The Rockland Report November 26, 2014

OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL FISH PIER DIRECTOR
 No permits were issued this week.
 All applications for next year lobster buyers, herring carriers, and bait dealers have to be received by November 26, 2014 to be considered for permitting on January 1, 2015. All current users have submitted an application for calendar year 2015.
 Commenced work on pole lighting fixtures around the public floats, and fuel
disbursing area.
 Public Works has continued the cleanup of pallets and debris.
 The price per pound for lobster is $3.50.

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
 The Adult Drawing Class featured wild turkeys and pheasants, while Children’s drawing class concentrated on turkeys, a Pilgrim feast, and cornucopias.
 The Saturday after Thanksgiving is always busy, especially with the addition of the Friends Holiday House tour, and the Silent Tree Auction.
 The last NaNoWriMo event was held on Sunday.

OFFICE OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
 Finalized review and agreement with contractor to assure cultural planning
process continues and meets objective of grant funding the civic engagement.
 Review capital projects including Thorndike Parking Lot and Harbor Trail along Mechanic with Manager and my recommendations for request of TIF funds to complete.
 Review projects with City Attorney to identify actions to finalize by December 31.
 Meeting with FMC to discuss future plans, city plans, as part of recommendation to Acting City Manager.
 Continue to finalize draft summary report on CED projects and recommendations to Acting City Manager.
 Meeting with existing company regarding space needs for future expansion,
possible city role.

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 evening we hosted Maria Pease a chemist with the State and Det.
Jason Pease of the MDEA Clandestine Lab Take Down Unit. They presented a
program for EMS and other first responders on the dangers of “home”
methamphetamine production and other new drug trends we’ve been seeing in
this area. This class provided our personnel with information on how to recognize potential dangers, the types of injuries and illness that can be expected and some tips on how to remain safe if you suddenly find yourself in a situation where drugs are being produced.
 Fire tragedies continue to be front and center here in Maine, and we are finding more and more people asking what more can be done. While most people think that newer homes are safer, the evidence shows otherwise. Here is a short video from the news in Texas that helps put the modern fire problem into perspective: new-homes-burn-hotter-faster.
 It’s important to note that while we routinely see older houses burning in the news, this is in large part because there are still far more “older homes” than new ones. While older homes themselves contain electrical and heating equipment that might be more likely to cause fire than newer safer equipment, the statistics show that fires will more often (83% of the time) be caused by some sort of human activity: cooking, smoking, candles, etc. This means the age of the house is only a factor in 17% of residential fires. Here in Rockland we always seem to have at least one unfortunate fire incident every holiday season. Practice and promote fire safety year-round: ensure your smoke detectors have fresh batteries, have a plan of escape that your whole family knows, close as many doors as you can to minimize fire spread, do not leave your kitchen stove unattended.

OFFICE OF THE SOLID WASTE FACILITY DIRECTOR
 Provided Gordon Page with a written description of how the program cardboard
profit sharing and food waste composting could work so he can meet with the
Main Street Merchants on developing this recycling program.
 Assisted a Fairpoint sub-contractor connecting the long stretch of phone line that was damaged by the storm. We finally have our phones connected.
 The Western Star road tractor will be picked up. The frame was blasted and
painted. We also had to replace an air can that was pitted and started to leak
once it was blasted.
 The alternator belt on the 816 was replaced.
 Worked on registering the 924 loader so that public works can use it to help with snow removal for the up and coming storm.