD and the State fire marshals’ office are working on finding suspects.

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE The officers responded to 270 calls for service. Rockland Police Officers responded to nine motor vehicle crashes and 11 Animal complaints. Thirty-six (36) traffic stops and traffic violations were conducted. The officers made 20 arrests of individuals for various offenses, to include Bail violations, Domestic assault offenses, Assault, Theft
Offenses, Probation violations, Warrants of Arrest, Alcohol violations, Drug offenses, Disorderly Conduct and OUI.
 The North Atlantic Blues Festival this past weekend was a very quiet and orderly event.
 I attended the Sexual Assault Support Services of Mid- Coast Maine executive board meeting in Brunswick on Wednesday night.
 We have been working with the Department of Public Safety concerning our grants management program to obtain more funding to assist the department’s equipment and personnel costs to offset expenditures in the amount of $2,400.
 We are working with our partner Knox County Community Health Coalition in a study to evaluate the following areas of concern: Prevent substance abuse, Prevent tobacco use, increased physical activity, Prevent Lead Poisoning, Removed barriers to healthy eating, Broad Based Public Health Activities.

OFFICE OF THE SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR
 Met with St. Germain Consulting, the Public Works Director, and John Dutcher from the Waste Water Treatment Facility to review the City’s needs which will be part of the overall master plan at the Solid Waste Facility location.
 Began cover placement and created new southern cell in the landfill. Placed perimeter clay within the landfill.
 Woodard and Curran are now close to completing the gas collection installation drawings. I should have the Statement of Work for the gas collection project ready next week to go out to bid.
 Working on an educational ad that will be going in the Free Press that will explain the facts about the Solid Waste Facility and Pay as You Throw.
 Worked with SMS on changing the cash up report to make it easier for City Hall.
 Ordered tractor and trailer tires for the road tractor and trailers.
 Reviewed new proposed rules for the new paint consumer take back program that will be coming soon. Yes, you will be able to get rid of your old paint in the near future.

OFFICE OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY DIRECTOR
 Applied to Maine D.E.P. for a Non-Hazardous Waste Transportation permit for the vacuum truck.
 Began cleaning and inspection of the sewer mains on Pacific and South Streets.
 Checked a reported sewer backup at 109 Talbot Avenue. The problem was in the homeowners pipe, referred them to Interstate Septic.
 Inspected a sewer lateral repair at 56 Gay Street.
 Collected samples at Snow Marine Park and from the storm drain upstream for additional testing.
 Drove the vacuum truck to Pat Jackson/Tri-City Septic in Belgrade to dispose of waste from a project at the WWTP.
 Repaired the No. 1 Primary Clarifier rack arm and had it back on line Wednesday afternoon. Despite our sandblasting and coating of the clarifier metalwork over
the years, much of the metalwork is significantly corroded and metal is thin as a result.
 A DEP inspector was on site Thursday to conduct a laboratory audit.

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
 City receptacle trash pickup three days and building trash two days.
 Sweeping city streets for two days.
 Completed 100 Thomaston Street broken drain pipe repair for ½ a day.
 Reset art structure that was vandalized in Sandy Beach Park with guidance from Jay Sawyer, “Riding the Rails” owner.
 Catch basin road painting for 1 ½ days.
 Picked up cones, barricades, and signs that were used to close streets for Blues Festival.
 Removed concrete boat ramp at Chickawaukie Lake and replaced with 1 ½” stone for Recreation Dept.
 Dug out five locations around City and backfilled with loam in preparation for five trees to be planted.
 Sign maintenance for ½ a day.
 Picked up two loads of cold patch at Pike Industries in Sidney.
 Cold patching for a day.
 Tree/bush trimming around signs for two days.
 Repairing Lindsey Brook entrance at Broadway next to Eliza Steele Drive.
 Repairing Ferry Terminal Park granite table which was loose.
 Attended meeting at Transfer Station to coordinate the plans of the future operations at Transfer Station including the Public Works facility.
 Farley and Sons now working on installing brick sidewalk on west side of Union Street between Masonic Street and Grace Street.

OFFICE OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
 Dave is on vacation until 7/27/14 so John has been extra busy with permits, inspections and inquiries.
 Work has begun and preliminary inspections have been done at FMC Corporation’s new CNG Unloading Facility at 19 Lime Street.
 There were four complaints filed this week.
 The following permits were received by the Code Office this week:
o 1 Building permit
o 3 Electrical permits
o 6 Plumbing permits
o 1 Sign permit

OFFICE OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
 Outreach and introduction to two existing businesses in the City.
 Finalize documents, with assistance from City Attorney, for City Spot Housing program.
 Continued and near final research and drafting of Memo regarding necessary and recommended TIF Policy changes.
 Review status of TIF Investment Schedule and review proposed new statutory requirement form from DECD for TIFs.
 Undertake review of lot within Industrial Park for new development projects.
 Discuss plans with potentially three new businesses and investment interests in the City.
 Review and revise draft Signage Plan on behalf of Rockland Main Street, Inc. Design Committee.
 Preparations for and participation at Harbor Trail Committee meeting.
 Finalize contracts as part of beginning work on Cultural Planning Leadership Forum and Community Listening Sessions.

OFFICE OF THE RECREATION DIRECTOR
 With the help of Public Works, the boat launch area at Chickawaukie has been repaired and spruced up for the season. I am working with the State to get a new dock and new pads for the launch area.
 The men’s and ladies rooms have been repainted this week to add some color to the building and give the bathrooms a fresh look.
 We have replaced the ½” water supply by the lobster cooker with a new 1” line.
 The five trees donated by Casella have been planted this week and look good. Big thank you to Public Works for helping dig the holes.
 The summer art program has begun work on the mural in the Recreation Building