The Rockland Report September 12, 2014

OFFICE OF THE ACTING CITY MANAGER/FINANCE DIRECTOR
 Approved Payroll Warrant.
 Preparing for Year End – audit work.
 Attended Council Work Session – FY15 Workplan.
 Met with George Hall & Sons – past & future work.
 Met with The First on banking.
 Met with various department heads on issues affecting their departments.
 Spoke with Code Office and Assessors Office on possibility of database to email property owners.
 Met/spoke with Citizens on the following concerns:
o Building Lighting Issues on Union Street
o Main Street Sidewalk Conditions – tripping hazards

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 MUNICIPAL FISH PIER DIRECTOR
 No permits were issued this week.
 The f/v western sea has offloaded 840,000 pounds of herring.
 The f/v western wave has offloaded 720,000 pounds of herring.
 The price per pound for new shell lobster is $3.95.
 Repaired salt water wash down pump with support from Public Works.

OFFICE OF THE HARBORMASTER
 It's been a week of slowly winding down. We're not at the end of summer, but we can taste it. Boats are going off to their winter homes, some sailing south, and
some getting hauled out. The ACL cruise ships keep visiting until the end of
September.
 Our summer dock stewards are back to school, so it's just me and the assistant
harbormaster working around the harbor. The seagulls are back in the harbor,
looking for any flat spots to land on.
 I think the summer budget lines are all on target, docking and mooring revenue
should be slightly above budget by the end of the year.
 Pulled another adrift skiff out of the harbor and are waiting to give it back to the owner.

OFFICE OF THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR
 In direct contrast to Murphy’s Law, the transition from the Millennium software to the new Sierra system for the Library’s (and statewide) circulation, cataloging, and inter-library loan went remarkable smoothly. The functionality is very similar, but the interface is much easier to use.
 Catinka Knoth’s Adult Drawing Class worked on the theme of “the Little Green Schoolhouse,” while the Children’s drawing class theme was “Farm scenes of haying and the fall harvest.”
 I attended the City Council meeting, as Linda Barnes’ years of service and
retirement were being recognized by Council, and a commendation was
presented in the form of a framed resolution, and a lovely plaque. The Council
also accepted the gift from the PLEA of Alison Rector’s painting of the interior of Rockland Public Library.
 Judith Andersen was the guest Storytime reader again this week, where an
eclectic mix of stories and getting acquainted took place, with a small group of
children.
 Jean Young held the second (Wednesday mornings in September) library skills
class.
 I asked Jonathan Frost to lend his expertise to the hanging of the Library’s stunning new painting, Sanctuary, by Alison Rector. He so very kindly donated his time and expertise to do this, for which I am deeply grateful! The Library is planning to have a small show of Rector’s series of library paintings in the late fall/early winter.
 I met with a couple of potential volunteers, and am hopeful that we’ll bring them on board.
 This Thursday evening’s Arts & Cultural Events program was the showing of the Agatha Christie film, Murder, She Said, with Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple, hosted by Erika Pfander.
 Janet Corcoran held a second Book Covering workshop, with materials and
snacks provided for all 5th through 12th graders on Sunday.
 Vey last chance: the time is NOW—to vote for the Maine Readers’ Choice
Award; you have until September 15 to select Benediction by Kent Haruf; The
Goldfinch by Donna Tartt; The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Weck; or
TransAtlantic by Colum McCann. Register your vote here.
 Upcoming events—Dedication of the new granite Rockland Public Library sign.
 The Camden Conference Community Events Committee will again this year
sponsor a four part discussion series that will help prepare you for the conference; discussion in Rockland will be held the first Thursday of the month. Some hard copies of the discussion topics are available from the Reference Desk, as well as via the Camden Conference website. The lecture series will be the third Thursday each month.

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:
 I met with a local developer to discuss concerns with the installation of residential sprinkler systems.
 On Sunday we conducted the removal of an injured female from the Breakwater with the assistance of the Maine Marine Patrol. Due to the patient being nearly to the Lighthouse the MMP ferry personnel and equipment from the inside float to the end and then brought the victim and EMT to an awaiting ambulance at Journey’s End Marina. In the end seven members were tied up for over an hour before the victim was on her way to PBMC.
 On Monday Squad 3 had a new pump primer installed as the original had failed. The primer is essential for times when the truck needs to draft water from a static source.
 Final plans for the Hotel at Main and Pleasant arrived and my review has begun with regard to the Life Safety Code.
 On Tuesday R1 (our oldest ambulance) was removed from service as it would not start. It’s going to Bangor for service with hopes that it can provide reliable service for the last year of it anticipated life cycle. Again we find the nine years appears to be stretching the maximum life for reliable service.
 Wednesday Tower 3 assisted in repairing lights over Wasgatt Field and then later that evening hung a banner over Main St. for the USCG Golf Tournament.
 Wednesday evening our personnel attended a class taught by Augusta Fire Chief Roger Audette on “Managing Mayday’s”. The focus was how we prepare for, and react when a firefighter is trapped or lost in a fire. Many important points were discussed and we will be looking at how to ensure we are better prepared for this type of emergency.
 On Thursday morning the Rockland Firefighters Union Local 1584 held a 9/11
Remembrance ceremony. Union Pres. Chris Whytock and Mayor Pritchett spoke to the crowd of about 35 attendees.
 Thursday between 12 and 1 pm we again saw the limitations of the local EMS
system when we had two calls simultaneously and with an ambulance out of
service had to request mutual aid. At the same time all of Northeast Mobile
Health’s resources were tied up and Thomaston Ambulance was out of service,
requiring South Thomaston come to cover our station, but that also required
additional resources for them to staff their ambulance. Once they were here, they
were promptly sent to Thomaston to cover a motor vehicle accident and an
additional ambulance out of Warren. Leaving on St. George and Union
ambulances available in their station. Thankfully no further emergencies occurred and Rockland’s two units were able to get back into service quickly.

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
 Roadside trash pickup for two days.
 City receptacle and building trash pickup for three days.
 Roadside mowing for 1½ days.
 Mounted three bike racks for harbor trail. One more bike rack will be installed next week in the ferry terminal park.
 Ditching and shouldering work on West Meadow Road near the brook for two
days.
 Relocated two large shrubs and removed deteriorated metal plates exposing the Lindsey brook near the intersection of Summer Street and Union Street for 1½ days. Gartley/Dorsky Engineers currently planning a permanent repair after
observing condition of brook.
 Prepping road cuts at various project locations and installed pavement. 1½ days of work.
 Repaired salt shed roof and added additional bracing.
 Sweeping of city streets for one day.
 Went to Lewiston to look at a new loader plow to be considered for purchase.
 Installing harbor trail signage for two days.
 No catch basin cleaning this week because of the inoperable Vactor machine.
Took to CN Wood in Westbrook on Monday and picked back up on Friday after
repairs made. Planning to restart cleaning operation on Monday.
 Completed seeding and haying in Snow Marine Park drainage project. Half a
day’s work.
 Picked up 100 bales hay at prison farm in Warren.
 Tree trimming for a day.
 Performance Paving ground five settled road trenches on Camden Street and
repaved for the water company.

OFFICE OF THE POLICE CHIEF
The officers responded to 236 calls for service. Rockland Police Officers responded to 12 motor vehicle crashes and four Animal complaints. Forty-six (46) traffic stops and traffic violations were conducted. The officers made 29 arrests of individuals for various offenses, to include Bail violations, Burglary, Theft Offenses, Criminal Mischief, Obstruction of Government Administration, Disorderly Conduct, Domestic Assault, Warrants of Arrest, Drug offenses and OUI.
 The department conducted telephone interviews with the perspective
candidates who have applied for the open police officer position and we have
been working with the Personnel board setting up interview times and dates.
 DC Tower met with 1 Park Drive Condo Association to discuss the maintenance issues for the building.
 On 09/08/14 C.I.D. arrested John Cella (04/24/65) of Massachusetts for Burglary (Class C). Cella was already in custody at the Knox County Jail for a Burglary that occurred in Rockland on the same date. During this Burglary Cella was caught inside of a Restaurant by Rockland P.D. Patrol Officers. The second Burglary Cella committed was not discovered until later that day and turned over to C.I.D. for investigation. Cella was released from the Maine Department of Corrections in May of 2014 after serving a sentence for Burglary. Cella has 11 prior Burglary convictions.
 On 09/09/14 C.I.D. assisted the Rockport Police Department with investigating a Robbery that Occurred at Kennebec Pharmacy in Rockport. During this Robbery the suspect took controlled substances of various strength. It was determined that Donald Keating Jr. (02/25/59) was responsible for the Robbery. Keating was apprehended and the pills were recovered.

OFFICE OF THE RECREATION DIRECTOR
 Thanks to Public Works four of the five bike racks are installed. The 5th bike rack will be placed in the Ferry Terminal Park the first of next week. This will complete the
installation of bike racks along Harbor Trail.
 The mural in the gym has been completely painted and the last step will be to
seal the image. An event will be held on October 4th from 6:0 – 8:00 PM including public viewing and acknowledgement of those who contributed to the project.
 The soccer fields are set up and we have had a huge surge of sign-ups this week so teams are being set up and practices are starting.
 I will be going to Portland on Monday to pick up the new folding benches for the soccer fields.
 The improvements to the Tower Room will be made as we receive the material ordered for that space. This will benefit the dance class as well as other activities held in the space.

OFFICE OF THE GENERAL ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATOR
 Handled General Assistance inquiries.
 Met with clients who had scheduled appointments.
 Made appointments for clients who did not have any scheduled.
 Updated General Assistance paperwork and client files.
 Handle Property Tax Poverty Abatement requests.

OFFICE OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
 Assisted RMSI with site visits with new potential businesses.
 Reviewed draft renderings to be presented to REDAC next week; depiction of
potential development on Tillson Avenue.
 Continued to draft and reach out on proposal for Maine Arts Commission grant.

OFFICE OF THE SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR
 Contacted American Environmental Corporation to begin planning the
installation of the gas collection piping installation. I am anticipating we will begin in early October.
 I have contacted RPC Companies Inc. about the flare quote and have placed
an order for the next flare to be used once the gas collection piping is installed.
Once the gas collection piping is installed and the flare is attached we will have
to take gas samples to document the concentrations and types of gas present.
The gas samples will be taken to the University of Maine at Orono for testing.
 Submitted wastewater testing results and pumping data.
 Overhauled the decking around the scale. Both sides of the scale have decking
for scale users to exit their vehicle. The decking had to replaced and refastened
for safety reasons. We will also be staining the decking if weather permits on
Saturday.
 We began painting the outside of the control room in the Transfer Station.
 Aqua Maine had to replace a valve by the hydrant at the entrance of the Solid
Waste Facility leaving the facility without water for two days.
 One side of the window glass was damaged while compacting waste in the
landfill, the replacement glass was ordered and installed.
 The large overhead door on the North side of the Recycle building needed to be repaired by PDQ door.
 Contacted several local contractors to obtain quotes for one day’s worth of
excavator work to prep the southernmost cell in the landfill. The newly developed cell will be used while the gas collection contractors are working to avoid work pattern disruption.

OFFICE OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY DIRECTOR
 Met with Wright-Pierce to review the results of the smoke testing project.
 Inspected the sewer main on Winter Street and located three taps.
 Responded to a possible sewer backup on Park Street near the sheriff’s office,
turned out to be a water leak.
 Completed connection of 29 Mechanic Street to the sewer.
 Met with Steve Hart from O’Hara Corp. to discuss the sewer connection for the new building planned for Tillson Avenue.
 Worked on the Winter Street drainage project with Wright-Pierce.
 Inspected the sewer main on Tillson Avenue and identified three sources of sea water infiltration, the worst from the Coast Guard Station at the end of Tillson Avenue.
 Repaired No. 3 Polymer Pump for the presses.
 Installed a new trickle charger on the Glenwood Avenue Pump Station backup
generator.
 Installed a new high level indicator in the Waldo Avenue Pump Station wet well.

OFFICE OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
 John Root attended the City Council Meeting 9/8/14, the Planning Board Meeting on 9/9/14 and he and Dave attended the Comprehensive Planning Committee Meeting 9/11/14.
 License inspection was done at Waterworks.
 There was one complaint filed this week.
 The following permits were received by the Code Office this week:
o 6 Building permits
o 3 Electrical permits
o 1 Sidewalk Display permit
o 1 Sign permit
o 1 Street Excavation permit