During the previous month, the Rockland Police Department completed its Narcan policy in anticipation of being equipped with the drug soon. The community development director developed a proposal to rezone five parcels around Pleasant Street. Interpretive signs regarding Rockland history are in consideration for the Harbor Trail, and the library served 9,539 patrons during September.

Read the entire Rockland City Manager’s Report below.

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE

 During the past month Rockland Police Department Officers responded to 744 calls for service, investigated 25 traffic accidents and conducted 87 motor vehicle stops. As a result 47 people were either arrested or summonsed for various violations.

 Members of the Patrol Division continue to conduct targeted traffic enforcement details. Some of these details are grant funded while others are not and are incorporated into daily shift activity. These details include; seatbelt enforcement distracted driving, impaired driving and speed enforcement. These details are conducted and various locations throughout the city. Grant funding for some of these details is coming to close for 2018 and department staff will be preparing to re-apply for these funding opportunities in 2019.

 With the new school year upon us officers have increased their visibility at local schools especially during times identified as potential concerns by school staff. Along with increased visibility and at the school, officers have increased enforcement of speed limits within school zones to remind the motoring public that schools are back in session.

 Officers continue to provide security escort services to financial institutions while they service their automated teller machines.

 Officers continue to conduct alcohol compliance checks are various establishments in Rockland to ensure these locations are in compliance with state laws and city ordinances.

 When staffing levels permit, evening shift officers are patrolling Main St. on foot and checking business to make sure they are secured.

 Officers have increased foot patrols on the Boardwalk, Scott St. Beach and neighborhoods in the south end of the city to address loitering, drinking in public and some minor criminal mischief incidents.

 The department currently has one vacancy in the Patrol Division. It is anticipated that a pre-employment letter will be sent to an applicant sometime this week. This will allow us to begin the background investigation process.

 Detectives in the Criminal Investigation Division continue to investigate open criminal investigations. The detectives are also busy working with other local, state and federal partners on investigations that come in to Rockland.

 Detectives continue to provide a variety of training programs for local businesses and health care professionals in a variety of topics including; signs of human trafficking, theft prevention, robbery response protocols and sexual assault response protocols.

 Department members have completed the annual fall firearms qualifications. The focus of these qualifications was the patrol rifle and shotguns.

 All department patrol rifles have been up-fitted with close quarter battle sight systems. This will increase officer safety and improve accuracy in the event these weapons do have to be deployed to engage a threat.

 Administrative staff continues working with RSU 13 in creating a school Resource officer policy and memorandum of understanding. The Chief will be attending RSU 13 School Board workshop in the upcoming weeks. The purpose of these meetings will be to prepare for the release of grant funding for a School Resource Officer and to also start a conversation about a school funded officer should the grant not be awarded.

 Administrative staff is working with other local law enforcement leaders, health care professionals and addiction recovery resources in creating a community collaborative which mirrors the very successful model used in Lincoln County. The primary focus of this collaborative is to address the opiate addiction crisis in Knox County.

 Administrative staff is attending peer to peer recovery meetings. The purpose of this is to break down barriers between law enforcement and people struggling with addiction. The goal is for people struggling with addiction to see law enforcement as a resource to recovery and not an obstacle to it.

 Administrative staff is preparing and RFP for the purchase of a new police cruiser; as well as, considering options to get rid of the special services truck and the motorcycle.

 The department’s NARCAN policy is complete and has been approved by the policy review committee. It is anticipated that this policy will go out to department members this week and officers will be equipped with NARCAN by the end of the month.

 Administration has been reviewing recent Giglio decisions throughout the state and how those decisions are impacting law enforcement, along with a comprehensive review of the departments Giglio policy. It is a goal to have some minor changes to this policy completed within the next month to ensure compliance with the Maine Criminal Justice Academy Board of Trustees recommendations.

 Last week the Chief attended the annual International Association of Chiefs of Police Convention. Classes that were attended by the Chief included:

 How Smaller Agencies Can Manage Critical Incidents and Ensure Psychological Survival.
 Comprehensive Guidance on Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement.
 Recruiting: What’s Working, What’s Not.
 Law Enforcement Diversion Models to Intervene in the Opioid Epidemic.
 Community Approach to Active Shooter Preparedness.
 The Three Hour Rule: Critical Incident Response through Social Media.
 Maintaining Your Job in the Face of Union and Political Attacks.
 Community Engaged Policing.
 Small Agency Tactical Response to Active Shooter Incidents.

OFFICE OF THE FIRE/EMS CHIEF

Over this preceding week, in addition to the response to 172 Fire and EMS calls, conducting apparatus checks, daily cleaning, routine repairs and maintenance to the fleet and of the quarters, the following occurred:

 Training provided over the last month:

 EMS training for this month was a ‘Mega-Code” drill where all aspects of EMS care are used. Skills that aren’t often required on everyday EMS runs are refreshed on, numerous hands on skills are tested, and we dive deep into our protocols. Shift members also attended a near fatal strangulation class which produced good information for those trauma type calls.

 FIRE: September is Driver Training month. We focus on Maine driving laws, RFDs own Standard Operating Procedures, Rules and Regulations, and past driving experiences. We then have all members drive the assigned apparatus on a specific route within Rockland.

The first half of October brings with it vehicle extrication training. We look into new methods of not only removing patients from vehicles, but we train on vehicle stabilization and are use of the “Jaws of Life”.

 FF Carl Anderson attended a day long training with RSU 13 using the “I Love You Guys” training team. This is an experience that will not only allow us to interact with school officials in the event of an active threat, but presentations that will most certainly hit home in a worst case scenario.

 Notable Meetings attended by Management staff:

 Chief Whytock attended the following meetings:

1. Continue Emergency Plans meeting with RSU 13 and public safety staff
2. Council Meetings
3. Attended a walk-through of the new Owls Head School.
4. License inspection meetings for various agencies within the City
5. Various other safety/planning meetings

 Special Events /News

 Lt Pat Lowe and FF Carl Anderson have spent much of the last few weeks presenting Fire Safety to our local schools and day care facilities. Every year a lot of hard work goes into spreading the fire safetyessages and I want to thank them both for a job well done.

 We are completing up our procedures and putting our new Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) in service, and what a process this has been. I would like to acknowledge LT Brian Sullivan for his hard work and dedication to seeing this project through. Strong work LT!

 We hosted a very successful Open House to end Fire Prevention Week. Thanks everyone who attended and made it a positive and learning experience.

 ****REMINDER****Rockland is now a part of Wardens Report, which allows citizens to obtain a burn permit FOR FREE online www.wardensreport.com . The system is designed to only issue permits on days where the fire class day is below the allowable threshold. You will still be able to come to the station and get a hand written copy for free as well. Both permits clearly state what can and can’t be burned and when you are allowed to burn.

If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to call and speak to the duty officer at the fire station.

 Notable Calls Responded To: (Although our job affords us the opportunity to do amazing things (most of which we can’t talk about), these calls have made headlines.

 RFD responded to a building fire at 10 Summer Street for a report of a building fire. Car 1 and A shift arrived to find a fire in the rear of the building, damaging an outside porch and stairway to the second floor. The fire was contained to the area of origin in part to an alert and resourceful tenant of the apartment building. Damage was minimal with no extension into the building.

 B Shift responded to a tree into a building on Jefferson Street. Crews found a large branch had fallen from a tree and penetrated the roof/ceiling above the kitchen area of the home. No injuries were reported and the limb was removed and the hole covered up with plastic.

 Safety Note:

 If you are having issues with a smoke or Carbon Monoxide detector, feel free to call us and we can assist you. Don’t remove a detector and not replace it with a functional one.

 Although I hate to admit it, the colder seasons will be upon us sooner than we want. Make sure your fuel burning appliances are cleaned, serviced, and ready to go. If you haven’t done so already, clean your chimney and if you need an inspection performed for any reason just give us a call. 207-594-0318

OFFICE OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY DIRECTOR

 The summer chlorination season for 2018 ended October 1st
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 Changes to the sewer charges and fees order were submitted.

 Started the tank coating project on the vortex separator.

 Provided a plant tour to one of the industrial users.

 One of the chemical suppliers completed bench testing for polymer.

 Ishigaki Corp. was onsite to do a pilot test and demonstration of a new screw press that is being considered to replace the belt filter presses.

 Completed repairs to the #1 primary clarifier.

 Cleaned and winterized the chemical pumps and systems used for chlorination.

 We are actively dealing with an upset to the treatment process.

 Removed and repaired the #7 pump at Park St. pump station.

 Worked with Interstate Septic to pump and clean the Waldo Ave. and Glenwood Ave. pump stations.

 Used the vac truck to clean sand and grit from a tank at the treatment plant.

 Responded to Dig-Safe requests from other utilities and local contractors.

 Inspected various sewer repairs and new sewer lateral connections.

 Sent notice to property owners of failed or defective sewer lines that were detected through city wide testing of the sewer system.

 Worked with Wright-Pierce Engineering to complete plans for various sewer projects.

 Entered new data into the G.I.S.

OFFICE OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

 Creating opportunity for non-residential development. Developed a proposal, in collaboration with the City Manager and Code Enforcement Officer that would: rezone 5 contiguous parcels on Pleasant Street to business park; eliminate weight limits on Pleasant street from Belvidere to Highland St Extension; and adjust certain setbacks and coverage limits to maximize productive use of BP and industrial properties, while providing for substantial setbacks when parcels adjoin residential uses or zones.

 REDAC support for Pleasant St proposal. Rockland’s Economic Development Advisory Committee voted to support the Pleasant St proposal at its September meeting.

 Harbor Trail signs. Reached out to get cost estimates for possible interpretive signs about historic sites along the Harbor Trail. The Harbor Trail Committee has identified various points of historic interest and has a potential sign design for consideration.

 Letter of support. Prepared a letter of support of the Farnsworth’s proposal to the Maine Office of Tourism in support of marketing Rockland as an arts capital.

 Office of Tourism. Attended a meeting with Office of Tourism staff to discuss community preferences related to cruise marketing. Suggested that proactive marketing of the port of Rockland be mindful of Rockland’s recently-passed limits, and focus primarily on smaller ships.

Shared that some stakeholders have suggested that the State should focus its marketing on cruise lines with strong environmental performance records.

 3rd party survey of economic impacts. Kicked off the 3rd party survey of the economic impact of cruise ships that was requested by Council. The project involves: an intercept survey of cruise ship passengers; a survey of downtown businesses to determine local impacts (whether positive or negative); and a survey of land-based tourists on cruise ship days. The project piggybacks on a Maine Office of Tourism survey already underway for the intercept survey of cruise passengers and we have hired the University of Southern Maine (through the Musson Group) for the other parts of the survey and analysis of results.

 Misc. Assistance. Addressed questions or issues related to existing businesses (7), business prospects (7), residents (5) and others (7).

 Brownfields. We are beating the bushes for properties in need of a Phase 1 or 2 environmental assessment that could benefit from the City’s Brownfield Program. Assessments are provided free of charge to eligible properties.

 CDBG Grants. Made the various supplemental filings required before getting grant agreements in place for the CDBG grants awarded and we are now awaiting the final award documents for signature.

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES DIRECTOR

 Work is nearing completion on the Transfer Station Building Upgrade Project, the new compactor as well as the refurbished one are in place and are up and running. Walk through was done with Woodard & Curran a few punch list remain and should be done by 10/17/18. The Single Stream Recycling will launch in the spring of 2019. The new Single Stream Recycling education outreach will begin soon and be ongoing leading up to the launch in the spring.

 The Public Services Crew completed the drainage, ditching and basin work on Limerock St. On Sept. 24th the lower part of Limerock St. was milled and shim dragged by All States Asphalt. Currently we are waiting for good weather and temperature to complete the final paving. Rain has delayed the schedule.

 The crew also completed the drainage and some ditching work on the Bog Road. The Bog Road asphalt was reclaimed and graded. All States Asphalt has applied binder to part of the road starting at Mill St and as with Limerock St.; we are waiting for the right weather and temperature to complete the final paving.

 The Public Services Director spoke at the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink Week presentation held at the Rockland Public Library on Sept. 18th. The Director spoke about the components of the Solid Waste Facility and the future physical and logistic changes that will be taking place. A representative from EcoMaine also spoke about what happens to all of the recycled materials once they arrive at their facilities.

 Thompson Meadow Bridge RFP is complete and should be put out to bid this fall for work to be performed next summer.

 CMP has agreed to relocate 3 utility poles on Winter Street so the sidewalk can be constructed.

 Attended monthly Dept. Head Meeting.

 Attended the Energy Forum on Sept.19th.

 The annual Landfill and monitoring well survey was completed.

 The Fall Leaf & Brush Pick up Schedule has been posted. Pick up will begin in Zone 1 on October 29th.

 Compost Area was turned & windrows were re-established in preparation for the fall leaf pick up.

 Finished compost was set aside for screening.

 Another two sections of stamped concrete sidewalk have been completed on Atlantic Street.

 Island and esplanade mowing throughout the City.

 Continued repairs and maintenance at the Library and City Hall.

 Replacing and placing new signs throughout the City.

 Ongoing cold patch is being done City wide.

 Ongoing City wide trash removal.

 Sewer report for the month of September was sent to the sewer treatment plant.

OFFICE OF THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR

The Library presented Reduce Reuse Recycle Rethink Week with the Good Tern Co-op and Renew Rockland’s Waste Watchers. Highlights were: “Trash Talk”, an evening that explored where our waste and recycleables go, presented by Public Services Director Dave St. Laurent and Katrina Venhuezen of EcoMaine; “Use It Up”, a cooking with leftovers workshop at the Good Tern, and “Rockland’s got a Brand New Bag” a bag-making demo and hands-on workshop. The demo was led by Leah Ondra of Clementine and Emily Horne Jeffries of the Co-op and Patty King of the Library led the t-shirt bag making workshop.

A variety of scenes and themes were created in Catinka Knoth’s Art classes for adults and children, autumn leaves and trees.

Jessie Blanchard and Katie Drago hosted a STEM Workshop—Elephant Toothpaste. Participants were invited to learn about exothermic reactions by making giant foamy toothpaste. Jessie and Katie report that although the STEM Workshops usually attracts families, they were surprised to have more solo adults attending than families for this activity.

The Library and the League of Women Voters Midcoast Maine registered eight new voters on National Voter Registration Day. This collaboration was coordinated by Jessie Blanchard.

The Camden Conference Community Event for October was “China’s Century? Not So Fast”, with Michael Roskin. China’s “S-Curve” is starting to kick in, argues Michael Roskin, a retired professor of political science living in Rockland. An elongated “S” charts economic growth generally: awakening, rapid growth, and then leveling off. China seems to be heading into this third phase with problems in banking, investment, debt and capital flight, all amid overseas expansion and a crackdown on dissent.

Patty King organized Tuesday & Thursday evening Community Events programming including a talk about restorative justice and the North Pond Hermit, presented by Representative Pinny Beebe-Center and Maeghan Mahoney, the DA who prosecuted him and a screening of the documentary Winged Migration with an introductory talk by volunteers from Friends of Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge visitor center.

Children’s Librarian Jean Young met with South School Librarian Deanna Tibbitts and planned a combined family library time, which will be held once a month. They planned the first three programs.

Teresa Verrill read reviews in VOYA, Horn Book, and Booklist, selected and ordered several YA books and began to work on helping order nonfiction Juvenile books. To, assist with her cataloging skills, Teresa also took a four-week online Authority Control course through Library Juice Academy.

Katie continued hosting Baby Time on Thursday mornings. In addition to being a time for babies to wiggle, move and listen to stories, another benefit is families gaining a community of support through the people they meet there.

Volunteers for this period include Mary Kelly, Sarah Lawson, Pat Niedzielski, Jane Ryan, Hugh Ryrie, Deborah Sealey, Katie Syrett, and Demetri Joy. Additionally, Patty King met with and coordinated training for two new library volunteers.

Library staff continue to provide one-on-one tech help, both in the form of scheduled appointments and “on the spot” assistance. Examples of assistance include: working with a first time Mac user, teaching a patron how to attach documents to emails, and helping a patron navigate the Cloudlibrary.

The Library “celebrated” Banned Books Week from September 24-28 with daily costumes and a display of banned books. Katie dressed up daily like a character from a banned book, with Jessie joining her as Captain Ahab from Moby Dick one day.

In early October, Jean presented Apples, Apples, and Apples! Participants crafted with them, bobbed for them, and attempted to identify the different varieties of them that were present.

Also in early October, Jessie, Katie & Patty (during their time off) created a dapper cat scarecrow, Purrnest Hemingway, who will represent the Library on Main St during the “Rockland Scarecrow Days.”

During September the Library served 9,539 patrons and held 61 programs with a total attendance of 704.

Upcoming events: Halloween Hootenanny (a Halloween Celebration for Children and their families) and International Observe the Moon Night, a worldwide celebration of lunar science and exploration held annually since 2010.