Final technical specifications for the Main Street streetlights are being finalized. They should be completed within the next few weeks. There was an issue with the bolt pattern. Additionally, the City was waiting for the Legislature to resolve the level of funding available for the project due to the “fix” in the 2013 Energy Bill. If additional Council action is needed it will be presented in the August agenda. The target replacement date is October.
Old County Road, Elm Street, and Museum Street projects are nearing execution stages. Rather than brief the Council by memo, I decided to bring Andrew Hedrich and William Gartley, Gartley & Dorsky, in for an exclusive briefing. There is also action presented to the Council for Elm and Museum Street.
The Firefighters Union contract is being reviewed and ratified by the union. I
suspect that it will be ready for action on July 13th. We will add it to the agenda in that instance.
We should schedule an update about negotiations with the Teamsters.
OFFICE OF THE CITY ASSESSOR
Processed Real Estate Transfers, updating parcel cards, sales book, and
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.
Updating GIS with the new splits and merges.
Listening and reviewing properties at the property owner’s request.
Updating Tax Maps and posting to the web site.
OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL FISH PIER
One Mobile Bait dealer permit was issued this week.
The f/v western sea offloaded 600,000 lbs. of herring
The f/v western wave offloaded 120,000 lbs. of herring.
Submitted user metered electric bills to the Finance Department for payment.
Closed out PO’S and administrative paper work for fiscal year 2015. Set up fiscal year 2016 PO’S and files.
OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES DIRECTOR
Trash pick-up City-wide.
Shoulder work, grade and Railroad Avenue.
Picked up truck #10 in Augusta.
Trimmed trees.
Graded lake parking lot.
Basin repair on Pacific Street.
Painting City streets and crosswalks.
Mowed lawns at transfer station, city-owned properties on Limerock and West
Meadow.
Picked up repaired truck #8 in Ellsworth.
Picked up paper at transfer station and swept.
Cold patched roads.
Watered flowers.
Prepared hot top patches.
Installed bike racks.
Culvert repair on Lake View Terrace.
Swept City streets.
OFFICE OF THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR
The number of visitors has picked up significantly this week.
The Summer Breakfast and Lunch programs continue—and was marked by the first day we had requests for a meal beyond what was available; clearly the word is beginning to spread.
Keith Drago hosted the Monday evening Drop-in Tech Help.
Catinka Knoth’s Adult Drawing class featured reds, whites, and blues this week, while Children’s class this week drew Fourth of July celebrations.
The Polliwog Pages writing class continued this week; it’s part of The Arts...series.
This was a LEGO club week; interestingly, several people inquired about bringing their own, and while this is discouraged due to mixing with the Library’s, these conversations may result in some donations of additional pieces.
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.
Judith Andersen returned as guest Storytime presenter, and had an eclectic
audience of boys and girls ranging in ages 2 to 10. Children’s Librarian Jean
Young reports that Miss Judith did very well engaging all listeners who sat
peacefully and listened to every word. She began by introducing our newest
stuffed animal, a giant brown bear with top hat and flag (more later about this
fabulous donation). Books read included Just Like Bossy Bear, by David Horvath, Giving is the Best Gift: Lessons from the Hundred-Acre- Wood, by Sheryl Berk, and I Yam a Donkey!, by Cece Bell. Afterwards, appropriately, the children challenged each other to a coloring contest; “who can color the most interesting bear”…
On Wednesday evening, the staff hosted a thank you reception for the Friends’
and PLEA Board members, for their extraordinary donations promised to the
Library for FY16.
Another program of The Arts for Kids & their Families at the Rockland Public Library began this week. The four-week series is Beginning Ukulele Class for Everyone. If you own a ukulele, please bring it. The Library has ten concert ukuleles for use during the class. Celia Jones has been teaching locally for many years and is enjoying teaching Rockland area families the fun of strumming the ukulele.
Storytime at the Rockland Farmers’ Market was hosted this week by Friends’ Board member Jeanie Schaden.
The Thursday Evening Arts and Cultural Event was an Artist Talk: William
Irvine. Mr. Irvine has established himself as a Maine and American master, known for his seascapes, as well as enchanting figurative paintings and still-lifes. In 2014, William Irvine: A Painter’s Journey was published and features a stunning selection of his work.
The Library was closed on July 3rd and 4th. Sunday was the last Sunday open.
Upcoming: A financial literacy series on Mondays, starting July 6 at 5:30 PM:
My Money Works, co-sponsored by Women, Work & Community. This class can help you gain the skills and confidence you need to stretch your money, pay your bills, reduce debt, find money for savings, plan for retirement, and set personal financial goals. A follow-up session is scheduled to provide additional networking and support. Successful completion of this class meets one of the requirements for the Family Development Account (FDA) and Rainy Day Savings (RDS) matched savings programs. Also, an Art & Architecture Talk: Beautiful in All its Details– Library Art & Architecture, with artist Alison Rector (whose painting of the Rockland Public Library we now own) and Kurt Mohney of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission.
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE
D/C Young –
Coordinated with the Department of Labor during a “surprise” inspection of the Police Department. This inspection took one full day. No citations were issued by the inspector.
Coordinated with the City Clerk in reviewing and signing several licenses for local businesses and various permits.
Coordinated with FMC and Chief Miceli regarding the deliveries of LNG to the FMC facility during the Lobster Festival.
Worked w/ Sgt. Finnegan on planning and staffing for the Blues Festival Pub Crawl.
C.I.D. –
Assisted MDEA with an ongoing investigation.
Met with Maine Liquor Enforcement regarding the accidental death at the Time Out Pub.
Coordinated with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms regarding an
ongoing investigation in Rockland.
Det/Sgt. Thompson attended training on Sexual Offender and Physical Abuser
Typology.
Det. Neal attended training on identifying deceptive behavior.
C.I.D. met with all re-sellers in Rockland and provided them with the revised City ordinance and assisted in bringing them into compliance.
Conducted physical security surveys and employee training for businesses on
Main Street.
Patrol –
Received training on the Belt Trauma Kit and CAT tourniquet.
Checked the Public Restrooms nightly.
Answered 191 complaints.
Conducted 21 motor vehicle stops.
Arrested or summonsed 16 individuals for various violations of law.
OFFICE OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY DIRECTOR
Pollution Control Facility
The treatment plant has been running well this week.
There were two days of CSO events due to rain which increased the average
plant flow from 4.0 MGD to 11.8 MGD.
The lab did BOD & TSS testing for Vinalhaven and North Haven.
Responded to a high level alarm at Waldo Avenue pump station. The cause was a clogged pump. The pump was removed, cleaned and reinstalled.
Fabricated a new suction pipe for #2 plant water pump to be installed during the next scheduled shut down of the system.
Assembled a new PVC manifold for the inlet side of the sodium hypochlorite
system.
Steel-Pro fabricated and installed new access ladders in the primary clarifiers. This will allow safer entry for routine cleaning of the effluent weirs and baffles.
Woodard and Curran investigated and corrected various issues with both the
treatment plant and pump station SCADA systems. There were some alarms for
critical issues that would come into the computers and were failing to call out to
the operator on duty.
Worked on preventative maintenance on equipment in the headworks building
and secondary pump room.
Environmental Services
Received and programmed a new hand held water velocity flowmeter to be
used for calibration of the equipment being used for the collection system flow
monitoring study.
Inspected a sewer repair at 32 Warren Street.
Investigated a sewer backup at 7 Highland Street extension. It appears the
neighbor has driven a fence post through their sewer pipe.
Checked and cleaned the flow monitoring equipment, everything operated well during the rain this week.
Worked on updating info in the G.I.S.
Scheduled with Wright-Pierce for some training for transfer of files from the office computer to Arc G.I.S online for shared access.
Other Projects Laurel Street
Repaving of the trench is done and the contractor has removed their equipment
and opened the street. Rockland Harbor Trail
The contractor is waiting for delivery of the Omni Rail-guard strips from Maine Eastern Railroad. These need to be installed at the railroad crossing before the paving can be done. They are expecting delivery next week.
Broadway Sewer Main Extension
George Hall & Sons began work Monday.
The new pipe has been completed past #55 & #57 Broadway and service laterals were installed to the edge of the right-of-way for connection of these properties. Winter Street
The contractor has finished hammering and excavating ledge on the Main Street end of Winter Street.
All manholes and drain basins have been installed and the new storm drain and water main pipes have been completed.
The contractor was instructed that the Main Street and Winter Street intersection needs to be restored and all equipment and material removed from the municipal parking lot between Winter Street and Tillson Avenue before the July 4th weekend.
OFFICE OF THE RECREATION DIRECTOR
Kick ball has been advertised and we are getting sign-ups and giving out
information in an attempt to put a league together this summer.
The Summer Day Camp is going strong this year. We are full and they are very active and busy. They went to Popham Beach this past week - this has been a favorite spot over the years. There is a nice beach and they can walk out to the
sand bar.
OFFICE OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
John met at 110 Union Street with the owner of the property and Erik Laustsen, Chairman of the Planning Board, to discuss completion of landscaping after the City finished the work on the brook behind the building.
John did a final inspection for a Certificate of Occupancy at the Penobscot
School, 28 Gay Street.
Dave met with a concerned citizen who would like to see the Civic Organization signs on Route 1 near the town line bordering Thomaston updated.
License inspection was done at the Rock City Cafe.
There were three complaints filed this week.
The following permits were received by the Code Office this week:
o 8 Building permits
o 1 Electrical permit
o 3 Plumbing permits
o 3 Sidewalk Display permits
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