The Rockland Report November 7, 2014

OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL FISH PIER DIRECTOR
 No permits were issued this week.
 The f/v western sea has removed their seine from the vessel for winter
maintenance and storage. Their fish pump has also been removed from the pier
along with the mobile bait dealer trucks. The area will be washed down and trash
removed for the winter.
 The f/v western wave will depart soon and will clean up their pumping station
area. The fish pump will remain on site as it did for the last couple of years.
 Prock Marine Co. started and completed replacing nine pilings, one ladder, and various whalers/chocks. All work was on the northeast face of pier at Lobster Buyer Station #3 towards Journeys End Marina.
 Submitted metered user electric bills to the Finance department.
 Permit applications for calendar year 2015 have been advertised. The pier will be accepting application through November 26, 2014.
 The price for lobster per pound on the pier is $4.00. Other buyers around the area have dropped to $3.80 a pound.

OFFICE OF THE CITY ASSESSOR
 Processed Real Estate Transfers, updating parcel cards, sales book,
property splits.
 Processed Personal Property accounts, updating ownership, owned items,
depreciation, State BETR’S 801 returns, BETE exemptions.
 Processed 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 property owner’s request.
 Updating Tax Maps and posting to the web site.

OFFICE OF THE HARBORMASTER
 On the Harbor we weathered the storm without any noticeable damage. It was
more North than East and so it paralleled the shore rather than hit it head on.
 Tried to catch up on some of the paperwork that's been building up.
 As the weather allows we are starting work on float repairs and improvements for next summer, most are little jobs, some are more major projects.

OFFICE OF THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR
 It was trial by fire as the newest Library employees started on Monday. Jessie
Blanchard and Keith Drago filled the positions vacated by the resignation of Dan
O’Connor and the promotion of Patty King, and the building was filled to/above
capacity. While some staff were trapped at home for lack of plowing, we had
more people than chairs to accommodate. We provided heat, water, Wi-Fi, and
Internet access, as well as a place for folks to charge their devices, and phones;
we also fielded about a trillion calls asking if we were open, had power, internet.
Tuesday was nearly, but not quite, as hectic as the power began to be restored in
the region.
 The six-week workshop on memoir writing, led by local author and illustrator,
Debby Atwell, and which the Library is co-sponsoring, continued on Tuesday.
Participants and the leader are so enjoying the series, they may continue this
effort on their own, renting the Library space.
 The weekly Adult drawing class’ theme this week was deer, while the Children’s drawing class theme was “deer, bears, chipmunks, and squirrels.”
 The first of three Crafts for the Winter Holidays was held, led by Miss Eileen from Clementine, Main Street Arts and Crafts Supply Store.
 Wednesday Storytime with Miss Judith included When the Library Lights Go Out by Megan McDonald (quite appropriate!)Big Brothers Don’t Take Naps by Louise Borden, and the most popular --- Duck! Rabbit! By Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Taking the cue (visual puzzle of the duck/rabbit), Jean Young found a coloring page for the children which could be either a duck....or, a rabbit.
 The Library played host to the Fire Department, after hours, as they held elevator training in the building, Wednesday evening.
 Jean Young made the weekly trip to North Haven Community School.
 The Rockland Rhythm Masters were here on Thursday afternoon, a weekly event.
 This Thursday evening’s Arts & Cultural Events program was one of the Camden Conference Discussion Series--, Russia’s Politics. Russia is a new democracy with strong authoritarian elements. The discussion considered these two aspects of contemporary Russian politics.
 On Sunday, Teens and tweens were invited to write a novel during the month of November during National Novel Writing Month, aka NaNoWriMo. They met with Ms. Janet for writing tips and advice, followed by free writing with snacks.
 Upcoming events— The start of another Food Drive, beginning on World Kindness Day, and another reminder about the Friends’ Holiday Inn tour, and Silent Tree Auction fundraiser.

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE
The officers responded to 199 calls for service. Rockland Police Officers responded to 12 motor vehicle crashes and 6 animal complaints. Ten (10) traffic stops and traffic violations were conducted. The officers charged or made 12 arrests of individuals for various offenses, to include Bail violations, Protection from Abuse violations, Criminal Threatening, Criminal Trespass, Drug offenses, Tobacco offenses and OUI.
 We were kept very busy by the Nor’easter storm over the weekend with numerous power outages and downed trees and other utility encumbrances around the city.
 DC Tower and Sgt. Smith attended Husson University’s Law Enforcement annual career day on Wednesday.
 Chief Boucher met with members of Maine Behavioral Healthcare concerning the crisis services available for those experiencing mental health concerns.

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
 Plowing/sanding all day Sunday (11/2) for a 12 inch snowstorm. The storm
included heavy wet snow and winds. We also had a crew working for most of the
storm cutting trees/limbs and removing them from roadways. The same crew was
setting out barricades, cones, and signs for limbs that were in contact with power
lines and obstructing roadways until CMP could remove the wires from the
branches. The roads that were closed because of wires included West Meadow
Rd., Upper Pleasant St., Brewster St., New County Rd., Lake Ave., Warren St., Broad St., Shaw Ave., and Summer St. Portable stop signs were also placed for traffic signal outages.
 City wide receptacle and building trash pickup for one day.
 Set up voting booths and tables at Recreation Department. Directed to dismantle and reset up at City Hall council chambers during the night time hours because of power not being restored in time. Removed, transported, and stored back at Recreation Department after elections.
 Set up silt fence for designated snow dump area at Transfer Station.
 Cutting and removing tree branches from numerous roads/sidewalks all week.
 Picked up all portable “yield to pedestrian” signs for the season.
 Removing snow from priority sidewalks for two days.
 Trucking snow from several parking lots with PW crew.
 Sweeping leaves from street gutters for a day.
 Met with Maine Conservation Corps supervisors (coordinated by EMA) regarding a plan for a volunteer chain saw crew to assist Public Works removing tree limbs in parks or along the ROW for a day or two next week.

OFFICE OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
 Reviewed and planned for economic development program and projects
including review of TIF investment plan.
 Met with MCEDD staff to review and follow up on development of high speed fiber.
 Reviewed Harbor Trail Mechanic street project and revised budget.
 Reviewed Thorndike Parking project budget.
 Attended Bud Maine conference.
 Met with developer of downtown property.
 Reached out to developers to promote November 18th Economic Development Council of Maine meeting on City, highlight on development sites in Tillson Avenue area.

OFFICE OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY DIRECTOR
 Inspected a sewer lateral repair by Rhino Services at 45 Mechanic Street.
 Inspected a sewer lateral repair by T.J. Benner at 80 Spruce Street.
 Investigated a sewer backup at 9 Cottage St., the owners sewer lateral was
blocked.
 Inspected a sewer lateral repair by Rhino Services at 76 Lawn Ave.
 Assisted Ransom Consulting dye testing the floor drains from 42 Maverick Street, determined they are connected to the sanitary sewer.
 Repaired the bar rack rake chain drive.
 Repaired receptacles in the Headworks Building.
 Repaired No. 3 Belt Press Sludge Pump.
 Sent out No. 3 Return Activated Sludge Pump for overhaul.

OFFICE OF THE RECREATION DIRECTOR
 Voting was set up at the Recreation Building and then was moved Monday night
as the building did not get power back until after 4:00 PM. The call had to be
made to move the location as the Rec would not have been safe to be in after
dark and there was no heat as well as no emergency systems. Stuart made the
best call he could. Thank you to the Public Works crew that moved all of the
required equipment over to City Hall after the Agenda Setting Council meeting.
They had already had a long day fighting the storm Monday.
 The emergency systems were down at the Recreation Center until they could be rebooted on Tuesday. They are back up and running normally. The heat has
finally gotten us back up to temperature but having no thermostat in the building,
it took a few days.
 There are only two soccer goals to move and the fields will be put away for the season. Basketball starts next week.
 I am working on a new rental packet to better organize room rentals and help
increase revenue collection. This will also help with scheduling around the
building for all programs.

OFFICE OF THE SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR
 Participated in an MRRA Government Affairs conference call to review the Solid
Waste Proposed Rule changes and worked on potential public comments with
the group.
 The Western Star road tractor is currently at O’Connor GMC having the
transmission replaced. Several other items will be repaired while it is in the shop.
 Scheduled the Western Star Road Tractor to have the frame blasted and painted in the Middle of the month.
 Finalizing work on compost permit modification changing the permit from a 1A facility to a 1B.
 Continued work on replacing the ram wheels on the MSW compactors, the
replacement parts are no longer available so we are having a local machinist
make us some replacement parts.
 The storm caused minor damage. All that remains to have fixed is the phone lines they are scheduled to be fixed by the 9th of November.
 Replaced the stone and grates used for drainage in front of the recycle building.
 We have begun to place cover on the southernmost cell that was used during the gas pipe installation.
 The D5M & 924 are scheduled to be serviced next Monday.