The Rockland Report December 12, 2014

OFFICE OF THE FINANCE DIRECTOR/ACTING CITY MANAGER
 Approved Payroll Warrant
 Audit – Field Work Near Completion
 Attended Council Meeting
 Met with WWTF Director on Thorndike Parking Project
 Met with RSU #13 Superintendent and Business Manager
 Met with Transfer Station Director on City Quarry Concerns
 Met with Residents on the following:
 General Assistance Concerns
 Transfer Station
 Police Department
 Ditching Concerns on Old County Road

OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL FISH PIER DIRECTOR
 Three Lobster Vessel permits for 2015 were issued this week.
 Two coolers were removed from the pier. That leaves only one cooler on pier and that one will be removed at the first of the year once the bait is used.
 The bait dealer coolers have been removed and the area has been cleaned. The
bait Dealer approval letter has been mailed accepting the permit for calendar
year 2015.
 Barrels that had been blown around the pier have been secured. Owner plans on removing barrels within the next couple of days for winter storage.
 Public Works completed clean-up of pallets and debris on pier and in the upper lot.
 The price per pound for lobster is $3.50.

OFFICE OF THE HARBORMASTER
 Attended a quarterly meeting of the Maine and New Hampshire Port Security
Forum, a chance to see what is on the agendas of many of our regulatory
agencies. The USCG is currently worried about Ebola entering the US aboard ships entering our harbors. And they are also redoing all of our coastal foghorns to only turn on when an approaching boat transmits a radio signal. The Maine Port Authority gave an update on the collapse of the Eastport breakwater and
commercial dock, and DHS gave a talk on preparing for coastal tide rise over the
next 100 years and preserving our critical infrastructure.
 One of our smaller cruise ships, the Regatta has signed up for another visit, fall of 2016.
 The Farnsworth Art Museum has applied to use Harbor Park again in late August for their second outdoor internet cat video festival and fair. City
 Mostly worked on the paperwork to send out next year's mooring permits.

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 LIBRARY DIRECTOR
 Catinka Knoth’s Adult Drawing Class made holiday cards and ornaments, while the Children’s drawing class made holiday cards.
 A hearty thank you to Public Works staff, who secured the window on the North wall, for the winter, or until work can begin on repairing the entire wall.
 In response to my message to him, Eric Wass of Coastal Copper came by, and will
return in drier weather to take a look at some shingles and flashing by the South
Chimney, which we think responsible for the recent water infiltration.
 I contacted several area electricians to obtain quotes for installation of some
energy efficient lighting as a “test case” in three areas of the Library. Thank you to the City’s Energy Committee for their hard work on this project!
 Guest Storyteller Judith Andersen returned this week; she reported to Jean Young that the children were…very active…. , so she read Hop Jump, by Ellen Stoll Walsh and the children turned into frogs, “rippit, rabbit,” hopping from green cushion lily pads to green cushion lily pads. Next, Judith read Robert’s Snow, by Grace Lin, Meow, Cat Stories from around the World, by Jane Yolen, All I See, by Cynthia Rylant, and Willow and the Snow Day Dance, by Denise Brennann Nelson, It was a very lively group who played and played after the stories…
 Due to issues with the ferry, Jean Young did not make the weekly trip to North
Haven Community School.
 I attended a webinar from Booklist, Why Your Library Privacy Policy Matters. Although there were some helpful points shared, it turned out to be more of a long commercial for a new book on the topic.
 Rockland Rhythm Masters held the weekly Thursday session.
 Thursday evening’s Arts & Cultural Events program was a holiday-themed film curated by Erika Pfander, Remember the Night, Starring Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray.
 Jessie Blanchard attended a meeting of the Cornerstones of Science (COS)
libraries, at the Auburn Public Library; as this service was offered, she brought the Library telescope for some fine tuning and adjustments.
 Craft Fridays for the Holidays, with music, goodies, and lots of lovely craft ideas and supplies continued in the Children’s Room.
 On Sunday, the Library held a holiday Sing-along, with accompanists pianist
Sojourner Hodges, and Peter Proeller, banjo player.
 Upcoming/ongoing events: The Library will be closed to all but the staff on
Wednesday, December 17, as we have an in-service staff/training day scheduled.
 The food drive continues through December: please share with as many as
possible, that we are looking for non-perishable foods for the AIO Food Pantry to help out neighbors in need. For non-perishable food items, most needed are:
canned fish or meat products (protein food), soup, fruit and fruit juices,
evaporated milk and powdered milk and cereals. Also needed: soap – dish
washing and personal, tooth brushes and other basic toiletries. Look for the
startup of a new after-school LEGO club in January!

OFFICE OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
 Prepare and coordinate agenda and meetings for REDAC and Harbor Trail
Committee.
 Continue to prepare status and project recommendations report for Acting City
Manager and CD Director successor.

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:
 A-Shift and B-Shift both toured Lonza as part of an annual review of the facility. Thankfully neither shift was interrupted by calls during the 45 minute tour.
 Firefighter Cole conducted a fire safety presentation for a local group home that covered basic fire prevention and kitchen safety.
 The FD provided confined space coverage to FMC numerous times this week with on duty staff. This requires that we notify FMC if the crew is out on any call
dropping our staffing too low to continue coverage. This in and out coverage is a
common occurrence but allows FMC to address issues more quickly than having
to schedule coverage.
 The new Zoll Cardiac Monitor/Defibrillators arrived and will be entering service in the next few weeks after the vender supplied in-service training is complete.
 With the rain came numerous calls for flooded basements. While we do not have the capability to pump out basements, we typically try to assist the homeowner in find the most appropriate service to help them. Once in a while we do need to respond to assess the hazard of water rising to the level of electrical and other service equipment. Often when electrical equipment is involved, CMP must be called in to secure the power before it is safe to begin the water removal process.

OFFICE OF THE RECREATION DIRECTOR
 The game room has been stocked and we are going to open the space daily this
winter from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM with extra hours during school vacations. The room will also be open during basketball games. I have been going through the
inventory this week looking for a better way to both control inventory and
increase revenue while still keeping things at a price the kids can afford.
 We are looking at a way to create a teen lounge area in the building to give kids a place to hang out and do homework. There needs to be a place for kids that are not into sports or who are just looking for a place to relax.
 This week was the start of all the remaining basketball programs. Kindergarten
was Wednesday and this Sunday will be the 1st through 4th leagues. Winter is
ramping up.

OFFICE OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
 John and David attended an IBC Advanced Training Workshop in Augusta on
12/5/14.
 John Root did a final inspection for Certificate of Occupancy at the new Habitat for Humanity house at 9 Pine Street.
 David and John both attended the Comprehensive Planning Commission
meeting on 12/11/14.
 There were two complaints filed this week.
 The following permits were received by the Code Office this week:
o 2 Building permits
o 5 Electrical permits
o 3 Plumbing permits
o 2 Street Excavation permits

OFFICE OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY DIRECTOR
 Worked with Mike Eber to design a system to monitor and alarm the Polymer
system through the plant SCADA system, should hear within 1 week regarding cost and scheduling.
 Plant operators had to man Glenwood Ave. pump station and run pumps
manually for 12 hours during the heavy rain Tuesday night.
 A.C. Electric is scheduled to pick-up the pump from Glenwood Ave pump station for testing and repair on Monday the 15th.Arrangements were made for fast turnaround, should be back in service in 2-3 days.
 The plant has been processing two trailer loads of sludge per day all week.
 Primary and secondary scum pits were cleaned by the plant operators.
 Plant maintenance workers investigated and worked on a problem with rain
water leaking in around the door on the west side of the plant.
 The basement stairs and pump rooms in the headworks building are being
scraped and painted.
 Received a quote for a replacement pump for the FMC equalization tank of
$6100 vs. repair estimate for existing pump of $11,000. The replacement has been ordered.
 Lab began Metals and Nutrients testing of processed sludge.
 Started Vinalhaven Landfill annual pretreatment testing.
 Extra Testing for FMC resumed.
 Met with D.E.P. about changes to the pretreatment program.
 Started filing the DMR.
 Responded to a call in for basements flooding during the storm at 43 & 45
Highland Street; it was caused by the high storm flow in the city’s system coming back through illegal basement drains in the homes.
 Checked a sewer back-up at 486 Old County Road, determined the problem was in the sewer lateral from the house.
 Responded to a sewer back-up at 38 Summer Street that was another case of the home having a basement drain that allowed it to backup during high flows in the system. The owner had plugged the drain when we arrived.
 Responded to a sewer backup at 87 Broadway. Determined that the problem
was caused by tree roots growing into the lateral pipe from the house, had gotten
bad enough to reach the length of the pipe and begin to enter the city sewer.
Advised the owner to call a contractor to have them cut out.
 Checked a high level alarm at Park Street pump station and corrected a problem with a float switch.
 Thayer Corp. replaced a cracked rear section on the boiler for the plant.

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
 City wide receptacle and building trash pickup including roadsides.
 A crew picking up roadside limbs/brush all week.
 Cold patch crew for two days patching potholes.
 Picked up bagged leaves for two days.
 Leaf blower crew cleaning up leaf piles for two days.
 Drainage pipe repair on Mechanic Street near South Main Street.
 Checking and cleaning off leaves from catch basin grates and culvert entrances in preparation of heavy rainfall.
 Worked at the Library for a day cleaning gutters, installing poly over window, and caulking.
 Repaired washouts along roadsides on Upper Pleasant Street and West Meadow Road.
 Cleaned up Fish Pier debris and hauled to Transfer Station for a day and a half.
 Picked up broken asphalt curbing in various areas in the city.
 After hours call-in for flooding issues on Highland Street, Mechanic Street, Seavey Lane, and Payson Lane on Tuesday night.
 Ditching work in front of 106 New County Road.

OFFICE OF THE SOLID WASTE FACILITY DIRECTOR
 Gordon Page has responded about developing the cardboard profit sharing and
food waste composting and will be setting up a merchant and restaurant steering
committee to work out the details.
 Installed electrical for the new surveillance system in the office trailer and in the gatehouse.
 Replaced the belts on theD5M.
 Attended MRRA Board of Director Meeting in Augusta.
 Plowed snow for Public Works in the new snow dump.
 Submitted the 1B food waste composting license to DEP for approval.
 Prepared memo and illustration to the City Manager on the Dragon quarry filling option.
 Repaired jaws and installed grease fittings on the MSW compactor.
 Performed wastewater sampling and mailed out to be tested.
 Loaded and sent out to be recycled 21 bales of #2 plastic.

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE
The officers responded to 231 calls for service. Rockland Police Officers responded to 16 motor vehicle crashes and two animal complaints. Thirty Four (34) traffic stops and traffic violations were conducted. The officers charged or made 20 arrests of individuals for various offenses, to include Bail violations, Traffic Offenses, Warrants, Drug Violations and OUI.
 Officer assisted MDEA in drug interdiction investigations within the surrounding area.
 Sgt Finnegan taught a course concerning Drug Recognition at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy for DRE Certification School.
 Chief Boucher attended the second meeting of the Prevent Use/Abuse and
Support Recovery Group this week.
 Officers assisted Rockport PD with the identification of a person of interest
concerning criminal activity in the Rockport area.
 Detectives have been working with Coast Guard Criminal Investigative service on an ongoing investigation.