The Rockland Report July 25, 2014

OFFICE OF THE FINANCE DIRECTOR/ACTING CITY MANAGER
 Approved Payroll Warrant.
 Approved Accounts Payable Warrant.
 Attended Special Council Meeting – FY15 Workplan.
 Preparing for Year End – audit work.
 Dunkin Donuts License Agreement has been signed by all parties.
 Ulmer Park – Removed tree from park and cleared flower bed as Dunkin Donuts will be replanting and maintaining flower bed.
 Answered numerous concerns from citizens on:
 Snow Marine Park Closure – We are waiting for results on water sample taken on Thursday, 7/24. Hopefully park will be open soon. Directing dog owners to use MacDougal School property to let their dogs run.
 Samoset Road - NO Porta Potties. Last year the decision was made not to locate Porta Potties on Samoset Road. As I recall, numerous complaints received from home owners on the slamming of porta pottie doors. Staff will be monitoring this issue for health concerns as people are using the grass parking area as a bathroom.
 Old County Road – when will road work start? Public Works is scheduled to start ditching work late September or early October. This will hopefully keep water off the road and help prevent potholes.
 Buoy Park – Complaints from Business Owners at Middle Pier. Access to park is limited due to Festival Operations.
 FMC reported a boiler failure on Tuesday July 22, 2014 which resulted in black smoke/soot discharging from the smoke stack on Crocket’s Point. See attached correspondence.
 Met with Staff on Winter Street Project and Thorndike Project. Updates/final designs will be coming to Council in August.
 Met with developer for project on Granite Street. Proposing High End Apartments on Granite Street in the downtown district.

OFFICE OF THE HARBORMASTER
 Hectic? I'll say. Summer hectic is in full swing. A little respite this afternoon, but it has been steady and the whole harbor is hopping.
 Blues festival had a record number of boats at the Public Landing and it hasn't stopped. Last weekend was Friendship Sloop Days as well as a sailboat race sponsored by the Rockland Yacht Club. Summer is so short; we are finding that there are more and more weekends with two or three “events” at the same time.
 We did get to squeeze out some time to remove one abandoned mooring this week as well as handle the constant flow of boats at our docks and on our rental
moorings. All that traffic lends itself to phone calls about other people's bad seamanship. The complaint desk is open.
 The set-up for the Lobster Festival started on Tuesday, so about 50% of the questions down here are now about parking and access issues.
 And then there was the exhaust emission from FMC that covered half the boats in the North End with black soot. FMC is taking it seriously and has done a good job so far with any potential problems.

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.
 We are all very happy that Linda Barnes’ jury service concluded on Monday; we are glad to have her back!
 Catinka Knoth’s Adult Drawing class worked on the theme of “Oriental Poppies in an Early Summer Garden " and the Children’s drawing class theme was “Let’s draw Marine Mammals!”
 The Children’s Writing Club met; their newly issued Summer Newsletter is available, and hopefully appended to this report. Copies are also available at the Library.
 The free summer lunch program continues, and we are now seeing regular participants.
 This week’s Storytime came as a surprise. Therapy dog handler, Steve Seekins, surprised Children’s Librarian Jean Young with stories. He came equipped with Joyful Noise by Paul Fleishman and another couple of dog stories from a small collection of short stories. As he read, the children chimed in with their own dog adventure stories, great complicated fun. Jean followed with a craft, making foam crab headbands to wear to the Lobster Festival Parade. Steve also donated a lovely book to the library, a children’s fiction book, written by a Clark Island resident, Luise Van Keuren; Raven, Stay By Me. Steve brought therapy dog Leeloo this week.
 Patty King 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! Happily the Lobster Festival Big Tent, meant Patty could do Storytime, despite the weather.
 Erika Pfander hosted the Gary Cooper classic, High Noon, as the Thursday evening’s Arts & Cultural Event.
 Father and daughter duo, Old Town Road (Bob Stuart and Megan Rogers) gave a concert on Friday.
 On Saturday, Jean Young opened another Science Trunk in the Children’s Room, and offered simple activities with everyday items to inspire the creative side of our brains. Activities included: Exploring Sound, Art and Paper.
 Ongoing—Summer Reading Program, with something for all ages. Check the Library’s website, or visit us in person for more information. Reminder: read the Maine Readers’ Choice Award Finalists now, to vote in September: Benediction by Kent Haruf; The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt; The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Weck; and TransAtlantic by Colum McCann. More information can be found here.
 Upcoming: Summer Reading Program Celebration Party; Show & Tell for Grown-ups

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:
 Personnel continued working with the Fire Marshal’s Office to find who is involved in the Scott Street Porta-potty fire.
 A/C Mazzeo began developing our bid specifications for the cardiac monitor/defibrillator purchase process.
 On Thursday, personnel had a web-based program on responding to violence incidents.
 I attended a meeting for the Knox County area ambulance service directors on Monday evening. Unlike the Fire Chief’s, this group hasn’t had any organized meetings in decades and given the changes to Maine EMS rules, the local hospital system and medicine in general, it’s time for us to work together to ensure all of those we assist are receiving the best possible care in the shortest amount of time. This meeting was a good start toward identifying current and future issues that affect our service delivery.
 I met with Tom Fowler of Landmark to look at the turning radius of our apparatus as it relates to the parking lot improvements between Tillson Avenue and Glover’s Passage.
 Continued updating the Emergency Plan for the upcoming Lobster Festival with specific focus on the USCG Eagle’s visit.
 I met with a representative of Wright-Pierce to discuss the potential issues that may arise when they begin “smoke testing” the sewer system. The imitation smoke, which is non-toxic can look to the unknowing like real smoke which may result in calls to 911.
 CEO Root and I met with the owner of the Bicknell building to discuss limitations and possibilities for future projects. The main building has numerous add-ons that
make renovations complicated while maintaining the life safety precautions already in place.

OFFICE OF THE SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR
 Sent out the necessary documentation to go out to RFP for quarry 2 north phase II gas collection to the City Attorney for review. Finalized the drawings for the gas collection system with Woodard & Curran.
 Continued cover placement.
 Added five feet to monitoring well 106 within q2n.
 Had the refrigerant removed from appliances and then crushed and recycled the refrigerators.
 We opened the facility to a waste hauler so that extra waste generated from the Blues Festival could be disposed of. Overtime was paid by the hauler.
 We had a member of the public crash into one of the protective bolsters as you enter the transfer station. The car’s passenger front fender was smashed and the cement filled steel bolster was sheared off at the base. No one was injured.
 Participated in a MRRA board of director’s conference call.
 Repaired holes in pavement by the entrance and exit of the scale.

OFFICE OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY DIRECTOR
 Completed manhole surveys and inspections on Mechanic Street and the south end of Pacific Street.
 Had Mechanic Street from Snow Street to the entrance to the pump station checked by Dig-Safe.
 Marked the sewer main on Brewster Street for Rhino Services.
 Met with Don Savage from Wright-Pierce to review scheduling and protocol for city wide smoke testing of the sanitary and storm sewers.
 Worked with Public Works employees to locate and expose a buried manhole in the pavement on Snow Street.
 Continued inspection and investigation of possible problems in the storm sewers in the area above Snow Marine Park.
 Installed a new flowmeter on the FMC influent pipe.
 Continued significant laboratory testing in support of the PCF/FMC Study.

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
 City trash receptacle pickup three days and building trash for two days. Removed trash cans from Public Landing and stored at Public Works in preparation of festivals.
 Completed painting City catch basins and arrows. Three days of work.
 Prepping various road cuts from projects and repaved. Two days of work.
 Exposed manhole in Snow Marine Park on paved hill entrance. Extended top of structure approximately four and a half feet to grade. One day’s work.
 Cleaning catch basins City wide. Started in south end area and worked four extended evenings. This crew is planning to clean daily through fall.
 Completed Lindsey Brook entrance repair work on Broadway at Eliza Steele Drive. One day’s work.
 Sweeping City streets primarily in the downtown area for two days.
 Went to McLean, Inc. in Limerock, Maine to look at used plows and sanders that may be available for purchase.
 Picked up waste oil from Genuine auto garage on South Main Street.
 Farley and Sons completed installing brick sidewalk on west side of Union Street between Grace Street and Masonic Street.
 Cold patching City streets with two crews for one day.
 Removed spruce tree, stump and bushes in Ulmer Park and loamed disturbed areas.
 Graded gravel parking lot areas at Chickawaukie Lake and Ball Park.
 Installed rock at boat ramp between Contes and Buoy Park to re level washed out area.
 Sign maintenance for one day.

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.
 Final inspection was done and a Certificate of Occupancy was issued for Hazel’s Take Out at 557 Old County Road. They are planning to open sometime next week.
 A Temporary Certificate of Occupancy was issued for a portion of the building at 145 Camden Street. There will be a small Chinese Restaurant opening soon at this location.
 There were several calls about the same complaint regarding the black smoke from FMC Corp.’s stack on 7/23/14.
 The following permits were received by the Code Office this week:
o 3 Building permits
o 3 Electrical permits
o 2 Sidewalk Display permits
o 1 Sign permit

OFFICE OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
 Reviewed, together with Director of WWTP, status of Thorndike Parking Lot and Thorndike Building project, including review with property owner and review with City contracted engineer and landscape designer to finalize city project and plans for continued development of site, in preparation for presentation to Council.
 Reviewed, revised and updated Downtown TIF Investment Schedule with City Manager in consideration of current commitments and potential new projects.
 Continued and followed-up on potential new investment and business leads with interest in City, as identified in recent outreach activities.
 Finalized, prepared, and facilitated presentation by developer to Economic Development Advisory Committee discussing lessons-learned and suggestions for redevelopment of downtown and Tillson Avenue area.
 Followed up with housing rehabilitation project owner to finalize plans for project and loan and grant for home improvements
 Attended natural gas seminar by MMA.
 Sought out and gathered research on downtown residential development and value of residential development in downtowns.
 Final review and finalization of City insert in Progress Media and print piece highlighting Rockland as place for business.
 Reviewed and assisted in plans for cultural planning program.

OFFICE OF THE RECREATION DIRECTOR
 We have been working on Harbor Park to get it prepared for the festivals that will be coming up over the next few weeks. We have also been working with the Lobster Festival to make sure they have what they need and that the City’s interests are met.
 We have installed a new mooring and buoy at the beach area so that swim line are in the proper pace and will not move.
 The mural has been started at the Recreation Center - it’s underway and looking great.
 The Recreation staff have been working in the parks around the area and by the entry signs to the City so that we are looking good for the numbers of people that will be coming to town over the next few weeks.