OFFICE OF THE ACTING CITY MANAGER/FINANCE DIRECTOR
Approved Payroll Warrant.
Preparing for Year End – audit work.
Attended Children’s Museum – Lights on Afterschool Event.
Attended EcoMaine & Waste Zero Presentation on recycling.
Attended joint meeting between COMPS, REDAC, Planning Board and City
Council to discuss Downtown District and Tillson Overlay Zone.
Looked at Lindsey Brook issue with homeowner- brook is eroding away his
property.
Met with Joe LaBranche – they are working on plow routes for public works, not prioritizing but the most efficient way to travel. They have done this work pro bono so far.
OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL FISH PIER DIRECTOR
No permits were issued this week.
The f/v western sea has offloaded 390,000 pounds of herring.
The price per pound for new shell lobster is $4.20.
The f/v Western Wave has come back from down east and has docked at the
pier. All herring carriers are waiting on DMR to release quota updates. If quota has been caught in 1A then the season is over.
OFFICE OF THE HARBORMASTER
With the help of Public Works we removed almost all of our Public Landing floats before the week's big storm. As always, they did a great job.
We appear to have weathered this fall nor-easter with not too much damage. A
Rockland based lobsterboat was off of Matinicus and needed help to get back
into port, but the boat and the crew are safe.
A couple of small boats on the Owl's Head side of the harbor broke free and went ashore, and one larger Rockland sailboat went ashore – also in Owl's Head.
Hopefully, this will be enough to convince everyone else that there's no need to
leave their boats in any longer.
The weather slowed down our fall projects, but we'll get back to them soon. We did manage to get out and make a list of all the boats still in the harbor, so we can remind them that summer is over.
OFFICE OF THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR
The six-week workshop on memoir writing, led by local author and illustrator,
Debby Atwell, and which the Library is co-sponsoring, was held on Tuesday. They are half-way through the series, and participants and leaders are thoroughly
enjoying it.
The weekly Adult drawing class’ theme this week was autumn leaves and scenes; the Children’s drawing class theme was “owls and bats and cats”
Lucky Library; lucky kids--Judith Andersen was guest reader, again. This
Wednesday’s Storytime highlighted Pirates! Judith Anderson read Archie and the
Pirates by Marc Rosenthal, Do Pirates Take Baths? by Kathy Tucker, and Pirates, Ho! by Sarah L. Thomson. Then the children were treated to a type of pin-the-tailon- the-donkey variation called “Pin the Treasure Pirate Game,” after which they could choose a prize from the treasure box, and enjoy some pirate food, smoked turkey snack sticks, and stick cheese snacks. They were also offered two crafts-- making a swash-buckling sword, and coloring a pre-cut pirate form. The room is now decorated with pirate flags, skeletons, and pirate hats.
I spoke with Eric Dube of Casco Bay Engineering, for some help getting in touch with Audette. We are trying to get Audette back to address water recurring in the south chimney. We are also determining steps to deal with issues on the north side of the old wing. I’m very appreciative of the investigations of Loy Linscott and Justin Lorenzen from Public Works, and Greg Blackwell’s follow-up.
Patty King prepared a Power Point presentation for the Rockland Shakespeare
Society, to be used with their live performance, next Thursday--Enter Ghost,
Shakespeare’s Preternatural Universe.
Patty King prepared a presentation, and participated in “Lights On after School,” an event held at the Coastal Children’s Museum, to highlight all the after-school opportunities and resources available to children in Rockland and surrounding area.
The Rockland Rhythm Masters were here on Thursday afternoon, a weekly event.
This Thursday evening’s Arts & Cultural Events program was the classic suspense
film, Alfred Hitchcock’s Suspicion, which starred Joan Fontaine and Gary Grant.
A Fall songfest was held on Friday, with the father-daughter duo of Bob Stuart and Megan Rogers, which make up Old Town, performing and encouraging joining in.
On Saturday, Peter Proeller, (apple collector and preserver of fruits & vegetables) taught children how to make this simple, delicious & nutritious fall snack. Participants all had the chance to sample some!
Upcoming events— Live theater--Hampstead Stage Company’s presentation of Oliver Twist, and the showing of a multiple-staff favorite, Harold and Maude.
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE
The officers responded to 221 calls for service. Rockland Police Officers responded to 7 motor vehicle crashes and 7 Animal complaints. Twenty-nine (29) traffic stops and traffic violations were conducted. The officers made 11 arrests of individuals for various offenses, to include Bail violations, Protection from Abuse violations, Theft, Drug offenses and OUI.
Officers participated in two lock down drills at the Mid-Coast School of
Technology this week.
DC Tower has made arrangements to attend Husson University’s Law Enforcement annual career day in November.
Det. Thompson attended Taser Instructor recertification training in Westbrook this week.
Detectives assisted Coast Guard Investigative Services with an investigation that occurred in Rockland.
Have completed the background investigation on a candidate for Patrol officer
and will move to the next stage of testing in the process.
OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
City wide receptacle and building trash pickup for two days.
Sweeping city streets, primarily for leaves, for four days.
Rain/wind for much of the week. Checking and cleaning off catch basins,
culverts, and brooks for drainage and picking up limbs and debris on roadway.
Flushing culverts for one day on Old County Road.
Repaired Thompson Meadow Road bridge rail and sign that was damaged by a
vehicle.
Removed most of the floats for the harbormaster at Snow Marine Park and
removed the floats at Chickawaukie Lake for the season.
Planted four trees. Two in Chapman Park and two along Myrtle Street.
Assisted with sewer plug in main line on Berkley Street.
Started getting area at back end of Transfer Station ready for hauling of snow.
Dug out two buried sewer manholes on Mechanic Street for sewer tech team to investigate.
Performance Paving planning on overlaying delaminated areas on Camden
Street on Monday, primarily in southbound lane from Rockport line to Glen Street.
Sign maintenance for two days.
Set up two leaf blowers and two truck boxes in preparation of city wide leaf
collection which starts on November 3.
Completed winter sand delivery and stockpiling on Tuesday morning.
Cleaned up items at Sandy Beach Park as directed by Police Department.
OFFICE OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Advised and assisted in coordination and publication of Economic Development
Council of Maine meeting to be held in Rockland, November 18 at the Landings
Restaurant. Rockland is hosting and presenting at this morning and lunch event
“Brownfields and Small Urban Development.”
Assisted in planned for regional meeting to review Rockport IT Fiber project and to explore how it might be replicated elsewhere in Midcoast.
Prepared and attended Knox County Budget Committee Hearing to speak on
behalf of funding request from Midcoast Economic Development District.
Reviewed notes of October 8 Community Listening Session regarding a Rockland Cultural Plan and discussed follow up and preparations for next two Listening Sessions.
Reviewed and followed up with bookkeeping to clarify CFMF accounts with
Thorndike and city project going forward.
Submitted Brownfield Quarterly report to US EPA.
Follow up and contact with four potential new businesses.
Reviewed Draft CDBG Program Statement and reviewed programs and projects the City may apply for funding.
Review status and updated DOT on White Street sidewalk project with Recreation Director and DOT.
Prepared for and attended EDAC meeting.
Met with existing company to catch up on business activity.
Reviewed Camden Street Design & Engineering proposal and met to review with City Manager, Attorney, Public Works Director.
Attended Maine International Trade Center “Invest in Maine” project and
program meeting.
OFFICE OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
John and David attended the City Council Meeting on 10/20/14, which was a
workshop which included the Comprehensive Planning Commission, the Planning Board and the Economic Development Advisory Committee.
The Code Office received a Site Plan Review Application for Conditional Use to allow the property owner to operate an agricultural market at 526 Old County
Road.
John and David attended a Mid Coast Regional Planning Commission dinner
meeting 10/23/14.
There were two complaints filed this week.
The following permits were received by the Code Office this week:
o 4 Building permits
o 4 Electrical permits
o 1 Plumbing permit
o 1 Sewer Connection permit
o 1 Street Excavation permit
OFFICE OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY DIRECTOR
Replaced faulty gravity belt thickener booster pump motor starter.
Installed new belt filter press horizontal conveyor belt scraper.
An operator attended a two day laboratory procedures training class in Bangor
and took the New England Water Environment Association Grade I laboratory
certification test. This training qualifies for mandatory operator recertification
training.
EPA posted a proposed rule for Dental Category Effluent Guidelines in the Federal Register on October 22nd. The guidelines require the collection of mercury at dentist offices to prevent mercury discharge to POTW’s. Maine already requires dentist offices to control mercury discharge, however historically Maine DEP has overseen compliance of the dental offices, EPA’s guidelines require POTW’s to monitor compliance.
Responded to a call for a sewer backup at 103 Beach Street. The problem was in the property owner’s lateral. Referred them to Interstate Septic.
Inspected a repair to a sewer lateral at Broadway and Railroad Place.
Inspected an old sewer main on Mechanic Street for Pacific Street to Atlantic
Street and confirmed it was abandoned as the records indicate.
Marked the sewer main on Spruce Street near Maverick Street for a contractor
planning to replace a sewer lateral.
Dye tested the basement drain from 103 Beech Street to determine if it is
connected to the city sewer.
Continued survey and inspection of the sewer lines along Atlantic, Ocean and
Water Street.
OFFICE OF THE RECREATION DIRECTOR
There were a few small leaks around the building over the past week. With all the rain coming we had made a concentrated effort to fix them before the storm. It appears we were successful. The two biggest leaks have been dry all week.
There’s been a problem under one window in the RDNA office but it’s a brick
problem and we have left a message with Audette to come look at it.
I was finally able to get the plaque for Becky Dow installed on the piece of granite next to her tree and garden.
The floats and docks have been removed from the lake at JMP.
Soccer is coming to a close and our 5th and 6th grade girls soccer team will play in the championship Saturday at 1:00 PM.
OFFICE OF THE SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR
Attended the Waste Zero and Eco Maine public educational meeting on pay as
you throw and single stream recycling.
Met with News Center 6’s Don Carrigan to review the upcoming vote to overturn the new mandatory PAYT ordinance.
The gas collection piping installation was completed on 10/17/14. We now need to assemble and install the flare.
Cleaned swap shop.
Conducted storm water sampling.
Continued to prepare to extend the Q2N well casing as well as swap out the
pump for winter. The replaced pump will be overhauled.
Continued work on replacing the ram wheels on the MSW compactors, this will continue into next week.
Contacted Jim Pollock of the Maine DEP to update our compost facility permit from a (1A) to a Reduced Procedure compost area this will allow us to compost up to 400 cubic yards of food waste per month. The permit amendment fee will be $230. I want to have a public meeting for interested parties, possibly a trial group of members of the public and several restaurants. In our compost area we have 4 windrows; one windrow would be dedicated to type (1B) food waste and 1A (leaf and yard waste). This is another effort to increase the public’s availability to divert waste that they would normally have to pay for and recycle more material. Currently organics make up 40% of the municipal waste stream in
Maine.
Beginning to redevelop the landfill road to begin work at the Northern most end of the landfill to begin our new cell. We will also are preparing close our
southernmost cell that we used during the gas collection piping installation.
OFFICE OF THE FIRE CHIEF
In addition 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:
On Monday A shift took a tour of back Cove Yachts in the industrial park. The tour highlighted some of the significant factors that might affect fire or EMS responses
to the facility. On Wednesday C Shift conducted the same tour. B-Shifts tour was
rescheduled due to multiple EMS calls during the originally scheduled time.
On Tuesday Tower 3 assisted Alley Electric with repairs to the lights at Wasgatt Field. The lights were damaged due to an electrical fire issue at Saturday evening’s football game.
Our Wednesday night drill was on Managing the Modern Fire Environment. This class focused on the changes to firefighting tactics that have been recently
proven by repeated scientific testing of structural firefighting tactics. It’s an
exciting time to be a firefighter and see how technology can truly make our jobs
safer, while residential fires get even more dangerous.
Late Thursday night we sent an engine with three personnel to Rockport to help them battle a well involved structure fire on Wellington Drive. A total of 4
personnel operated with Rockport and Camden crews for about 2 hours.
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