Camden Town Manager Audra Caler-Bell confirmed in her Aug. 3 report that a cost overrun for the new pedestrian and bike pathway along Route 1 from Quarry Hill to Maritime Farm convenience store is $17,500. Of that, $11,000 is to be paid by Camden and $6,500 by Rockport. She also reported that a Coalition of Maine Towns and School Districts is asking Camden to participate in a campaign to increase state funding for education costs.

Audra Caler- Bell’s report follows:

• I received confirmation from MDOT that the cost overrun for the Route 1 South Project will be split between MDOT and Camden/Rockport 80%/20% as opposed to the Towns paying 100% for the cost of the overrun.   This will equate to approximately $11,000 additional for Camden and $6,500 for Rockport.  There are funds available within our FY19 Budget to provide the additional match required to complete this project.  

• The Towns of Camden and Rockport as well as MSAD 28 have been approached to participate in a Coalition of Maine Towns and School Districts campaigning to increase the amount of funding from the State for essential programs and services (EPS) for education.  The “Raise the Floor Coalition” is seeking legislation to increase the minimum subsidy available to high property value municipalities.  Towns like Camden currently receive a minimum subsidy from the State, which is 3 to 10 percent of total EPS educational costs.  In comparison municipalities that don’t fall within the “minimum receiver” category receive from 30% to 70% of their total EPS education costs from the State.  This campaign will seek to implement a minimum state subsidy of 15 percent of the total EPS cost per pupil for minimum receivers.  Next week the Rockport Town Manager and I will be meeting with the Town Manager of Fayette, who is leading this effort, in order to find out more information on the campaign.
• I’ve sent all the Committee Chairs Work Plans that have been revised to include input from the Select Board.  I encouraged all the Committee Chairs to contact me if they had questions or anything they wanted to discuss in relation to the Select Board’s input.
• Tech Director Juniper Purinton will be investigating options for replacing the AV and Broadcasting system in the French Conference Room.  I’m certain many people have noticed we’re experiencing a number of technical difficulties when broadcasting meetings.  Virtually the entire system is at the end of its useable life so we’re trying to determine the best options for replacing this system in a cost effective manner.
• I’ve been working with Select Board member Alison McKellar to put together an application to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and NOAA for a coastal resiliency grant.  Camden’s proposed project will focus on restoring habitat within the Megunticook Watershed and improving resiliency to flooding along the Megunticook River.  The specific activities will include:
  • Final engineering design of the Montgomery Dam to allow for species passage 
  • Feasibility studies around removing/altering all the dams in the system between the Montgomery Dam and Seabright Dam to both allow for the passage of species and to improve resiliency to flooding 
  • Design for fish passage at the Seabright Dam 
  • Plan for restoring wetlands along the Meguticook River

A big thank you to Alison for all the time she’s put into preparing this grant application.

• Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent, Dave Bolstridge, and I have been in regular communication with USDA Rural Development Project Officers to try and define the final scope of the projects that will be included in the Town’s application and determine if it will be possible for Camden to secure grant funds.  Camden is in a unique position where the debt service on capital improvements to our wastewater treatment plant are funded through taxes as opposed to user rates, as is common for most municipal wastewater treatment plants.  Our USDA project officer was unaware during our initial conversations that user rates would not be impacted by the plant upgrades or other wastewater projects due to how the Town funds capital projects related to the treatment plant.  Because the purpose of USDA Rural Development Grants are for reducing impacts on ratepayers as a result of major capital projects it is highly unlikely Camden will be eligible for grants to help offset the cost of treatment plant upgrades, replacing the two pump stations and the force main from Sea Street.  The only way the Town can become eligible for grants funds is if the Town and Wastewater Treatment Plant (as an enterprise fund) enter into a recapture agreement where the Treatment Plant reimburses the Town for debt service payments for upgrades.  Therefore, we are currently looking at a number of recapture scenarios to determine how much grant funding the Town could receive under each and if the overall benefit will be for taxpayers and ratepayers is great enough to pursue this option.

Planning/Codes & Development

• Snow Bowl-  Planning and Development Director Jeremy Martin, Parks and Rec. Director Beth Ward, and consulting engineer Jeff Senders met with the Maine DEP staff and engineers on July 31 to review proposed solutions to address erosion issues on the mountain.   The MDEP is very appreciative of the town’s proactive efforts thus far and engineer Senders will be finalizing recommendations over the next couple of weeks.   

• Planning Board- The Planning Board unanimously approved changes proposed to the off-street parking requirements, as well as a text amendment that would allow limited commercial uses in the MET school building in the village district.    

• Tannery -  The final brownfield clean-up work plan has been submitted to the USEPA for their approval.   The RFP is being prepared to obtain the services of a qualified environmental consulting firm.    

• CEDAC- The committee continues to do their due diligence on what it would take to bring fiber to every premises in Camden.  CEDAC has met with representatives from LCI, GWI and the Island Institute.  

• Harbor Committee-  The Planning and Development Director has been meeting the subcommittee charged with addressing possible changes to the daysailer and windjammers agreements  

Police Department

The following reflects statistics from Police Department files from July 19 to August 2, 2018:

• 350 total complaints received
• 6 Responses to 911 hang up calls
• 3 Responses to 911 open line calls
• 17 Agency Assist calls
• 17 Alarm responses
• 7    Animal complaints; 1bite/attack, 2 animal problem and 4 animal welfare calls
• 11 Traffic Complaints
• 13 Found property calls
• 3   Hit & Run calls
• 1   Intoxicated persons calls
• 41 Parking problem complaints
• 6  Traffic accidents with damage calls
• 37 Property Checks
• 29 Radar details
• 5   Stray animal calls
• 4  Traffic details
• 14 Traffic violations
• 7Trespassing calls
• 2Underage Drinking calls
• 11 Well Being checks

Fire Department

• Conducted routine apparatus & equipment maintenance programs
• Conducted several Life Safety Code inspections for lodging & victual's licenses
• Responded to multiple fire incidents
• Delivery of new Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus was accepted
  • Training was conducted for personnel
  • Phasing in of the equipment will take place during the next few weeks
  • Delivery of new compressor and cascade system is expected the week of August 13
• Coordinated work on the building HVAC with Thayer
  • A project engineer visited the building July 30
  • A proposal about the HVAC will be coming soon
• Firefighters conducted a successful 'fill the boot' drive 
  • The Atlantic Engine Company #2 will be making an equipment donation of FLIR Thermal Cameras in the coming weeks
• As Code Enforcement 
  • Provided coverage for inspections during Bill's vacation
  • Continuing review of Fire Inspector information by AC Lowe and FF Beveridge
• As EMA Director - Phone calls and meeting with FEMA representatives
• As Public Health Officer - no activity.