OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL FISH PIER DIRECTOR
One Lobster Vessel permit was issued this week.
Submitted user metered electric bills for payment along with the 1st payment on two Herring Carriers and four Lobster Buyer Stations to the Finance Department.
Attended the City Council’s agenda setting meeting.
Attended the City Managers Department Head meeting.
Met again with a representative from Somatex overhead crane and hoist services to finalize the type of free standing jib crane needed on the pier. Estimates to be sent within the next couple of weeks with changes included for our specific use.
Shoveling snow again.
OFFICE OF THE HARBORMASTER
With help from the Department of Public Services, we launched one float for Prock Marine to take away as part of the new Public Landing gangway project. They'll modify it with new hinges.
Prock also came in to drive two of the pilings for the project, though like everyone else, the snow has slowed them down.
The craftsmen working on the harbor building are right hard at it, and they are
really whipping through their projects.
Snow isn't the friend of people trying to get maintenance work on floats done
outside.
OFFICE OF THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR
I attended the Agenda Setting Meeting of City Council, and the City Manager’s meeting of department heads.
Both Catinka Knoth’s Adult and the Children’s Drawing classes concentrated on Spring and Fairytale Paper cutouts
The LEGO Club met Tuesday afternoon; it continues to attract new participants each session, and some wonderful creations are being made. We added additional new LEGO pieces, thanks to The Arts...for Kids & Their Families at the Rockland Public Library grant to the Friends.
Brio Promotions, which created the wonderful signage we added last year,
returned to measure and note a few more signs we’ll be adding soon. In other
signage news, Keith Drago has been updating and replacing the range signs at
the end of the Adult non-fiction stacks, and this will continue throughout. By the
time both projects are completed, we’ll have a cohesive look with improved
wayfinding.
This was the final week of AARP Tax Aide free income tax preparation. The
volunteers did a terrific job again this year; it’s wonderful to be able to offer this
service here.
Judith Andersen returned as guest presenter of Wednesday Storytime, opening
with a rendition of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. This week we had several boys
under three years, and a very active group. Miss Judy conducted, in her words,
“mobile Storytime”, following after the children to draw their attention into the
stories. She went through several books, including Eric Carle’s Animals, Animals (poetry), Dr. Seuss’s Mister Brown Can Moo, Can You?, Yellow is My Color Star, by Judy Horacek, and many other Seuss books.
Fireside Poetry this week featured students from Oceanside East, reading their
favorite poems.
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.
Wednesday ushered in Poetry Month Rockland (PMR); I arrived that morning to find that Jessie Blanchard and Mary Jane Martin had been very busy the evening before, decorating the Library in fine poetic form. Between a haiku Poet-tree, the annual opportunity for free-form refrigerator-door poems, and poetry related signs on the ends of book stacks, we look quite festive.
Patty King and I staffed a booth at the Business Expo from 4 to 7 pm. Friends of the Rockland Public Library took the first shift from 2 to 4. Thanks so much to Marilyn Trask (who also helped me set up Tuesday evening, and take down Wednesday), Judy Grossman, and Ann Rafferty for staffing till we got there. We had some terrific interactions, our display was well-done, and all in all, worth our time for the outreach.
Jean Young attended (the 26th annual) Reading Round-up at the Augusta Civic Center, a day-long event of speakers, workshops, book award ceremonies,
vendor time, and a showcase of performers available to do Children’s and Young
Adult programs. This is always an extremely useful and rewarding conference.
Jessie Blanchard made the weekly trip to the North Haven Community School.
The Thursday Evening Arts & Cultural Event was Poetry of War, Peace & Protest, with Rockland’s Poet Laureate, Carol Bachofner, speaking on the poetry of war, the poetry of peace, and the poetry of protest. Poems about these three
categories, and spanning WWI to the present, were shared. Following the
presentation, there was time for audience discussion.
On Saturday, we presented a special craft program on flower arranging (part of The Arts...series). Laurie from The Flower Goddess, a Thomaston flower shop, lead a program for all ages featuring fresh flower arranging. All materials were provided to participants.
Upcoming events of note: Reminder--A Swarm of Poets: In honor of Poetry Month Rockland and the many events associated with this celebration, we will once again host A Swarm of Poets: an evening of readings by a dozen or more Maine poets, as well readings by the winners of this year’s Poetry Contest. Also, an author talk with Ken Textor: The Hidden Coast of Maine, which includes photos of the Maine coast in all seasons and weathers, landward reaches to offshore islands and directions to each featured place. Insights that took Ken Textor 35 years to earn. Every photo was taken from a vantage point you can reach by car of ferry—86 destinations, 200 vistas, and a thousand excursions into the life and natural history of a storied coast. Ken Textor has ranged the Maine coast by land and sea since the late 1970s. He is a contributing editor for Down East magazine and has been boating columnist for the Maine Sunday Telegram, contributing editor for Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors and Country Journal, columnist for Popular Woodworker, and managing editor for Boating Digest
OFFICE OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY DIRECTOR
Pollution Control Facility
The treatment plant had high flows all week causing a CSO event that has lasted since Saturday with treatment plant combined flows reaching over 17 MGD.
One of our significant industrial users was off line and we had to make some
operational changes due to high dissolved oxygen in the aeration tanks caused
by the change in wastewater flows.
Met with Wright-Pierce to review the findings of the FMC pretreatment study.
Filed the monthly DMR report.
Completed the annual solid waste report for the solid waste facility.
The lab did BOD and TSS testing for North Haven and BOD testing for Vinalhaven.
Boyingtons Backflow Services inspected the backflow preventers at the treatment Plant and Park Street pump station.
Environmental Services
Installed inflow barriers in 17 sewer manholes that have vented covers to prevent stormwater from flowing into the sanitary sewer.
Jetted and cleaned the sewer main and manholes in Harbor Park to prepare for
completion of repairs to the manholes.
Ted Berry Co. completed epoxy injections to seal leaks in three sewer manholes in Harbor Park.
Had the treatment Plant lab test samples from the Ocean St. pump station for
conductivity. The results were low, indicating no signs of sea water infiltration in
that area of the south end of the city.
Responded to a reported sewer backup on Beech Street. Cleaned 300 ft. of sewer main west of Broadway and found no obstructions. The problem was later
determined by Interstate Septic to be in the private sewer lateral to 112 Beech
Street.
Located and surveyed sewer manholes on Old County Rd. at Cedar St. and
Rankin St., also one north of Granite St. that had been buried. The info was sent to Gartley & Dorsky for engineering of the proposed new sewer main.
Completed CCTV inspections of the sewer mains on Atlantic St.
Met with Summit Engineering on Old County Rd. to lay out the locations for test borings as part of engineering the new sewer main.
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:
Confined Space Rescue Coverage: FD personnel provided 164 hrs of confined
space detail coverage for FMC between Sunday night and Thursday afternoon.
This ensures FMC can work continuously on their projects during their shut-down period. They have requested an additional 120 hrs coverage through April 30th.
Dog Rescue: Friday evening RFD personnel were requested by PD to assist in
rescuing two dogs from the ice in the quarry across from the landfill at Limerock
and Old County. Personnel donned ice rescue suits and utilized the same
equipment and procedures that we use for rescuing people to successfully get
both dogs ashore to their owner. These calls often result in questions if this type of operation is worth the risk; we contend that it’s very good practice, the suits we utilize nearly negate any true risk, and if we did not perform these actions, the lay public would attempt them on their own. Too often civilian rescue attempts result the need for human rescues after they find themselves in an even worse
predicament that the original animal was in.
Structure Fire: The FD responded to a structure fire on Eliza Steele Dr. Monday evening during the Agenda Setting Meeting. Thankfully the code required fire separation helped contain the fire to just the unit of origin and the fire was quickly extinguished. Rockport FD responded for extra manpower where it might be needed at the scene or another call, due to all RFD personnel being tied up. Our personnel successfully utilized one of our Pet Oxygen masks to assist a cat that appeared to be in some distress after being removed from the smoky apartment. Thankfully, only the occupants of the fire apartment needed other accommodations, while those in adjacent units were allowed to return as soon as the fire was controlled. A/C Mazzeo confirmed the fire was caused by an overflow of hot oil onto the range top, serving as a reminder that kitchen fires are one of the main causes of fires in the home, and leaving an active stovetop unattended for even a brief moment can result in a very dangerous situation.
High Volume Day: On Wednesday C-Shift handled 16 emergency calls, including a smoke condition at Bartlett Woods that required residents to evacuate the north wing of the building until the smoke from burned food was removed. Again, Code driven safety enhancements allowed our personnel to direct the evacuees back into a safe area in the building, rather than expose them to the relatively cold air outside for 30-40 minutes. Thankfully, shifts where personnel must handle 16 calls are rare outside significant storms.
Of Note: Still no official cause determination on the Maverick St. fire, the Fire
Marshal’s Office is the lead agency at this time.
OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES DIRECTOR
Street sign repair for two days.
Boarded up windows at 63 Warren Street.
Cold patching roads for three days.
Picked up one load of cold patch.
Two days of shop clean up and organization.
Trash collection - building, containers and roadside.
Two day of street sweeping.
Filled in around basin at Sandy Beach.
Started spring clean-up of piles of sand and curbing.
Thursday snow storm, all hands.
Haul snow from parking lots.
Started putting out trash containers and picnic tables.
Solid Waste Facility
Constructed and started torch.
Paper pick-up around grounds.
OFFICE OF THE RECREATION DIRECTOR
We have been doing repairs around the building to get equipment back up and
running. We tore down an elliptical and rebuilt the swing arms. We have replaced the vent cap on the oil fill pipe. Replaced a door handle on a meeting room downstairs.
I had the staff go around the building Wednesday and pick up the trash now that the snow was gone. Thursday it was covered again.
I am working with Rockland Savings to set up the publicity for the new scholarship program that will benefit the Summer Day Camp.
There will be a fundraiser dance on each of the next two weekends here at the
Recreation Building. They are going to help some of the young people from RSU
#13.
OFFICE OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
Dave inspected City owned properties that may be reconveyed, a mobile home
on Second St., a home on Franklin St. and one on Jefferson St. that were recently
acquired by tax or sewer liens.
Dave met with Gordon Page and Audra Caler-Bell to discuss issues and projects of interest to Rockland Downtown.
Dave performed license inspections at Rockland Café, Brass Compass, Archer’s on The Pier, and Sunfire Grill.
John attended the City Council Agenda Setting Meeting 4/6/15 and the Planning Board Meeting on 4/7/15.
John attended an Ortho Viewer Workshop 4/9/15.
There were three complaints filed this week.
The following permits were received by the Code Office this week:
o 2 Building permits
o 4 Electrical permits
o 1 Plumbing permit
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE
Officers responded to 212 calls for service. Rockland Police Officers responded to three motor vehicle crashes and seven animal complaints. Thirty (30) traffic stops and traffic violations were conducted. Forty-seven (47) parking violations were issued. Officers charged or made arrests of 21 individuals for various offenses, to include Warrants of Arrest, Theft, Bail violations, Probation Violations, Traffic offenses, Alcohol Offenses, and Operating under the Influence.
We began working with the Restorative Justice Project to move forward with the implementation of this successful juvenile court diversion program into Knox
County.
Working with Knox County IT concerning department training on our Spillman records management system to enhance our records keeping capabilities and database capabilities.
Meeting with the Maine Lobster Festival members concerning emergency
operations planning for this summer’s festival and parade.
Working with area Law Enforcement on Pen Bay Medical Center’s emergency
management plans.
Working on a Department of Justice federal grant in an effort to enhance upon
officer safety equipment.
On Saturday April 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Rockland Police Department, and the Maine Sheriff’s Association will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your medications for disposal to the Rockland Police Department at 1 Police Plaza, Rockland. We are unable to accept needles, inhalers or thermometers. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.
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