ROCKLAND — There are a lot of details in keeping a small city like Rockland running, as evidenced in the weekly report ending Dec. 7, and issued by Rockland City Manager James Smith to the mayor and councilors. Of note, the city is in the process of advertising for a new Community Development Director, following the controversial departure last month of Audrey Lovering. Applications and resumes are due by Dec. 14 and the Personnel Board is set to begin conducting interviews the following week.

The Office of Fisherman's Pier reported that the price of lobster has declined once gain, at $2.65, down 30 cents from last week. And, cold temperatures and the beginning of the ice boating season led the Rockland Fire Department to shift its training focus to cold water rescue, ice rescue suits and the ice rescue sled.

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER

City Hall staff will be collecting non-perishable items and toiletries to be donated to the AIO Food Pantry this holiday season. Samantha Mank will coordinate donations and deliver staff contributions to the AIO on Friday, Dec. 21.

The City submitted an insurance claim for eligible costs incurred by the recent settlement agreement. Earlier this week the City received a reimbursement check from Travelers Insurance reimbursing the City for these expenses.

In an effort to make improvements around the Harbor Trail path near the Thorndike Parking lot and Treatment Facility, City staff will meet with Rockland Main Street next week to outline a work plan to ensure improvements near the trail head at this location. Aspects of the project to be formalized include the location of a new light pole, siting the trail head, interpretive signage, a railing for the stairs, and amenities such as a bench, trash and/or recyclable receptacles, banners, and a bike rack, as funding allows.

Met with the Chairman of the Harbor Trail Design Committee to review the status of the planning for the trail. City staff will be working with the Harbor Trail Design Committee on sighting 20 locations for trail identification signs. The committee will then be able to review the proposed locations and provide feedback before final installation. Each location will have signage on both sides of the pole so that the trail is properly marked from either direction. It is our hope that this work can be completed by early spring so that the trail signs are up and the trail is marked for use next summer.

Attended the Chamber breakfast on Tuesday.

Attended the Rockland Main Street meeting on Thursday.

Advertisements have been made for the vacant Community Development Director position and we have begun receiving applications/resumes. Applications and resumes are due by Dec. 14 and the Personnel Board is set to begin conducting interviews the following week.

Finalized and executed the Union contracts for the Teamsters.

OFFICE OF THE RECREATION DIRECTOR

We will be starting a new walking program Monday, Decc 10 at 6 a.m., Monday through Friday.

Youth Basketball is underway.

OFFICE OF THE POLICE CHIEF

In addition to responding to 183 calls for services this past week and making seven arrests; summons were made for various offenses, including Burglary, Violation of conditions of release, Traffic offences and Warrants. Officers issued summons for nine traffic offenses. Officers handled 10 traffic crashes.

Along with other duties and shift assignments, members of the police department were involved in the following highlights this past week:

Sergeant Ken Smith and Deputy Chief Tower assisted with the arrival via helicopter of the "flying Santa" at Buoy Park on Saturday to benefit the Coast Guard Families and the Lighthouse Museum. Chief Boucher attended FMC's Community Advisory Panel meeting regarding safety issues within the facility and community at large.

Officer Andrew Crook attended Forensic Statement analysis training at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy.

Sergeant Ken Smith attended Accident Reconstruction recertification class at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy.

Deputy Chief Tower attended the local Emergency Planning Commission meeting about issues affecting Knox County and the City of Rockland.

OFFICE OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

Inspection was done with the Fire Department at an apartment building at 21 Talbot Avenue for potential sale.

A very successful blower door test was performed at Bartlett Woods confirming building envelope tightness. John Root and Fire Department personnel will be performing an inspection next week for a Certificate of Occupancy.

The Planning Board met Dec. 4 and accepted the withdrawal of Black Diamond Consultants and USCC's application for a Telecommunications Facility located at the Rockland Golf Course.

John Root worked at resolving a rat infestation at a private residence.

The Code Office received an analysis of new lighting to be installed at Hannaford Brothers confirming compliance with the Energy Code.

David Kalloch and John Root attended the day long MBOIA "International Existing Building Code" Workshop in Augusta on Wednesday.

There was one complaint filed this week. Reviewed for, inspected, and issued the following permits:

Three Building permits, Five Electrical permits, Four Plumbing permits, One Sidewalk Display permit

OFFICE OF THE GENERAL ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATOR

Handled 20 different calls, walk-ins for the following reasons: Housing; Heat; Electricity; Homeless; Follow-ups; Food and Miscellaneous.

Handled 8 different appointments.

Processed 5 applications.

Applicants requested $6,347.50 in assistance.

Applicants were found eligible for $760 in assistance.

OFFICE OF THE FISHERMAN'S PIER DIRECTOR

The price per pound for lobster is now at $2.65, down 30 cents from last week.

Issued 4 permits for calendar year 2013

1 Large Herring Carrier greater than 70 feet in length

1 Small Herring Carrier less than 70 feet in length

1 Lobster Buyer Station

1 Bait Dealer

Sent out November metered electric and vessel docking bills.

OFFICE OF THE CITY ASSESSOR

Processed returns from commercial property owners for tenant information.

Processed two abatement requests.

Picked up information on new permits.

OFFICE OF THE FINANCE DIRECTOR

Approved Payroll Warrant.

Began preparing for audit work for FY 2012. The Auditors will begin work on Dec. 10.

OFFICE OF THE HARBORMASTER

We mostly worked on processing the mooring permit database so that next year's renewals can go out for the beginning of the new year. We added updated mooring inspection information to the new list and changed the revised fees.

We generated new maps of the Public Landing for the Maine Boats and Harbors show people.

Fielded a phone call from the manager at the Samoset that their plans for next year will exclude the "Sis" Reed Park's portable toilets from the Samoset property.

OFFICE OF THE FIRE CHIEF

In addition to responding to the normal flow of fire and EMS calls, daily shift training, apparatus checks, cleaning, repairs and maintenance to the fleet and cleaning and maintenance of the quarters, the following occurred: Local 1584 Rockland Professional Fire Fighters hosted the Second Chili Chowder

Challenge at Trackside on Monday evening. The event raised just over $2,200 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and all who attended appeared to be enjoying what we hope will be a continuing event.

Tours of the USCG Tackle continued on Thursday with A-shift touring the ice- breaking vessel.

Cold temperatures and the beginning of the ice boating season (at least on Plymouth Pond) led the shifts to focus this week's shift training on cold water rescue with a focus on the ice rescue suits and the MARSARS ice rescue sled.

All pumping apparatus so equipped were prepared for winter with the installation of heat shields.

In the last chapter of "the gift that keeps on giving", C-shift recovered the double entry doors from the north side of the MacDougal School by arrangement with Ferraiolo Construction. These doors will be utilized in our training trailer maze located at the transfer station.

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR

Roadside shouldering and gravel road grading.

Worked with Maine Department of Transportation gathering data including cross sections for the Main Street and Union Street roadway overlay paving project that is slated to be completed in the spring. Public Works is assisting MDOT with flaggers and signage and we also are surveying our sewer structures for any defects that may need to be addressed prior to project completion. We hope to see plans from MDOT in the near future which will include a combination of pavement grinding and shimming to reestablish the road profile and a 3⁄4 inch overlay. The springtime work plan will most likely be night time working hours between about 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday with all work to be completed by the middle/end of June.

The utility meeting for Main Street utilities has been postponed until Jan. 16.

Met with MDOT, Gorrill-Palmer consultants, and AD Electric for final punch list for Park Street/Broadway signal project.

Sent Vactor sewer jet to Westbrook for throttle up issues.

Notified Interstate Septic as a backup for any sewer issues that may occur.

Dropped off Holder sidewalk machine to check speed control issues.

Mounted two large pictures to wall in Council Chambers.

Demolition of the MacDougal School above grade structure completed.

Demolition of concrete is planned to start next week.

Pruned trees in various areas around City of Rockland.

OFFICE OF THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR

One of the shades from the Community Room was removed for repair.

I attended the Friends' Annual Meeting and spoke briefly, thanking the Friends for all the amazing things they do for the Rockland Public Library.

I attended a bi-monthly meeting of the PLEA.

Moe the Therapy Dog was back again this week! This gentle giant lounged on the rug, along with his handler, Steve Seekins as Steve delighted children during the weekly Wednesday Story Time. This ongoing program is a wonderful addition to the Library's line-up.

I received the inaugural edition Children's Writing Club's newspaper. It is available at the Library.

The film Arranged will be presented with discussion to follow as part of the ongoing Thursday Evening Arts & Cultural Events programming.

The Library is hosting one of several librarian workshops across Maine, presented by the Maine State Library, on Digital Literacy.

The Library will present an author talk on Saturday afternoon, as Lynne Fernands discusses her novel Noble Hill.

People of all ages are invited to participate (or just listen) in the Library's first Holiday Sing-Along on Sunday afternoon; singers will be accompanied by pianist Sojourner Hodges and Peter Proeller on banjo.

Remember that the Book Stop will have extended hours on Saturdays beginning this coming weekend through Christmas, for holiday shopping; these special Saturday hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

OFFICE OF THE SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR

Justin Lorenzen, on the way back from delivering a load of waste to PERC, visited Milton Cat in Brewer to review, with the mechanics, the proper use and maintenance of the Landfill Compactor and the D5M bulldozer prior to delivery. The folks at Milton also showed Justin the same piece of equipment that is being used at the Brewer Landfill. Justin was able to talk with the Brewer landfill compactor operator to get some pointers and techniques.

We sent out 2.6 tons of #1, 3-5 plastics, 19.4 tons of cardboard, 4.98 tons of tin cans & 8.44 tons of #2 HDPE plastics for recycling.

Attended the 11/3/12 City Council agenda setting meeting and discussed the two C&D contracts that were presented as well as the LD 1278 a C&D processors tax.

Attended a Maine Resource Recovery board of directors meeting in Waterville.

I have begun to assemble data for next year's budget.

Public Works has installed the directional signs on each side of the truck scale.

We continue to take in clay from the Wal-Mart job and place it around the perimeter of the inside of the quarry.

We continue to take in demolition debris from the MacDougal School.

OFFICE OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT DIRECTOR:

Started sandblasting of No. 1 secondary clarifier for recoating CIP.

Started ferric chloride trial in the primary clarifiers in an attempt to improve settling throughout the system.

Two operators attended operator recertification training this week.

Ferraiolo Construction ordered the pipe and materials for the Talbot Avenue sewer and storm drain replacement. Scheduled to start work Dec. 10.

The remainder of the variable frequency drives and control panels for the electrical and controls upgrade at the treatment plant were delivered.

Collected monthly samples from Lindsey Brook and tributaries.

Contacted Larry's Welding to have handrail fabricated for the outside stairways at the treatment plant.

CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Recreation Building

The front of the building is continuing to take shape as the project reaches its completion. The new slab is now in use and the front area has been cleaned up. The pavement has been laid for the sidewalks and the railing is in the process of being placed. The front stairs look great with the railings installed.

New exterior lights have been ordered and they should be installed next week.

The game room is a blank slate and we will be starting construction on that this week. We are going to renovate the new area but keep a section of the old area open at the start of basketball season so we will have a concession stand to use for a few weeks as we complete the other section.

Library Work on the Library's south chimney has begun; scaffolding building commenced on Monday, and by Wednesday Audette had begun taking it down. Eric Dube from Casco Bay Engineering stopped by to inspect, and reported that the lining is a hodge-podge cobbled together and will need to be rebuilt.

Curtis Dow of Cordjia advised that he is awaiting information from the sub- contractor, to finalize Change Order #4 (HVAC project).