ROCKLAND — James Smith, Rockland City Manager, submitted his weekly report to the Rockland mayor and city council. Top municipal news this past week: herring quota has been reached; lobster prices hover around $3.60 a pound; and a take-out food stand on Old County Road approved. Fall leaf and garden debris/sticks city-wide pickup will begin Nov. 4.

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
Attended preconstruction meeting for Pen Bay Acres drainage project.

Along with city staff and contracted engineer, we met with a property owner to review project outline and discuss possible improvements in exchange for a maintenance easement.

The City received bids for the public restrooms and we have begun reviewing the bid from Richardi Construction, the apparent low bidder, at $178,650.

Along with Mayor Clayton, representatives from the Chamber of Commerce and Cruise Maine, we toured the Seven Seas Navigator to welcome the crew to Rockland Harbor.

OFFICE OF THE FINANCE DIRECTOR
Approved Payroll Warrant.
Approved Accounts Payable Warrant.
Accounts Receivable Invoicing.
 Landfill Accounts Receivable Reconciliation-Audit Work.
 Worked on CIP Plan.

OFFICE OF THE HARBORMASTER
We had our last cruise ship visit of the year, and I'd say it was another successful day, the weather cooperated and everything went smoothly.

We are taking the last of the Public Landing floats and ramps out for the winter, it should be done by Friday afternoon,

Still too many private boats on moorings in the harbor, we are making a list and we will contact the owners to remind them that fall storms cause a lot more damage than we'd like.

Had to move a handful of dinghies off the floats as we were moving the floats to Snow Park for the winter haul-out.

Though it's fall we've had a number of people come into the office about new moorings for next year, so we expect it will be a good season too.

As time and weather allow, we've been scraping the paint on the harbor building trim in preparation for painting. In most places the old paint is so bad, it becomes slow going, but we should have made a dent in at least one part before the end of this month.

OFFICE OF THE CITY ASSESSOR

Updating real estate transfers.

Analyzing sales by neighborhoods for the past two years.

Reviewing building permits issued by the Code's Office.

OFFICE OF THE POLICE CHIEF

The officers responded to 198 calls for service. Rockland Police officers responded to three motor vehicle crashes. Forty nine traffic stops and traffic violations were conducted. The officers made multiple arrests of individuals for various offenses, to include bail violations, assaults, OUIs, disorderly conduct, arrest warrants, thefts and drug offenses.

OFFICE OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

The Planning Board met Oct. 15 and approved the Take Out Food Stand at 557 Old County Road and the Flag Lot at 192 Broadway.

License inspections were done with the Fire Department at the convenience stores located at 131 North Main Street (formerly known as Crossroads) and 191 Park Street (formerly known as Pik Qwik).

John Root attended a MBOIA Board Meeting in Augusta.

The following permits were received by the Code Office this week:
6 Building permits
3 Electrical permits
 1 Plumbing permit

OFFICE OF THE FISH PIER DIRECTOR
Working on next year's permits and application process.

Maine Boats, Homes, & Harbors, Inc. has removed the Company Floats from the harbor for winter storage at the Fish Pier.

The f/v Western Sea off-loaded 420,000 pounds of herring.
The f/v Western Wave off loaded 150,000 pounds of herring.

As of Oct. 15, the herring quota has been caught and the fishery has been closed. The herring carriers had a great year. The herring fishery will re-open for this area next June.

Lobster price is around $3.60 a pound.

The lobster catch has started to drop off, so the lobstermen have started to take in some of their gear.

OFFICE OF THE FIRE CHIEF
In addition to responding to the normal flow of fire and EMS calls, apparatus checks, cleaning, repairs and maintenance to the fleet and cleaning and maintenance of the quarters, the following occurred:

Continued to work on employee evaluations.

With the assistance of City Hall, we completed all paperwork in order to receive a grant under the 2013 Emergency Management Preparedness Grant (EMPG).

Provided hands-on fire extinguisher training for Steel-Pro.

Presented a full accounting of overtime for confined space coverage for FMC to the Finance Department for billing.

Hosted the Knox County EMA monthly local director's meeting.

Hosted the Knox County Mutual Aid Association's quarterly meeting.

The Fire Chief attended Walmart's Grand Opening and accepted a $1,000 check from Walmart on behalf of the City and the Fire Department.

Drilled on vehicle stabilization during extrication and on our lifting bags.

Began annual hose testing.

OFFICE OF THE SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR

Attended an Environmental Natural Resources Committee meeting on LD1478 AN ACT TO PROMOTE AND ENHANCE STATE POLICE TO PRESERVE AND SUPPORT EXISTING METHODS OF DISPOSAL OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE.

Conducted monitoring well data collection.

Replaced storm water grate.

Milton Cat performed the 500 hour maintenance on the D5M & the 816F.

Prepared for next week's annual required site specific training.

Repaired two recycling bins (covers and wheels) and are now painting them.

Worked on obtaining an additional down stroke bailer that will be needed to begin recycling just number 1 & 5 plastics.

OFFICE OF THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR

On Sunday we had seven teenagers come in for a sock skeleton craft hour.

On Thursday night we had 27 individuals attend a photographic tour of Midcoast Maine's Champion Trees. Everyone seemed to enjoy.

Mrs. Young had a good day on North Haven on Thursday.

This has been a busy week for us here at the library.

OFFICE OF THE RECREATION DIRECTOR

The parks are almost ready to be put to bed for the season. We are doing a little last bit of clean up and prep for winter.

The beach is now ready for winter. Water is off and floats and buoy lines are in.

Preparing the Ferry Terminal Park to get ready for the opening on the 24th.

The boys and girls 5th & 6th soccer teams will be competing for the Championship.

The kindergarten soccer clinic ends this weekend as well as the 3rd & 4th grade league. The 1st & 2nd grade league has one more weekend.

OFFICE OF THE GENERAL ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATOR

Made appointments for clients who did not have any scheduled.

Met with clients who had scheduled appointments.

Handled General Assistance inquiries.

Updated General Assistance Paperwork and client files.

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR

Swept roads primarily for leaf control for drainage purposes.

Prepped sidewalk on Claremont Street and started paving.

Trash pickup including roadside.

Removed all pole flowers for the season.

Completed ditching work on Lake Avenue.

Assisted Harbormaster for a day removing floats and storing them for the winter.

Sign maintenance for two days including installing harbor walk signage.

Completed ditching/matting/seeding in the Industrial Park from Gordon Drive to Thomaston Street.

Preconstruction onsite meeting with Ferraiolo Construction for Pen Bay Acre drainage project. The construction work is planned to start the end of the week of the 21st or beginning of the following week. Also met with homeowners at the corner of Katahdin Avenue and Acadia Drive to review project.

Mechanics worked on Transfer Station trailer air valve, picked up waste oil at Transfer Station/Fire Dept./Genuine Auto, rebuilt front plate for plow wing, organized materials in new storage trailer, wiring problem with street sweeper.

Next week plan to complete sidewalk on Claremont, replace 30" drain pipe on Glen St.; Lanes Construction to complete punch list work on Main & Union.

Fall leaf and garden debris/sticks City wide pickup to start Nov. 4.

OFFICE OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Assisted and coordinated inaugural visit for Seven Seas Navigator.

Assisted and coordinated agenda and invites for Ferry Terminal Park opening.

Met with RMSI Design Committee, to review and set schedule for revised signage recommendations.

Drafted application for Small Harbor Planning Grant with additional input from the Harbor Master.

OFFICE OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY DIRECTOR

Replaced the rotted decking on the secondary pump room sludge storage tank.

Replaced a primary sludge pump dampener tank that was corroded.

Removed the sodium bisulfite tanks from the containment in preparation for containment rehab.

Changed the oil in the secondary contact chamber sodium bisulfite mixer.

Cleaned catch basins on South Main Street between Clarendon Street and Maritime Farms.

Marked storm drain lines on Rankin Street for the water company contractor.

Inspected the lateral at 110 Union Street again and found the lateral is in good shape under the street, therefore a road cut is not necessary.

Completed a dig safe inspection for the water company.