July 14th Elections and Town Meeting: The Town will receive ballots next week for the July 14 elections and Town Meeting, which will take place exclusively through secret ballot.

We are strongly encouraging our voters to request absentee ballots from the Clerk’s Office. While the polls will be open on July 14th, it will be much more convenient and reduces risk for yourself and poll workers to vote early. Once the Town receives absentee ballots we will inform all local media outlets and encourage early voting.

COVID-19

Plans around reopening the Town Office and the logistics around more businesses opening in Town has been everyone’s main area of focus over the past few weeks. For more information on the Town’s plans and to view frequently asked questions please visit the Town’s website: https://www.camdenmaine.gov/

LED Streetlight Conversion

I’m pleased to report that the installation of LED streetlights in Camden has begun today. Camden based Hedstrom Electrics will be replacing our existing streetlights with LEDs across the entire Town.

Once the streetlights are installed, we encourage any resident who has issues with the timing of when lights go on and off or the brightness to please contact the Town Manager’s Office. After the installation is complete, we will begin programming the lights, which includes schedules for when they are turned on and off as well as adjusting the brightness.

Climate Change Resiliency & River Restoration

We have begun working with Midcoast Conservancy on starting the assessment of Megunticook River that is being funded by a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Coastal Resiliency Program. We are also in data collection phase of the Maine Coastal Program funded project to look at designing Harbor Park and the Montgomery Dam to be more resilient to overland flooding and sea level rise.

Both of these projects necessitate public engagement, which has been challenging under current circumstances. Midcoast Conservancy is helping us to develop ways to get public input into these projects, given our current challenges with COVID19.

Finance Department

Jodie Hanson

We are looking forward to opening the office back up to the public following a two-month closure. Safety measures are in place that, I feel, will provide a safe environment for staff and customers. Our motor vehicle clerk has stocked the vault with ample registration stickers, title applications, sales tax forms, etc. in anticipation of all the new vehicle plates seen traveling the roads recently.

Planning & Development Department

Jeremy Martin

COVID19 Response

The Planning and Development Director continues to participate in ongoing DECD zoom conferences as well as SBA zoom conferences as needed and available. The Department has compiled a comprehensive resource list for business, residents and employees.

These resources are posted on the Town’s website. The P&D Director also participated in the Camden Area Business Group’s Connect Over Coffee zoom meeting recently and offered our assistance to CABG and all other businesses in town.

We are seeking input as to what the Town can do to assist our local businesses.

Should we close down certain streets to vehicular traffic as some communities are doing to facilitate social distancing?

Should we allow the use of the Public Landing or town parking lots by restaurants or retailers? CEDAC has been engaged to seek input from local businesses. Staff continues to take phone calls from local businesses seeking guidance on where to find state and federal resources

In response to public health and the lodging industry’s concerns about short term rentals and COVID19, the Department sent out approximately 35 letters reminding property owners of the towns minimum stay requirements and the requirement to comply with the Governor’s executive order as it relates to lodging.

The CEO continues to safely conduct inspections and he is working with contractors to ensure social distancing and CDC guidelines are being followed by the construction industry

Tannery

The Town is in receipt of the final Targeted Brownfields Assessment report from the sampling that was completed by USEPA contractors in November. Multiple pore water samples and soil samples were taken, as well as numerous samples taken from four separate trench excavation pits along the riverbank. These samples address data gaps in prior assessments and the issues of solid waste along the riverbank.

Staff is currently working with MDEP, the USEPA and our environmental consultant on resolving some sampling questions. Once these issues are resolved, we will better be able to plan for the cleanup and redevelopment of the site. It is our hope to engage the community and neighbors on reuse options in the coming month.

Washington Street Sidewalk -MDOT Locally Administered Project

After many years in the planning and design stages, it appears we are getting close to getting this project out to bid and built this construction season. The sidewalk that will go from Matthew John Street to Shirttail Point Park.

Zoning Ordinance Amendments Update

There are numerous zoning amendments going to voters in July. Over the last six months the Planning and Development Director and the Planning Board held numerous workshops and hearings on these proposed amendments.

Article 3 on the ballot, is administrative in nature and provides more guidance to the Code Enforcement Officer, the Planning Board and applicants on what constitutes minor amendments, minor revisions, and site plan amendments.

Article 4, aims to address housing availability and affordability by amending the definition of Accessory Apartment, and expands where they can be permitted to the RU-1, RU-2, and the CR zoning districts.

Article 5, would eliminate the BTR zone and replace it with the adjacent B-1 zone. This amendment will facilitate additional housing options in the downtown core, by reducing minimum lot area per dwelling unit, and would facilitate the Town’s purchase of two parking lots at Knox Mill.

Article 6, would establish a process for the review of proposed demolition of properties that are designated National Historic Landmarks or are located in the Town’s three National Historic Districts.

Ragged Mountain Recreation Area / Camden Snowbowl

Last year the Town has received a $95,000 Maine DEP Stream Crossing grant to replace the two failing culverts under the Snow Bowl access road with a fish and wildlife friendly open-bottom culvert. These structures promote the natural movements of fish and wildlife and normal stream processes that support healthy habitat in a diversity of flow conditions. Bids have been received and work to replace these failing culverts will start late summer.

Broadband – Fiber to the Premises

The Planning and Development Director and the Camden Economic Development Advisory Committee (CEDAC) have been collaborating over the last year with an ad hoc group of town officials and volunteers from the Towns of Camden and Rockport in efforts to bring a “cheaper, faster and better” internet service to our communities.

Actions taken by the Select Boards of Camden and Rockport recently have established a more formalized task force looking at internet and broadband connectivity issues throughout our communities.

As the COVID19 crisis unfolded and so many of us had to work remotely, it became more apparent that there are barriers to connectivity. We partnered with Mission Broadband to develop and implement a community-wide broadband survey. In Camden alone there were over 160 individuals participated in the survey. Be on the lookout in the coming month for a survey summary.

Sagamore Farm

The Planning and Development Director continues efforts to seek development opportunities to develop this unique property. It is understood that there are variety of users of the trail systems on this property and it would be the intent to ensure that whatever use is envisioned for the property, that it would be compatible with the recreational opportunities that exist on the site.

Wastewater Department

Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade

The plant upgrade engineering is in the third phase, with drawings expected in the next week or two. The plant upgrade project is still on track to be out for bid in the summer with bid award in the fall. Engineering is continuing for the Norumbega Drive pump station upgrade and the new Sea Street pump station force main.

Siemens has reviewed the plant upgrade plans and will propose installation of solar panels on buildings that are good candidates for energy generation. They will also propose upgrades to building lighting in order to improve energy efficiency.

West Dam Repairs

Cavanaugh Marine had to postpone the repairs to the West Dam do the Covid-19 mandatory quarantine both in Maine and Rhode Island. A new date for start of construction has not been determined yet.

Cobb Hill Road Culvert Replacement

Construction plans to replace the Cobb Hill Road utility culvert have been submitted to Maine Department of Environmental Protection for approval. Once plans are approved this project will go out for bid.

Seabright Dam

Kleinschmidt Associates conducted a routine inspection of the Seabright Dam. The Kleinschmidt structural engineer will recommend timing of the repairs to the spillway concrete structure as well as an overall review of the condition of the dam.

Elm and High Street Sewer Maintenance

In order to take advantage of reduced traffic on Route 1, Ted Berry Company was hired to clean and inspect the sewer system on Elm and High Street. Maintenance issues on Elm Street were observed on this clay pipe system and plans for repairs are in the works. Given the age of the PVC pipe on High Street, as expected, no maintenance issues were found on this section of the sewer collection system.

Mechanic Street Paving

The Wastewater Department has been working with the Public Works Department on any needed repairs to the sewer manholes on the stretch of Mechanic Street that will soon be paved. All manholes will be inspected by the first week in June.

Public Works Department

• Emptied trash containers downtown, PM the Parks & Rec pickup and 800. Picked up roadside brush, checked catch basins and culverts around town. dropped off four barricades at Hannaford’s, picked up white board at middle school on Knowlton St. Vacuumed, washed floors in breakroom and bathroom. Cleaned shelves and door in bathroom and restocked. Sanitized/disinfected surfaces, door handles and trucks. Prepared statement of work for town wide paving to be sent out for paving RFP.
  
  
• Helped harbor master with crane installation of large floats at public landing. Removed headgear on plow trucks. Worked on catch basin on the corner of Mechanic and Washington, found a second structure under the first structure supported with railroad rail and granite, videoed lines will connect the inlet and outlet of abandoned structure add flowable fill and place structure on top to tie newer lines in.
  
  
• Helped harbor master install small floats, filled sink holes at public landing and on lower Park St. Used trench box to do structure on the corner of Mechanic and Washington due to curb falling danger. Connected old abandoned lower structure with 20’’ smooth bore plastic culvert sealed and then filled to needed grade with flowable fill. Attended new LED light installation meeting, new lights are to be installed starting June 1st.
  
  
• Street sweeping around town. cleaned up trees on Cross St. cut by Bragg’s tree service. Worked at shop hauling debris to dump, moving old one-ton truck, moving large trench box to a different location and small one for repairs. Ferraiolo delivered 3⁄4 inch blended crushed stone to shop for Harbor Master.
  
  
• Came in early to sweep downtown and vacuum sidewalks. Worked at Harbor and Steamboat Landing with Harbor Master. Cleaned up storm damaged trees and brush on Bay View St. and Penobscot Ave. Cleaned, vacuumed and disinfected vehicles, equipment and building.
  
  
• Picked up trash town wide. Put out trash cans w/wooded box. Finished up painting wooden trash can boxes. Worked on Mechanic/Washington catch basin, had basin chord.
  
  
• Picked up trash town wide. Put one final coat of paint on trash can boxes. Hydro seeded at the tannery site. Put up no thru way on South Lewis Ave. Ordered 4 signpost without holes for historic district signs. Worked on catch basin on the corner of Mechanic and Washington, reset curb, basin and risers on and filled with flowable fill. Once hardened can be plated backfilled. Talked with Ron Harford about finishing up the 6 downtown lights that need the harness installed said he would do it this week.
  
  
• Street sweeping. Placed four remaining wood trash cans downtown. inspected catch basin on Atlantic Ave. placed rip rap at edge of driveway/edge of road at 61 Melvin Hts Rd. and other driveways on Melvin Hts. Placed large rip rap on shoulder of road and ditch on Melvin Hts Rd. near #41. Cleaned up large pine on Bay View St. at the intersection of Penobscot cut by Bragg’s Tree Service. Dig safe for utility pole replacement on Bay Rd. placed 48-inch reflective cones around barricades on Mechanic St to keep wind from blowing them over. Conducted Siemens Lighting part of the industrial grade audit (IGA) at Opera House, Public Safety, Library, Snow Bowl, Wastewater Treatment Plant & Public Works Facility.
  
  
• Street sweeping around town, picked up debris, broken asphalt and litter around town, hauled street sweepings from sweeper back to shop. Investigated sink hole at the intersection of Union Street and Park Street; reported sink hole to Paul Stilphen at MDOT by email and filled hole with cold patch. Assisted Harbor Master with Styrofoam billets disposal. Cleaned and sanitized trucks, equipment, and facility.
  
  

• Changed broom on sweeper, cold patch town wide, finished catch basin and plated on Mechanic and Washington, Removed tree butts from 13 Curtis Ave. Met with Jamie Stone about boulders for Middle School. Conducted Building Envelope part of the Siemens industrial grade audit (IGA) at Opera House, Public Safety, Library, Snow Bowl, Wastewater Treatment Plant & Public Works Facility, also looked at Geothermal possibilities at the Snow bowl.
  
  
• Emptied trash containers downtown. Rebuilt catch basin on Atlantic Avenue across from boat house. Moved bench from Public Landing to Steamboat Landing and hauled crushed stone from shop to Public Landing. Cut down and removed dead pine tree from Cul de sac on Victoria Lane. Marked Laite Beach for Dig Safe for installation of new swing set.
  
  
• Street sweeping around town. Back filled around rebuilt catch basin on Atlantic Ave. Cleaned up limbs and sticks on shoulder and ditch line on Cobb Rd. and built shoulder up with gravel, compacted with plate compactor and swept road with trackless from Mechanic Street to Cobb Hill Rd. Fixed flat tire on inside duel on one ton. Hauled sweepings from sweeper to shop, picked up tires for Western Star from Treatment Plant. Tree Works removing and pruning trees on Park Street and on Elm St. Disinfected trucks, equipment and facility buildings.
  
  
• Worked on structures on Mechanic St. Opened paving bids, low bid was Wellman Paving. Worked helping Harbor Master first half of day (moving ramp, picked up and delivered lumber, moved walking bridge and moved gravel). Organized equipment in lean-to.
• Emptied trash cans around town. Worked on Fire Chiefs truck, replaced starter, rotated tires and checked brakes. Inspected and replaced headlight in sweeper. Street sweeping. Cut popple tree hanging low of road on Stonehurst Dr. picked up old cone at the corner of Bay View and Commercial. Met with homeowner at 42 Pearl Street concerning dead trees. Met with homeowner at 15 Belmont to discuss options to widen sidewalk behind utility pole and existing concrete steps upgrade. Also discussed homeowners’ other home at 2 Chestnut Hill and new driveway entrance. Dropped wheelbarrow off at harbor for Harbor Master. Washed and cleaned Prinoth sidewalk plow. Cleaned and sanitized trucks/equipment and facility.
  
  
• Trash pick town wide. Removed large Tree Stump at Mt View Cemetery that blew over from the last wind storm. Replaced and raised to grade catch basin frame on Mechanic St. Adjusted elevator belt on sweeper. Picked up wheel borrow and other junk for Harbor Master. Deliver gravel to Fire station. Built sneeze guards for town hall. Reviewed paving bids. Received signs from white sign and Permaline. Ordered gutter brooms for sweeper. Received and evaluated paving RFPs.
  
  
• Installed covid-19 signs at the following locations, Public Safety, Knowlton Parking, 5&Dime, Public Landing, Harbor park. Installed business sign on Bay View St along with no Right turn sign. Picked up remaining tree butts on Curtis Ave. Installed 3 sneeze guards, one divider, two chains and placed markings on the floor for pedestrian traffic flow at town hall. Inventoried Mechanic St manhole elevations and rings needed to prep for paving. Reviewed paving bid. Called Eagle rental about excavator rental, also received call from Nortrax about rental of same excavator.
  
  
• Helped Harbor Master, Picked up Harbor Pump out boat. Placed trash cans in parks and parking lots. Street sweeping. Discussed with Farley Inc. the start time on the Mechanic St & Washington St parking lots, which is projected to begin in the beginning of June due to hold up related to covid-19.

Parks Department

Completed:

- 1,987 Injections into 99 BTM infested trees spanning Mt. View Cemetery, Oak Hill Cemetery, Barrett's Cove and the Tannery property
- Prep for stump removal in Mt. View Cemetery
- General cleaning around the lodge and the shop

- Lodge carpets cleaned by Superior Restoration Services
- Developed, printed (in-house) and Installed Covid19 informational signs in all public parks and on the public landing
- Attended Maine Lobster Ride meetings, decision made to cancel for 2020
- Watch, participate in remote select board and budget committee meetings
- Participated in a remote Ragged Mountain Redevelopment Foundation board meeting for an update on past ski season, grant request, etc.
- Discussion with Ragged Mountain Ski Club regarding scholarship and program donations for the past ski season

Ongoing:

Lawn mowing cemeteries, parks and Snow Bowl fields and grounds General grounds cleanup at the Snow Bowl lodge and maintenance shop General cleaning of the Snow Bowl lodge and maintenance shop
Snow Bowl/Parks and Rec website maintenance and information updates Attend summer camp meetings with Pen Bay YMCA
Update Summer camp registration forms
Processing summer camp registrations

Upcoming:

- Spread loam and seed bare areas around the Snow Bowl entrance and stairs - Paint the picnic tables and park benches
- make a plan for Harbor park erosion with PW
- Install docks and swim floats at Barrett's Cove and Hosmer Pond

- Clean the beach at Barrett's Cove
-Install swing set at Laites Beach
- Install the awning on the Snow Bowl deck
- De-track the snow groomers and prepare for storage
- Chairlift work to include inspection and 100% relocation of chairs back 18" - July 1 - discuss and make a decision about Camden Windjammer Festival
- Discuss and make a decision about fall chairlift rides, pancake breakfasts

Fire Department

Chris Farley, Camden Fire Chief

Engine 5

We are expecting the corrosion repair work on Engine 5 to be completed soon. We anticipate getting the truck back within the next week or two. It has been at North East Emergency Apparatus in Auburn.

They have fixed rusted places on cabinets, doors, the truck cab and corners. In the process of fixing the items in their quote, there was some additional work required and approved. There was additional corrosion under the cab which was repaired.

They also replaced the rear leaf springs (the truck would not meet inspection requirements if this work was not completed) as well as the straps holding the fuel tank to the frame. This truck has seen 25 Maine winters so some of these items were not expected.

The last two items can be covered by the normal apparatus maintenance line in the operating budget. We are also having an undercoating applied to the truck to aid in reducing further corrosion.

Emergency Medical Services

The Basic Emergency Medical Technician program, which we started in February, has continued during the last few months.

We transitioned from in-classroom instruction to ZOOM classes in March. This program is one of the few in the state that has continued through the public health situation we have been experiencing.

The program coordinator, Amy Drinkwater, is to be commended for the numerous times she has adapted the syllabus and her teaching style.

We started the program with 32 participants and we will end the program with 32 participants.

These folks are also to be commended for the determination in sticking with the program and completing it. Many adult learners had to adjust to the on-line, ZOOM format of education. I am proud of their commitment, zeal and persistence in obtaining this education.

The program will conclude in the next couple of weeks. Unfortunately, we learned this week that the Maine Department of Public Safety will not be conducting any practical skills testing during the month of June. It may be several more months before the participants can complete the testing requirements needed to obtain their license to practice.

Additionally, we have been working with other organizations in the state who provide First Responder programs in their communities. We will be developing Standard Operating Guidelines to implement our First Responder program. We will need to have those developed as well as licensed personnel before we can implement the program.

Emergency Management

We have been monitoring the public health situation. We have been reviewing information provided by Knox EMA, Maine EMA, the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the Maine Information & Analysis Center. This week, as we enter the Atlantic Hurricane season, we received updated guidance from the American Red Cross about how community shelters will be utilized in the event one is needed during a hurricane. It should seem apparent that with the public health situation, the operation of a community shelter will be significantly impacted by COVID-19.

Public Health Officer - We have monitored the items listed above. We have addressed a complaint regarding an excessive amount of rodents in the Chestnut Hill area. The property owner will be placing live traps and relocating any that are captured. He will be providing periodic updates on the situation.

Code Enforcement

We have been filling in and completing inspections as requested by Steve Wilson during times when he has been out of the office.

Assessing Department

Kerry Leichtman, Camden assessor

I wanted to give provide an update of where we are regarding assessed values as we, most likely, heading into a recession.

I did a series of sales ratio studies of qualified sales from the past two years. We typically need two years of sales to populate the studies with enough data to make reliable conclusions. I also did studies on sales from the past 12 months to give us an idea of how sales were trending in the interval since last year’s adjustments.

A quick historical review: We conducted a town-wide revaluation in 2017, Camden’s first since 2004. At the time, the recession was finally and firmly behind us and real estate values were escalating. They continued rising at such a fast pace that to prevent us from descending into ratios below 90%, which would prevent us from being able to certify at 100%, I had to make further adjustments in 2019. As you will see in my report, the pace of value escalation continued into 2020.

There were 238 qualified sales from 4/1/2018 to 4/1/2020. The overall ratio for all sales combined was 92% for that two-year time period. The one-year ratio (4/1/2019 – 4/1/2020) was 88%. Last year the one-year ratio was 94%, a change of 6% from last year to this. Ratios decline as sales prices increase. These numbers reflect a strong real estate market.

The table lists the ratios for the benchmark categories that are used by Maine Revenue Services for determining our certified ratio. Single-family homes and vacant land are 92% and 91%, respectively, and Condos at 87% are a touch under 90%. After last year’s adjustments condos were four percentage points higher, at 91%, single family homes were 94% and land sales were at 99%. Again, this was a strong market leading up to the pandemic.

Though I track all three central tendencies – median, mean and weighted mean – the median average is the most reliable for assessing purposes as it is least affected by outlier sales.

Maine Revenue Services confines itself to the large, overall categories when calculating our certified ratio. We can certify at 100% if our overall ratio is 90% or better, so it is important that we stay above that threshold. The median last year, before adjustments, was 85%. After adjustments it was 95%. Now, one year later, it is 92%.

We have not yet seen a drop off in sales or prices, but it is too early to extrapolate anything useful from that. The conclusions I draw from these studies is that we are in good shape heading into an uncertain economy. With ratios in the low 90’s, sales prices can erode a bit before they negatively affect real estate values.

I will keep an eye on the market and keep you up on developments.

Police Department

Randy Gagne, Camden Police Chief

• Officer Lucas Verrier has completed his Phase II training and is assigned as a Patrol Officer. He and Officer Scott Entwistle are both currently in the department’s Field Training program. We hope they will both attend the 18-week Academy in January.
  
  
• The department is looking at ways to complete our bi-annual mandatory Range training. Smaller groups, practicing social distancing, over several days is how this will most likely be accomplished.
  
  
• We have had several alleged violations of the Governor’s Executive Orders. When these are brought to our attention an officer is assigned. Our approach is to bring the matter to the alleged violators attention, followed by education, copy of the order, and a request for voluntary compliance. Our approach seems to be working as we have had no negative feedback from those who have been contacted.
  
  
• The department is currently without a Parking Enforcement Officer. Under the current pandemic situation, we are taking a wait and see approach to filling this position. We are looking at ways to accomplish parking enforcement for the summer months. Most likely this will be done with current staff on an alternating overtime schedule. The exact plan is to be determined.
  
  
• I am happy to report our members have been healthy throughout this situation. We have had two officer that used limited sick time. Neither was Covid-19 related.
  
  
• Memorial Day weekend was rather uneventful for the department. Officer’s schedules were adjusted so additional coverage would be available to keep an eye on our public spaces. Officer reported no violations of the Governor’s orders.
  
  
• With traffic on the increase officers are once again conducting radar details and monitoring for other violations. We would like to limit our contact with violators. If everyone would please obey the traffic laws of the State, we would greatly appreciate it!
  
  

The following reflects statistics from Police Department files from May 1st to May 27, 2020. The statistics listed reflect a partial listing of the total number received. The complaints listed denote those which are used for reporting purposes or had a significant amount reported to the police during this period.

369 Total complaints received during this period

20 Responses to 911 hang up / open line

12 Agency Assist calls

14 Alarm  responses

3 Animal complaints; 1 animal problem, 1 animal welfare &1 animal bite

2 Bail Condition Violations

1 Domestic DUI/Alcohol or drugs

17 Information Complaints

5 Intoxicated Persons

4 Juvenile Problem

4 Mental Health Issues

89 Property Checks

1 Suicide

3 Traffic Erratic Operation

25 Radar details

7 Suspicious Persons/Circumstances

4 Suspicious Vehicles

20 Traffic violations
2 Wanted Person on Warrant

39Well Being checks