ROCKLAND — Rockland City Council members spoke on a variety of topics during their March 9 meeting, including the renaming of Public Works, allocating lots for food trucks, and deciding what to do about the Lighthouse Museum space at 1 Park Drive.

Maine Lighthouse Museum — The city of Rockland, under the direction of the city manager, now assumes the insurance burden of city-owned artifacts currently housed within the Maine Lighthouse Museum at One Park Drive. This decision follows a March 2 announcement to the city council by Rockland Financial Director Tom Luttrell that the MLM is $150,000 in debt of unpaid condo fees.

MLM, a nonprofit, acquired the space in 2007, but ran into financial issues. Since then, the $4 per person admission fees of an estimated 16,000 visitors per year have not been enough to cover admission costs. This year’s debt is compounded by a pipe burst on the unit which seeped into the Police Department below.

City Manager James Chaousis is now seeking other museums that may be interested in managing those city items currently housed at the Lighthouse Museum. The city is also considering ways to gain ownership of all or part of Unit 2 — the second floor of 1 Park Drive — currently occupied by MLM.

Not only does the museum house municipal and Coast Guard-related items acquired in the 1970s, the city is also reliant to the owner of the upper floor condo to help with maintenance fees of the building.

“The inability of the MLM to pay its share of condominium dues has meant essential maintenance and upgrades to the HVAC systems at One Park Drive could not be performed and the system has degraded to the point that operation costs are exorbitant and working conditions in the unit occupied by the Rockland Police Department are poor,” according to Order 17 of the city council March 9 agenda.

The municipality is currently covering the costs of critical expenses of fuel, water, sewer, and fire and liability insurance in order to keep the police department on the first floor. These payments are being made with the expectation of reimbursement by 1 Park Drive Condominium Association. 

Many Rockland residents view the building known as 1 Park Drive, which overlooks the ocean, as a valuable ‘Gateway Center to Rockland and Penobscot Bay.’ 

Councilor Larry Pritchett said at the meeting: “I think everyone sitting here in 2007 did not expect to be where we are today. Everyone sitting up here appreciates the work that has gone into the Maine Lighthouse Museum. But as the press and other information clearly show, it’s not working. The city is now having to step forward to secure the collection, and to actually pay the insurance and other things that are actually the responsibility of the museum. I very much thank the people who’ve been there, but it’s time for us to start looking for another path.”

 Renaming the Rockland Public Works Department

City legislation has been brought forward to assign solid waste duties to the director of public services. The Department of Public Works is to be renamed Department of Public Services. The law goes into effect in 30 days. 

Councilor Pritchett wrote in a letter to the council, “It was the intent of the order passed in January  on creation of the Department of Public Services, to use this change as an opportunity  to clarify (and improve) the duties assigned to the new DPS and not have this be just a merging of solid waste and public works responsibilities as each is currently described.”

According to amended article XIV, duties of the director of Public Services will include construction, maintenance , and operation of city property;  all city solid waste, recycling, composting; enforcement property; contracts; sewer construction; record keeping of city conditions; preparing manuals for city standards; and keeping public records of conditions and maintenance.

Another licensed food truck slot opens in Buoy Park

When the city moved food trucks from Harbor Park to Buoy Park, the number of allowed spaces went from three to two. Owner Malcolm Vidal of ‘Which Please,” previously obtained license to operate in Rockland, but it was not realized at the time that there was no space for that truck.

“I’m going to vote for this just because I’d like to see a more lively Buoy Park, and more restaurants for families and children to be able to enjoy the water during the summer, ” said Councilor Valli Geiger.

“We really think that anything that’s going to add to the vibrancy and the integrity of what’s happening in the back of the waterfront, we’re going to encourage,” said Councilor Louise MacLellan-Ruf, who sponsored this licensing. 

A public hearing is set for April 13.  

Solid waster fees

The City is considering amending solid waste facility fees. The council will conduct a work session Tuesday, March 31. At the suggestion of Councilor Pritchett, the city will

1) Analyze its costs centers; and

2) Educate the public about recycling and the pay as you throw policy.

 “I was personally surprised how many people didn’t know pay-as-you-throw was an option, and has been for a number of years,” said Councilor Pritchett.