The Rockland Report December 19, 2014

OFFICE OF THE FINANCE DIRECTOR/ACTING CITY MANAGER
 Approved Payroll Warrant
 Met with City Attorney and Community Development Director to discuss CEA agreement.
 Atlantic Environmental Contractors performed an air quality test in City Hall,
awaiting results.
 Met with WWTF Director and Gartley & Dorsky on Winter Street Project – Bid will be out beginning of New Year.
 Met with Main Street Director – Gordon Page
 Conducted Interviews for both Assistant Waste Water Director Position and
Community Development Director.
 Started receiving budgets from Department Heads for FY16.
 Met with Harbor Master to discuss his FY2016 budget.
 Spoke with Citizens on the following:
 High Speed Internet
 A possible memorial for fishermen lost at sea
 Sewer Lateral questions

OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL FISH PIER DIRECTOR
 Held an on sight meeting with Beal’s Surveying Company to go over the Dredge Soundings Project requirements of the area around pier to be surveyed. The surveyor will work around the weather to complete the project by June 30, 2015.
 Met with a representative from Somatex, (overhead cranes and hoist specialist), to review the types of hoist equipment available to replace existing hoist equipment.
 No permits were issued this week.
 Serviced soda machine and collected money. Rolled up coins for deposit with the Finance Department and dropped off same.
 Barrels that had been blown around the pier have been removed from the pier by owner for winter storage.
 Filing paperwork for Calendar year 2014 close out of permits issued. Setting up folders for next year’s permits to be issued.
 The price per pound for lobster is $4.50.

OFFICE OF THE HARBORMASTER
 Worked with the Agent for the American Cruise Lines on the schedule for the 2015 summer visits of the Independence.
 Received word of a raft of proposed changes to the USCG's inspection and
screening rules for secure passenger facilities. I'll read through them and work with the Coast Guard to implement them once they are finalized.
 Responded to a call for a mooring buoy that went ashore in the South End, and
another that was in the channel near the Coast Guard dock.
 Met with a mooring inspector to discuss a mooring failure that occurred this fall.
 Worked on the updates to the mooring database and the letter that goes out to
mooring permit holders.

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 concentrated on the themes of Chanukah, and
Christmas cards.
 We held a “Simple Crafts Night,” where participants made a number of lovely
items suitable for gifts or decoration.
 We were closed to the public on Wednesday, when all full-time and many parttime staff took part in a in-service training day. Activities included teaching
and/or reviewing various procedures and processes, brainstorming on several
ongoing and upcoming projects, discussion of patron privacy laws and practices,
an overview of what it means to be a Family Place Library™, some cleanout of
the basement, and a huge shifting of the Adult non-fiction collection (which
continues as a work in progress).
 The technician from Eastern Fire performed routine testing of the Library’s fire alarm system.
 Patty King made the weekly trip to the North Haven Community School.
 Maine Families made its monthly visit to the Children’s Room; self-sufficient, they
make use of the space and resources, but do not require staff assistance.
 Rockland Rhythm Masters Drumming Troupe held the weekly Thursday session.
 Thursday evening’s Arts & Cultural Events program was a Camden Conference Lecture: Dr. Anthony Antolini spoke about The Russian Orthodox Church Today.
 I attended the Friends’ Board Meeting, which was also a farewell for several
retiring members.
 Children’s Librarian Jean Young hosted the weekly Baby Storytime.
 Craft Fridays for the Holidays, with music, goodies, and lots of lovely craft ideas and supplies continued in the Children’s Room.
 On Sunday, we hosted a Dramatic Reading: Dylan Thomas' classic A Child's
Christmas in Wales was performed in the Community Room by Erika Pfander and Peter Jenks and local area musicians. This is the 21st year of this special
performance (though not held at the Library each of those years).
 Upcoming/ongoing events: Greg Marley: Wild Mushrooms of the Yuletide Season. Join local mushroom expert and author Greg Marley as he explores wild edible, medicinal and poisonous mushrooms, and reveals the connections of mushrooms to the Yuletide season. 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-rich 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.

OFFICE OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
 Finalized and submitted CD Office Project Summary Report to City Manager.
 Prepared and held meeting on Broadband development in the City, follow up on same.
 Prepared and held Ad Hoc Harbor Trail Committee meeting, follow up on same.
 Prepared and held REDAC meeting, follow up on same.
 Began to catalog and document location of CD Office files.

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:
 I assisted Knox EMA in conducting the annual “capacity” exercise for PBMC. The exercised simulated an explosion at the Sussman House (which also tested their staff and emergency procedures) and then the subsequent transport of nine
patients to the Emergency Department. We utilized one RFD ambulance and
multiple others to help facilitate this drill, which lasted about 2 hrs.
 On Monday C-Shift utilizing Tower 3 changed the flag in Veteran’s Memorial
Square.
 CEO Root and I met with the new owners of the Talbot House to discuss future
options for the property.
 All career EMS personnel received In-service training for the three new Zoll
Cardiac Monitor/Defibrillators. This was done in two classes to get all personnel.
The new units are now being utilized and have even greater capabilities for
identifying dangerous cardiac issues and steering emergency treatment in the
field. The short of it, that these units will raise our success rates with seriously ill
patients.
 Our regularly schedule training covered building construction an identified
common hazards and issues found here in Rockland. A great fire service leader
and author, Francis Brannigan said, “The building is your enemy, know your
enemy”. Our people need to know how fire and smoke travels and affects a
building to know best how to rescue trapped people and extinguish the fire safely.
 CEO Root and I conducted a “final” inspection of the new YMCA.
 RFD personnel, working overtime, provided the staffing for a dedicated confined space rescue team for FMC for 40 man-hours this week. This dedicated rescue team is required so that their employees don’t have to stop working every time we have another fire or EMS call. FMC repays the costs for all of this coverage. By Federal Law, any time a confined space permits is required a rescue team must be on “stand-by” and just listing the local FD does not meet the requirements. So far in FY 15 we have staffed over 500 hours for this coverage.

OFFICE OF THE RECREATION DIRECTOR
 Due to low numbers in the 3rd and 4th grade basketball league, I am bringing up the 2nd graders, allowing for four boys teams and four girls teams. This should keep the games interesting for all involved and make for a better program all around. In the six week schedule, the teams will play each other twice.
 The boilers appear to finally be running correctly and the building is staying at a constant temperature.
 We put on a small breakfast for the “Knit Wits” this week to wish them Happy
Holidays. They seemed to enjoy the morning festivities.
 I am still dealing with a hot water heater that isn’t running properly and I am
consulting with Rock Coast Plumbing and Heating to see if they can fix the
problem once and for all.

OFFICE OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
 John attended a County GIS Meeting in Bangor on 12/18/14.
 Final inspection was done for Certificate of Occupancy for the new Habitat for
Humanity House at 9 Pine Street.
 Final inspection was also done for Certificate of Occupancy for the new YMCA
Daycare and Fitness Center at 12 Water Street.
 There were two complaints filed this week.
 The following permits were received by the Code Office this week:
o 1 Building permit
o 2 Electrical permits
o 3 Plumbing permits
o 1 Sign permit

OFFICE OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY DIRECTOR
 Removed #2 pump at Glenwood Ave. pump station on Monday and sent to A.C.
Electric for testing and rebuild. Returned and reinstalled Wednesday morning.

 Received and installed the replacement grinder for #3 BFP feed pump. This was through an exchange program with the manufacturer; it is a cost savings and
provides a new warranty on the equipment.
 Repaired a sheared bolt on the drive roller of the Gravity Belt Thickener. Repairs went well, down time was limited to about 3 hours.
 Removed #2 washwater booster pump for inspection and rebuild. Should be back in service next week.
 Painting in the headworks building is ongoing.
 Worked with Interstate Septic on preventive maintenance cleaning of the wetwell at Glenwood Ave. pump station.
 Called to inspect a sewer lateral repair at 486 Old County Road, attempted to
inspect the remainder of the pipe from the property running under the road (due
to the upcoming road project) . The camera was only able to go a short distance
due to breaks in the pipe that were located where it crosses under the ditch. It
may have been damaged during recent ditching done by the city. Public Works
Dept. was notified to dig and repair it.
 Began cleaning and inspection of the sewer and drain lines on Limerock St.
starting west of Highland St. and working towards Broadway. We are finding
many areas with tree root intrusion into the sewer and pipe joints that are
deflected and open. There is more to be inspected.
 Met with the contractor at 71 Acadia Drive to discuss the location of the sewer
connection from a new modular home being installed in January.
 Met with Gartley & Dorsky to review the final Winter St. drainage design and
discuss the scope of work to prepare for bidding in January.
 Lab did B.O.D. and T.S.S. testing for Northhaven
 B.O.D. testing for Vinalhaven
 Extra Testing for F.M.C.
 Typical plant flow this week was 3-3.5 MGD before the rain, the impact of the rain drove this over 20 MGD and high flows continued through Thursday.

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
 City wide receptacle and building trash pickup for two days including roadside.
 Two combination brush/leaf roadside pickup crews for 4 ½ days. Entire city has been picked up with two sweeps and is completed except for mountain area
which is currently being worked on.
 Cleaned several catch basin sumps and flushed Mechanic Street drainage
culvert for a day.
 Leaf blower crew removing leaves for two days.
 Cold patching pot holes on city streets for two days.
 Sewer lateral repair in on Old County Road across from Cedar Street that we
damaged during ditching operation.
 Grading work on Thompson Meadow Road.
 Picked up a load of cold patch at All States Asphalt in Windsor.
 Picked up newly fabricated radiator in Gardner for 2005 Tenco snow blower and installed at Public Works.
 Attended meeting with Gartley & Dorsky reviewing design of proposed sidewalk
on west side of Lime Street to be funded by FMC Corp.
 Crew checking and clearing leaves from brooks, ditches, and catch basins on
Wednesday before and during heavy rain.

OFFICE OF THE SOLID WASTE FACILITY DIRECTOR
 Brush grinding continued this week - we are about 2/3 complete. I would estimate
that we have about 700 tons of ground material.
 Installed the new surveillance system in the office trailer and in the gatehouse.
 Loaded and sent out one truckload of universal waste to be recycled.
 Removed from the south extraction well and replaced the wet end on the south
pump as part of yearly pump maintenance.
 Began talking with Drumlin Engineering about beginning the process of
completing the landfill Environmental Monitoring report.
 Began preventative maintenance on the transfer station overhead door motors.
 Sent in the wastewater reporting requirements to the treatment plant.
 Began drafting a letter to a waste hauler that is operating within the City of
Rockland about the permit requirements and flow control.

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE
Officers responded to 184 calls for service. Rockland Police Officers responded to 11 motor vehicle crashes and four animal complaints. Forty-one (41) traffic stops and traffic violations were conducted. Officers charged or made 18 arrests of individuals for various offenses, to include Bail violations, Traffic Offenses, Warrants, Probation violations, Drug Violations and OUI.
 Deputy Chief Tower took part in the Maine Chiefs of Police Associations Awards committee meeting at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy this past week.
 Chief Boucher met with members of the Many Flags concerning potential grant collaboration.
 Officer Bagley participated in the “Wreaths Across America” convoy event held last week as the wreaths left the state on route to Arlington National Cemetery.
 Sgt. Kenneth Smith assisted with the US Coast Guard and Maine Light house
museum’s flying Santa event this past week.
 Chief Boucher attended the monthly meeting of Board of Directors for Sexual
Assault Support Services of Mid-Coast Maine on Wednesday night.
 Officer Neal and Chief Boucher met with staff at Rockland Middle School to
exchange and review our respective policies and protocols when responding to
school safety and violence issues.