ROCKLAND — The City of Rockland was busy last week, analyzing budgets, training, cleanup, and community activities. In this week’s report is notation of Walmart’s withdrawal of its tax assessment appeal. The paving of the Thorndike parking lot has been completed. Fire/EMS responded to 36 calls, and, along with serving Rockland’s needs, police personnel responded to five mutual-aid requests quests by other municipalities. 

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER

 I met with RSU #13 School Officials regarding the budget adoption according the City Council's resolve. The City issued a PR and scheduled the Wednesday meeting with the City Council.

 The City had two information meetings with Maine Municipal Employee's Health Trust regarding the proposed health insurance plan presented to employees. Non Union and the Firefighter union were scheduled this week and the Teamsters meet June 1.

 I toured downtown with Gordon Page, RMSI. We discussed several issues in the downtown that the City is interested in.

 Worked on a communication and economic impact strategy regarding Rockland Energy Center. This should be ready for implementation of initial stages shortly.

 Continued to work on several projects for future revelation, including composting program, recycling program, budget scenarios, MLM scenarios, and personnel performance system.

 On Friday, Chief Micelli and I met with FMC leaders regarding City coverage of confined space entry. It has created a lot of stress on the Fire/EMS personnel. It was a great meeting and FMC has already implemented strategies to reduce the strain on the City.

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.

 The appeal from Wal-Mart to the State Board was withdrawn.

 There are two appeals that I am reviewing, the information was provided. They are, Ocean State Job Lots and Trade Winds.

OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL FISH PIER DIRECTOR

 Maine Boats and Harbors have placed their stored floats in the water for use.

 Presented Municipal Fish Pier Department Budget to City Council.

 Fred Beal's Survey Co. has completed the drawings of the soundings around pier and has provided us with a set of drawings. Also, they have sent by email a pdf of the drawing. Fred Beal's Surveying Co. will send all info to ECO-ANALYSTS INC. for their review. If they need any more info, Fred Beal will provide them with it.

OFFICE OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY DIRECTOR

Pollution Control Facility

 The treatment plant has been operating well, average plant flows this week were about 2.2 MGD and there were no CSO events.

 Completed the DMR filing.

 Completed a composting needs assessment with Green Mountain Technologies and reviewed new compost permit with Vance Calvez.

 Provided Harold Brown from ECO-Analysts Inc. with treatment plant effluent monitoring data as part of the due diligence needed for dredging around Rockland Fish Pier.

 Worked with Woodard & Curran to resolve alarm issues in the Multitrode SCADA system for lift station monitoring and control.

 Investigated a power anomaly which caused significant plant problems on 5/16/15, CMP was contacted and other users in the area reported a power bump around the same time. Woodard & Curran is also assisting with this. It was necessary to reprogram the controls for the #1 Neuros aeration blower and it appears that the variable frequency drive for #3 RAS pump was damaged as well.

 An Industrial User (IU) requested information on the transfer of their IU wastewater permit in the event of the sale of the business. They were directed to the terms of their permit which specifically outlines permit transfer in the event of change in ownership.

 The lab did BOD testing for Vinalhaven.

 Discharge chlorination as required by our MPDES begins on May 15 and much time and effort has been dedicated by all treatment facility personnel to make sure this process is up and running properly.

Environmental Services

 Dye tested the sewer from the Methodist Home on Summer St. and determined that it connects to the cross country interceptor crossing the property.

 Attempted to locate a possible buried manhole on Luce Avenue at Railroad Avenue that appears on some of the old sewer maps and isn't visible. Unable to locate from the surface with a metal detector. After the sewer main has been cleaned we will attempt again with a camera.

 Used the CCTV equipment to inspect the sewer main on Grove Street.

 Additional equipment for the collection system flow monitoring study arrived and was installed. There were some issues with the programming but with help from tech support at FlowAV it was corrected and the flow monitors are all installed and working.

 Delivered the vac truck to Cushing Diesel for a problem with the automatic idle for the auxiliary motor.

Other Projects

Winter Street

 Project is still shut down pending relocation of a utility pole on the Trade Winds property. The current scheduling from CMP is for the pole to be moved at the beginning of next week with the utility wires transferred from the existing pole by the end of the week. If on schedule this will have caused a three week delay in the project.

Thorndike Parking Lot

 Pavement patching has been completed.

 All lawn areas have been hydro-seeded.

 The stone veneer on the seating wall is completed.

 The concrete slab in the seating area is poured.

 The controls for the lighting are installed.

 The lamp posts have been installed.

Summer Street

Sanitary sewer and drain lines have been installed as far as the property at 63 Summer Street. All properties are now connected to the new sewer main. Work on the pipelines should be completed next week leaving cleanup and paving to finish this portion of the project.

OFFICE OF THE FIRE CHIEF

In addition to the general response to 36 Fire and EMS calls, conducting apparatus checks, daily cleaning, routine repairs and maintenance to the fleet and of the quarters, the following occurred:

 Notable: On Friday City manager Chaousis and I met with FMC officials to discuss ways to reduce the strain that confined space rescue coverage was having on our personnel. I think all parties consider the meeting and solutions successful.

 Hazardous Situation: Sunday evening's propane leak went very well given the potential problems due to the situation and the location. Any other time of day or week may have been far more challenging. As it was very few people seemed to know anything was amiss. In these incidents, the real danger is where the escaped gas collects, not at the leaking tank. We were able to control the ignition sources near the leak and ensure the gas never collected in at a dangerous level anywhere outside the immediate area of the tank. As was noted in the media, gas monitoring was conducted continuously to ensure the area and particularly the motel remained safe.

 Training:

I, along with John Root and Dave Kalloch attended the Maine Building Officials Conference on Monday and Tuesday. The classes are intended to help keep inspectors, code officers and design professionals current with code changes, interpretations and "best practices."

Monday our EMS personnel trained on Cardiac Rhythm recognition.

Wednesday evening's drill had apparatus and personnel at Snow Marine Park practicing deploying large water volume monitors.

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES DIRECTOR

 Street sweeping City-wide.

 Spring clean-up continues.

 Clean up of City-owned property at 63 Warren Street.

 Trash pick-up City-wide.

 Cleaned Wink's Place at Transfer Station.

 Prepping for hot top at Broadway and Park Street.

 Flagging traffic for hot top on Broadway.

 Prepping sidewalk for hot top.

 Hanging flowers and flags along Main Street. Watering flowers.

 Road/line painting.

 Picked up waste oil.

 Installed pump in quarry north end, new pipe and electrical.

 Transfer Station tractor – new exhaust system and fuel filters.

 Serviced Transfer Station pickup truck.

 Rewired electrical in dozer.

 Hose in Transfer Station loader.

 Prepped truck to water flowers.

OFFICE OF THE RECREATION DIRECTOR

 Sandy beach was cleaned up on Tuesday by a group from Boston Financial. They have been helping clean the area around their building this spring which has been a huge help. It's great to see the community support.

 The flowers for Main Street were delivered on Tuesday morning and they went up on Wednesday. They look good so far.

 The whiskey barrels that go in the island near City Hall have been planted and just need to be put in place. They have the same plantings as the flowers on Main Street.

 I have placed two new benches in Mildred Merrill Park to replace the two memorial benches that were destroyed last fall. They are a different style and will be much stronger for wear and tear.

 I have replaced the flag at Ralph Ulmer Square for Memorial Day.

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE

Officers responded to 2217 calls for service. Rockland Police Officers responded to 6 motor vehicle crashes and 7 animal complaints. Thirty-nine (39) traffic stops and traffic violations were conducted. Forty-five (45) parking violations were issued.

Officers charged or made arrests of 17 individuals for various offenses, to include Trespassing, Warrants of Arrest, Bail violations, Traffic offenses, and Operating under the Influence.

 We have reviewed and implemented the departments updated Domestic Violence Policy.

 Worked with the Maine Department of Transportation to address the legality of locations of crosswalk signs on Main Street.

 Continued to work on addressing current budget issues.

 Sgt. Finnegan provided recertification training to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office's Drug Recognition Expert.

 Officers Redmun and Solorzano attended Field Training Officer School.

 Officers were busy catching up on reports and serving court paperwork from the previous week.

 At the request of the City Manager the sign board was placed on Main Street with a message encouraging community members to get out and vote on the upcoming school budget.

 Sgt. Smith assisted the Waldo County Sheriff's Office with an accident reconstruction.

 Officer Redmun and Officer Redden responded to P.B.M.C. for a mutual aid request to deal with a disorderly patient.

 Officer Redden responded to Thomaston for a mutual aid request for a possible domestic violence complaint.

 Officer Redmun and Officer Redden responded to Thomaston for a mutual aid request involving a suspicious male going through vehicles.

 Officer Redmun responded to Rockport for a mutual aid request involving a motor vehicle crash.

 Two grant funded underage drinking details were conducted last weekend. The focus of these details is to disrupt the avenues in which youth obtain alcohol.

 Day shift continued conducting visits at the area schools. Three of these visits were conducted last week.

 Officers continue to check the public restrooms at night to make sure they are secure.

 Det. Neal attended an appreciation breakfast at the Rockland District Middle School.

OFFICE OF THE HARBORMASTER

 This was a good week too – though there are still a few details left to address, the new ADA gangway is pretty much done, and usable. I don't know if we should have a christening or a ribbon cutting, but people will start to use it this weekend, and I think it will be a big hit. I don't think it is an overstatement to call it magnificent. Everyone should come down and give it a whirl. Maybe once the rest of the floating docks are in we can have an unveiling.

 Boats have started to use the Public Landing for rigging and loading and unloading and just general getting ready for the new season. It won't be too busy this weekend, but they will come and go in little dribs and drabs as we start the summer.

 The new pilings are in at Snow Park, and like everything else, we'll still need to do a few things to get it perfect, but it is all coming together and people are already using them.

 Most of the electricity is on at the Public Landing, water and the holding tank pump-out will wait till next week – the new gangway is forcing us to re-route them and they will take a little longer to set up than usual.

 The Public Restrooms in the Harbor Building are all done and open, they really look spiffy.

 Middle Pier boats are all up and running, and the Buoy Park food vendors are dishing it out.

OFFICE OF THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR

 I attended the presentation on proposed changes to health insurance, at City Hall.

 I met with the Library Advisory Committee, with the PLEA Board, and with the Friends of Rockland Public Library.

 Keith Drago offered Drop-in Tech Help, on Monday evening.

 Catinka Knoth's Adult Drawing class this week concentrated on migrating birds and warblers; the Children's Drawing theme was Memorial Day.

 This was an "on week" for the alternating weekly LEGO Club, with a "free-for-all," rather than a specific theme.

 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.

 Next time you are in the Library, please take a look at the new signs for shelving; Keith is doing a great job with these, and it is so much easier to find material.

 Judith Andersen presented Wednesday Storytime this week; in addition to other titles, Ms. Judith read from several books, including Froggy Learns to Swim, and Have you seen my Dragon?

 Jessie Blanchard made the weekly trip to North Haven Community School Library.

 The Thursday Evening Arts and Cultural Event Author Talk: Ken Textor: The Hidden Coast of Maine. Ken's book includes photos of the Maine coast in all seasons and weathers, landward reaches to offshore islands, and directions to each featured place. 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.

 A workshop on creating sea glass pendants was held in the Children's Room on Saturday, as part of The Arts...for Kids and their Families at the Rockland Public Library.

 Upcoming events—Historical Society Talk: Dramatic Images of the Commercial Fishing Industry in Maine, and the Friends' two-day Book, Bake, and Botanicals sale is the weekend of June 13th.

OFFICE OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

 John met with City Councilor Valli Geiger to review a possible infill ordinance that would allow increased density in the more developed areas of the City.

 John and Dave attended MBOIA's 6th Annual Code Conference on 5/18 & 5/19 in Sebasco Estates. Both attended four half-day training sessions

 John met with the owner of one of the food wagons at Harbor Park to discuss a more permanent space for the business.

 There were four complaints filed this week.

 The following permits were received by the Code Office this week:

o 2 Building permits

o 5 Electrical permits

o 5 Plumbing permit

o 1 Sidewalk Display permit

o 1 Sidewalk Table & Chairs permit