OFFICE OF THE HARBORMASTER
Painting our rental mooring buoys so that they will be ready for installation for the spring.
Met with Public Works to discuss a spring schedule and installing a fence for
screening around the public landing dumpster. They also may be able to use
some of our old condemned mooring blocks off the park seawall.
Sabre Yachts is sponsoring a rendezvous in Rockland this summer, and we are
hosting at least some of the boats at the Public Landing. We spent some time this
week helping to organize the plans for their arrival.
OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL FISH PIER DIRECTOR
No permits were issued this week.
I met with the Finance Director to review the proposed FY-2016 Fish Pier budget request.
The snow is finally melting away and all these useless items are popping up
through the snow so spring collection of trash has begun.
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.
There is one appeal from Wal-Mart to the State Board that is scheduled for
May 14 & 15.
There are two appeals that I am waiting for information. They are, Ocean
State and Trade Winds.
OFFICE OF THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR
Both Catinka Knoth’s Adult and the Children’s drawing classes concentrated on a theme of The Circus - acrobats & animals.
Deputy Director Patty King represented the Library at the meeting of the Rockland Cultural Coalition. Held at the Lincoln Street Center, the group was presented with the outcome of its 2014 Forum and Listening session activities and began to outline future goals.
AARP Tax Aide free income tax preparation continues on Tuesday and Saturdays, through April 11.
The Memoir Writing Workshop was held on Tuesday. This group meets weekly, and is open to anyone who wants to write, share, or just listen.
The LEGO club (which meets every other Tuesday) had Space, as this week’s
theme.
We had a lovely early breakfast meeting of most of the full-, part-time, and on-call staff, whom I’d bribed with delicious food to attend. We covered a number of items that we had been unable to address during the in-service day in December.
Judith Andersen was the guest storyteller once again, and read The Dog with Bad Breath.
Jean Young made the weekly trip to the North Haven Community School.
I met with Finance Director, Tom Luttrell, about the Library’s FY16 Budget request.
I attended a meeting on the Summer Lunch Program 2015 at RSU 13’s Central
Office.
The weekly Rockland Rhythm Masters Drumming Troupe returned this Thursday.
Thursday afternoon, Creative Crafts with Artist Susan Beebe. This week’s project was building a cool castle of cardboard towers & turrets.
The Thursday Evening Arts & Cultural Event was the film: The Owl and the
Sparrow--On the bustling streets of Saigon, three very different people all seeking connection are about to collide.
On Saturday, we presented a special craft program, Printmaking on Tees, where participants explored the world of printmaking with local artist Sue Reed, and designed a tee-shirt. All ages were most welcome, and tee-shirts were provided.
Upcoming events of note: Poetry Month Rockland (still a little time to submit your poem for the annual contest--) and Film & Discussion: Growing Local. Cosponsored with Maine Farmland Trust and the Good Tern Co-op, the film is a
collaboration between Maine Farmland Trust and Seedlight Pictures. It points to
the vibrancy and the growing pains of the local food movement in Maine, and
the uncertain fate of the farmers and farmland which keep it alive. The film
contains three short vignettes: Seeding A Dream, Pig Not Pork, and Changing
Hands. Each focuses on a different challenge hindering the growth of the local
food movement in Maine, and points toward possible solutions. Discussion with
local farmers to follow film.
OFFICE OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY DIRECTOR
Pollution Control Facility:
Terry Pinto had a meeting with Mr. Jake Dowling regarding Winter Street
improvements and also a meeting with the design engineers regarding Winter
Street.
Plant flows were high this week with the average daily flow approx. 4 MGD.
A CSO event began Thursday due to warm temperatures and snow melt with
flows increasing to over 14 MGD.
Worked on the Solid Waste annual report.
Submitted the Solid Waste compost report.
Received the draft of City of Rockland Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permit and began review.
Submitted initial requirements for Discharge Monitoring Report – Quality Assurance (DMR-QA) Study 35
Conducted NPDES, Pretreatment & Sludge compliance sampling and sent out for analytical testing.
Prepared backup documentation supporting a Notice of Warning that was issued to an industrial user for not following their industrial permit.
Worked on chemical contracts for the upcoming budget.
The lab did B.O.D. testing for Vinalhaven.
Continued data entry into the new JobCal maintenance program.
SOMATEX completed the annual inspection of all hoists and cranes. They will send
a report with a quote for any necessary repairs.
Scheduled Knowles Industrial Services to begin repair of the headworks
building/flume leak.
Replaced the mixer motor and gearbox on the Acrison Polymer mixing system.
Repaired the hydronic unit heater in the headworks.
Environmental Services:
Assisted Maine Water on Masonic Street to locate a leak in their system that we suspect was entering our collection system in the area.
Did conductivity and smoke testing in the park upstream of the Park Street pump station in a continuing effort to locate the source of saltwater infiltration being detected at the pump station and treatment plant.
Continued with follow up investigations to the smoke testing results. Currently
working in the south end in the vicinity of Atlantic, Crescent, and Scott streets.
Measured and ordered infiltration barriers for 24 sewer manholes with vented
covers. This is a temporary measure to stop the flow of surface and storm water
into the collection system until the replacement of the manhole rims and covers is completed.
Responded to a Dig-Safe request from C.M.P. on Belvedere Street.
Received a schedule from Farley & Son, Inc. for the Thorndike Parking Lot project.
Began work on an RFP to post for bids for qualified contractors for small collection system projects and emergency repairs on an as needed basis.
Received a preliminary design and cost proposal from Gartley & Dorsky
Engineering for a sewer extension on Old County Road to be incorporated into
the planned road reconstruction project and began review.
City Manager authorized proceeding with collection system flow monitoring and the consultants were notified to proceed.
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:
Sunday night Engine 2 and Tower 3 responded to a Mutual Aid structure fire in Thomaston. The fire was quickly controlled by TFD and the tower returned almost immediately and Engine 2 was cleared shortly thereafter.
Monday morning we responded to Grove Street for smoke in a residence. The
smoke was caused by paint burning off pipes when the boiler’s numerous safeties failed and the unit went dry. At the time of discovery the top of the boiler was over 450F and the pipes leading into the walls were over 300 F. Thankfully the temporarily unoccupied house was checked on and the smoke discovered.
Participated in the Transient Lodging Workshop Monday evening.
I met with both the incoming and outgoing Maine Lobster Festival Presidents at EMA on Tuesday to discuss planning for this year’s Festival.
I participated in an interview with Pen-Bay Pilot regarding status of “volunteers” and the effect current trends are having on giving and receiving mutual aid.
Wednesday evening we held one of our few mandatory “all hands” drills for the year. The Bureau of Labor requires we conduct annual refresher classes on
Respiratory Protection, Blood and Airborne Pathogens and yes, Fire Extinguisher
use. There are a few other requisite topics that will be covered in coming weeks.
Thursday morning I met with the Finance Director to finalize our Fire and EMS budget proposal.
John Root, Dave Kalloch and I were invited to attend the Maine Realtors meeting at City Hall with Tim Fuller of the State Fire Marshal’s Office. We put many questions to him regarding their views on transient lodging. It appears we are all on the same page, though which paragraph, remains slightly in question.
OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES DIRECTOR
One crew picking up receptacle, building, and roadside trash for two days.
Hot box cold patch crew working for four days this week patching potholes.
Snow removal crew worked all week hauling snow from parking lots, roads, and sidewalks. Crew consisted of two loaders and three dump trucks.
Call-in for six trucks scraping and sanding for 1” snowfall on Saturday.
Scraping and spot sanding roads on Monday because of snow drifting due to
heavy winds.
Meeting with Joe LaBranche surveys reviewing sanding route efficiency analysis to date.
Picked up two loads of cold patch from All States Asphalt in Windsor.
Attended Winter Street and Old County Road meeting with Gartley & Dorsky
engineering to review plans.
Met with Home Depot and flower rep. They will be providing us with proposal for downtown flower arrangements for pole baskets.
Removed both street sweepers from storage. Going over machines in
preparation of street sweeping as weather permits.
Picked up waste oil from several locations including the transfer station which is used to heat our garage.
Picked up repaired 2012 International dump truck from Portland North (engine
and transmission work) and dropped off on same trip 2011 International dump
truck for exhaust module.
Reviewed Public Works budget with Finance Director.
Went to HP Fairfield in Skowhegan to review the hookup of plow attachments for our new Western Star wheeler which is due to be delivered at the beginning of May from O’Connors in Augusta.
Secured five houses that the city has acquired.
City sign maintenance for two days.
Grading (touch up) of some gravel roads for half a day.
Fire Safe updated fire extinguisher inspections for Transfer Station buildings and equipment.
Repairing skirting on Transfer Station office trailer.
A load of recycled paper hauled off.
A load of recycled plastic #3-#7 hauled off.
OFFICE OF THE FINANCE DIRECTOR
Approved Payroll Warrant.
Met with Dept. Heads on FY16 Budget.
Attended meeting with staff and Gartley & Dorsky on Old County Road
Reconstruction Project.
Met with Community Development Director on TIF Funds.
Worked on Solid Waste calculations for MSW sticker and tonnage fees.
Attended One Park Drive Condo Association meeting.
OFFICE OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Met with two businesses to discuss grant opportunities;
Met with three businesses to discuss options for joint marketing and marketing
Rockland online;
Met with working group to discuss next stages in the development of the Arts & Cultural Plan;
Attended a meeting with economic development professionals working in Knox County;
Met with the Finance Manager to discuss the FY16 TIF investment schedule;
Worked on the development of a request for information for development of the Tillson Avenue District; and,
Attended the March REDAC meeting and provided an update on the work of the CED Department and gathered input from REDAC.
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE
Officers responded to 224 calls for service. Rockland Police Officers responded to six motor vehicle crashes and 10 animal complaints. Thirty- eight (38) traffic stops and traffic violations were conducted. Sixty-five (65) parking violations were issued. Officers charged or made arrests of 15 individuals for various offenses, to include Warrants of Arrest, Disorderly Conduct, Bail violations Traffic offenses, Drug Offenses, and Operating Under the Influence.
Parking Enforcement Officer Troy Peasley was selected as the newest member of the Maine Law Enforcement Torch Run Hall Of Fame. This honor was bestowed upon Troy Thursday by Special Olympics’ Maine at the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run Conference in South Portland.
Congratulations Troy, we are proud of your dedication to this fine organization and to the precepts behind the annual LE Torch Run. Well done.
OFFICE OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
Following inspections of a tax acquired property at 20 Katahdin Avenue by John and Dave, it was determined that work required for re-conveyance had not yet been completed.
John and Dave attended the City Council workshop for transient
accommodations on 3/23/15.
John met with the owners of Café Miranda to discuss erection of a canopy over the outside eating area.
John met with a representative of Crestwood Kitchens to discuss what requires
permits in the City. We appreciate this proactive approach by businesses.
John and Dave took part in a State of Maine Subsurface Wastewater Systems
webinar 3/24/15.
Dave communicated with a timber harvesting company, the property owner, a
DEP representative and the State Forester to ensure adequate erosion controls
were installed at a logging operation on the road crossing Meadow Brook off from Lake Avenue.
Dave attended the Midcoast Code Enforcement Officers meeting in Rockport
3/24/15, for a presentation by this region’s State Forester and a Water Resources
Forester.
John met with a real estate agent on 3/26/15, to discuss the uses permitted in an
existing two-family dwelling being listed, particularly with regards to short-term
rentals.
Dave met with an apartment owner to discuss and offer assistance in dealing with a tenant with hoarding and sanitary issues.
John and Dave attended a meeting of local realtors where a State Fire Marshal
was a speaker on 3/26/15.
Dave spent considerable time preparing for the Comprehensive Planning
Commission meeting that he attended on 3/26/15.
The following permits were received by the Code Office this week:
o 2 Building permits
o 2 Electrical permits
o 4 Plumbing permits
o 5 Street Excavation permits (Maine Water)
OFFICE OF THE RECREATION DIRECTOR
The Dodge ball league held the double elimination tournament that ended the
season and crowned the champion for the next year. Congratulations to the
Rec’n Crew for the win.
Alexis has donated a mural for the game room. Originally hung at the Farnsworth,
the mural is going to be placed on the back wall of the game room.
This weekend is the Girls’ 5th & 6th grade tournament here at the building. There will be lots of excitement around the building this weekend. This is a busy time for the staff here and they work hard to make sure things go smoothly. The boys’ tournament went very well last weekend and we had many compliments on the quality of the tournament.
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