OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
I have been working closely with CDD about the possible economic development proposal. We had a phone conference that brought to light how the developer will proceed according to the City and State proposal processes. It is progressing nicely but information needs to be reserved at this time. We have roll out strategies.
I have been working on the Maine Lighthouse Museum quandary over the last few weeks and I was approaching a reasonable proposal for the Council.
THEN…please refer to the USCG Curator’s email attached. I will likely report to the Council during agenda setting in May but it is not promising.
I have employed a Human Resources Consultant, Laurie Bouchard, who I have worked with before. She will be helping me address personnel issues in the Public Services Department. As is the case with all personnel proceedings, family and friends of affected employees reach out to elected officials. Please be advised.
Next week my youngest daughter is having a minor surgery. I will attempt to work remotely as much as possible. I am available and working but possibly not in the office all week.
OFFICE OF THE FINANCE DIRECTOR
Approved Payroll Warrant.
Attended Budget Presentation.
Worked on Year End Projections.
Developing Project Tracking Worksheet for all City wide projects.
OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL FISH PIER DIRECTOR
No permits were issued this week.
Commenced sweeping up of excess sand from winter sanding.
Coordinated with ECO-ANALYSTS INC. and Fred Beal’s Surveying Co. to initiate the required information for Fred’s company to take soundings that ECO-ANALYSTS can use for the next step in the dredging process. The Datum both will use will be UTM, NAD 1993.
Coordinating with Prock Marine and Somatex Crane Services on the engineering for the mounting base on the free standing jib cranes to be installed.
OFFICE OF THE HARBORMASTER
With the arrival of the nice weather, I've been working on float maintenance
projects. Some replacement hinges, decking, floatation, and other general
repairs.
Had the opportunity to look at the almost complete ADA gangway that's being
built at Prock Marine. It is gorgeous and I'm really looking forward to when we
finally get to use it.
Acted as a go-between with the Penobscot Pilots to get Rockland EMTs out to a large commercial cargo vessel to stabilize and evacuate a crew member with a
head injury.
After the early week storm, we had one small fishing boat capsize at her mooring in the North End, but they've got her flipped back upright and hauled out.
OFFICE OF THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR
Due to the holiday, there was no Adult Drawing class this week; the Children’s Drawing classes concentrated on baby animals.
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 met, with this week’s building theme of ships.
We co-sponsored a talk: A Musical History of Swan’s Island, with the Rockland Historical Society. Meghan Vigeant presented a multimedia show, which documented the tragic fire that destroyed the Swan’s Island Historical Society, and her efforts to help recreate that history.
Judith Andersen returned as guest presenter of Wednesday Storytime reading
several stories to a multi aged group. She read from A light in the Attic ,by Shel
Silverstein, My Brother, Ant, by Betsy Byars, William’s Doll, by Charlotte Zolotow, and her favorite Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, by Judith Viorst. Children’s Librarian Jean gathered the children round the craft table, where they colored a rabbit holding pussy willows. When they finished, Miss Jean gave them a sprig of real pussy willows to tape to their completed coloring
Droplet Dance was a special Vacation Week presentation. Part of the Arts… for
Kids and Their Families series was held on Wednesday afternoon. This program
was choreographed and performed by Molly Gawler, and integrated
dance, theater, and acrobatics.
Poetry Month Rockland’s Fireside Poetry Series this week was a Community Open Read. All ages were welcome to come and share a favorite poem, one they
wrote, or just to sit back and enjoy an informal afternoon of poetry. Delicious treats and coffee were provided by the Friends of Rockland Library and Poetry Month Rockland
What’s In The Trunk? Creativity! This month’s Science Trunk from the Cornerstones of Science program, with hands-on activities and games, gave participants a chance to exercise and inspire the creative side of the brain by doing simple activities with everyday items. Activities included: Exploring Sound, Exploring Art and Exploring Paper.
The Thursday Evening Arts and Cultural Event was the foreign film, My Mother's Castle, a sequel to director Yves Robert's earlier My Father's Glory, both based on the childhood recollections of Marcel Pagnol. Like its predecessor, the movie explores the adventures of the young Marcel (Julien Ciamaca) during his summers at the family country home in Provence.
On Saturday, we presented a special craft program, Painting Found Objects, Part 2. Local artist Sue Reed led a special painting session for older children, teens, and adults. (Part of The Arts for…Kids and their Families series)
On Sunday, the Library hosted a special Poetry Month Rockland (PMR) event, a film: The World of Wallace Stevens. Producer and director Alison Johnson
presented a documentary about Stevens’ life and poetry, and allowed time for
questions following the screening; Ms. Johnson also signed copies of her DVD and her biography of Stevens.
Upcoming events—The Poetry Swarm (including winners of the PMR Poetry
Contest), and Public Health Talk: Dr. Bea Szantyr, discussing Lyme disease and
other tick-borne illnesses.
OFFICE OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY DIRECTOR
Pollution Control Facility
The treatment plant has been running well this week.
The plant has been in a CSO event all week due to the rain.
The average daily treatment plant flows were 4.5 mgd, due to the CSO event
combined flows exceeded 16 mgd.
The lab did BOD testing for Vinalhaven.
Both the CSO and effluent chemical pumps and analyzers have been tested and are ready to go online for the summer starting in May.
The primary and secondary scum boxes were pumped and cleaned.
Modifications to the effluent chemical and instrumentation building were
completed for wiring to the new ultra-sonic sensors for the flow meters.
Repairs were made to the drive roller on the GBT.
Finished rebuilding the spare recirculation pump for the odor control system.
Set up rigging over #1 filter press to remove and replace the drive motor, the new motor arrived and will be installed Monday.
Met with a representative from Chesterton to discuss a new automatic lubrication system for the overhead conveyers in the trailer loading bay.
Worked on scheduled preventative maintenance of treatment plant and pump
station equipment. Environmental Technicians
Updated the list of locations of vented sewer manholes around the city and
forwarded it to Dave Larrabee to schedule changing the rims and covers.
Continued investigation into complaints of sewer odor coming from the catch
basins in the vicinity of Ocean and Water Streets.
Inspected a sewer lateral repair on Masonic Street.
Responded to a sewer backup on Broadway at Railroad Avenue on Tuesday at
8:00 p.m., the problem was in the owners sewer lateral.
Completed cleaning and camera inspection of 600 ft. of sewer main on upper
Cedar Street.
Responded to a sewer backup at 41 Talbot Avenue. Used the sewer jetter to clear a blockage from the sewer main.
Replaced the shaft on the level wind mechanism of the hose real on the sewer
jetter. Other Projects
Thorndike Parking Lot: Tillson Avenue sidewalk is almost completed, conduit for the underground electric was installed, the granite curb along the back of the
buildings is in place, and work has started on Glovers Passage.
Winter Street: J.B.I. has stripped the pavement from Park Drive to the Key Bank entrance, the manholes and catch basins were delivered, the area excavated for water main work has been backfilled and compacted, and there has been a
change to the catch basin plan to avoid the need for an easement on the
Gronros property at Winter & Park Drive.
OFFICE OF THE FIRE CHIEF
In addition to the general response to 30 fire and EMS calls, conducting apparatus checks, daily cleaning, routine repairs and maintenance to the fleet and of the quarters, the following occurred:
Training: Our bi-weekly full company drill was to review our “Basic Structure Fire Plan”. This ensures all personnel understand what is expected of them depending on when they arrive and on which apparatus. Without an established framework, the Incident Commander must direct every single task, which is immediately overwhelming. While this “Basic Plan” has long been utilized with great success, we are now documenting it to better ensure every member is aware of the details.
Confined Space Rescue Coverage: This week FD personnel provided 80 hrs of
confined space detail coverage for FMC between Monday and Thursday. On
Friday morning FMC requested additional coverage but due to lack of detailed
personnel will be asked to suspend any work if our personnel get any emergency
call as we will be unable to provide the requisite dedicated team. Word is that the
workload at FMC is not slowing as we move into May.
Notable: Two roofing companies evaluated a leaking section of the fire station
roof to provide repair estimates.
CIP project: Thermal Imaging Camera bids were opened Thursday morning with 7 companies providing bids. We will be evaluating each bid to ensure compliance with the specifications and to get the overall best value to the City.
Inspections: CEO Root and I conducted two inspections together: one follow-up inspection of an apartment building and the second, a “pre-conveyance”
inspection of a previously sold apartment building.
OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES DIRECTOR
Painting tables and trash receptacles.
Checking basins and brooks.
Filled in three sinkholes.
Trash pick-up City-wide.
Cleared blown-down tree from roadway.
Trash pick-up at Transfer Station.
Cleaned City parks with Recreation Department.
Street and sidewalk sweeping.
Trimmed brush along roadways.
Cold-patched roads City-wide.
Installed sump pump at 36 Broadway (City owned property).
Repaired lawn damage.
Mechanics, ball joint and rear brakes on #2 truck, picked up bearings for sweeper and patched pick-up shoot; serviced tires and renewed inspection on Rec truck; rewired trailer lights on #20; took #31 to Ford garage for antifreeze leak under warranty, #1 returned with ABS repaired from Fuller’s.
OFFICE OF THE RECREATION DIRECTOR
The weather is making it hard to keep the planned schedule for outside work but we are working with Public Services to get the big parks on the Main Street route
cleaned up and ready to be mowed. They are cleaning out the leaves as well as
the sand and salt from winter.
I have met with Nicole from Dunkin Donuts about the park at the junction of Main and North Main. We will be working together to make sure this park looks good for summer.
I have spoken with Scott Reiff from the Maine State Prison and he is working up a price to build dog waste bag dispensers that would be placed around the City.
The After School Program has been running all week for April Vacation. The kids are having a good time and they have been able to take a couple walks
downtown.
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE
Officers responded to 226 calls for service. Rockland Police Officers responded to 7 motor vehicle crashes and 6 animal complaints. Fifty-six (56) traffic stops and traffic violations were conducted. Forty-seven (38) parking violations were issued. Officers charged or made arrests of 15 individuals for various offenses, to include Warrants of Arrest, Bail violations, Traffic offenses, Alcohol Offenses, Drug Offenses and Operating under the Influence.
Officers took part in training on updates to our records management system
(Spillman) concerning proper information input.
Chief Boucher attended the Knox County Community Health Coalition directors meeting this past week.
We are drafting updates to our Mutual Aid agreements with surrounding agencies and communities.
Sgt. Finnegan presented a training overview of drug that impair at DHHS for area case workers.
Officers assisted in training at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy concerning field sobriety.
Officers are working with the Bureau of Highway Safety and AAA for a conference on Impaired driving this past week.
OFFICE OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
Dave and John attended the MidCoast Code Enforcement Officers Association
meeting in Thomaston on 4/22/15.
John and the Fire Chief met with the owner of 8 Laurel Street regarding extension of one of the dwelling units to the third floor.
John met with the owner of 73 Crescent Street to discuss requirements for
converting the single-family dwelling to a two-family dwelling.
There were three complaints filed this week.
The following permits were received by the Code Office this week:
o 4 Building permits
o 1 Driveway permit
o 5 Plumbing permits
o 2 Sign permits
