Town Manager Audra Caler-Bell has submitted her Oct. 26 report on the state of municipal business. It includes an update on the pathway construction project for Route 1 from Quarry Hill to Maritime Farm, the proposal to overhaul the town’s website (quotes range from $6,500 to $289,400), and the status of tax collection.

Town Manager’s Office:

• I discussed options for moving forward with the Route 1 South sidewalk project with DOT Project Manager Aurele Gorneau.  The DOT has agreed to revisit the design to try and find ways to reduce the cost of the project.  They are also going to rebid this project and combine it with the Route 105 Sidewalk project in hopes that by offering contractors the option to bid on both projects combined we will get a better price.  Regardless, the DOT is still anticipating the construction cost to be significantly higher than the approximately $430,000 currently allocated to this project.  The DOT expressed a willingness to fund the project, despite the increased cost, if the Towns are stilling willing to contribute our 20 percent match.  

Camden and Rockport will need to formally commit to contributing the additional 20 percent required to move this project forward.  Given the timing of when this project is likely to be rebid, both towns will have the opportunity to include discussions on funding this project during the development of the FY19-FY20 budget.

• Camden has received 11 proposals in response to the request for proposals we advertised for the redevelopment/redesign of the town’s website.  Prices ranged from approximately $6,500 to $289,400.  We have $18,000 available to fund this project.  

I have asked several staff members, a Select Board member and a community member to help me review proposals, conduct interviews with the first round of preferred vendors and ultimately, provide a recommendation to the Select Board on a preferred proposal.  We will meet on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the proposals and select companies to interview.  

• The Select Board held their first capital planning workshop last week to discuss priorities for the upcoming financial year.  While these priorities have yet to be finalized the Select Board wanted to focus on replacement of inner harbor floats, repairs to the windows, gutters and masonry on the Opera House, and the purchase of a new plow truck.  

Many of the inner harbor floats are at the end of their useable life and are made from un-encapsulated polystyrene.  The town has just under five years to replace these floats to comply with our ordinance passed by voters in June of 2018.

The Opera House is experiencing water intrusion during rain events.  While the exact cause is yet to be definitively determined, there are several building repairs that are likely culprits and must otherwise be completed.  This includes replacing all the gutters, restoring the windows on the northeast side of the building, and repairing masonry on the southwest side of the building.

Public Works needs to replace a plow truck that was purchased in 1998.  This financial year is a good year to do so because we are retiring debt for the purchase of a fire truck from 2013.  The debt service on the plow truck is likely to be significantly lower than the fire truck so we’ll have the opportunity to also budget capital reserve funds for the eventual replacement of this fire truck.

• I would like to thank Vision Builders and Gartley & Dorsky for their work getting the archway repaired.  As many of you are aware the archway was hit by a delivery truck on August 23.  Carmen Bombeke wasted no time in coming over to assess the damage and advise the town on what needed to be done to stabilize the structure so that it didn’t pose a risk to the public.  Vision Builders with equipment from Rockport Steel, moved quickly to take the damaged portions of the archway down and repair and reinstall them.  I greatly appreciate your responsiveness; you were willing to drop everything during a time when you’re all inundated with work to restore an iconic structure for the Town.  

Finance Office

• The Finance office staff is navigating the crazy-busy month of October with ease.  Beginning with the first half of 2018-2019 taxes due on October 17, they’ve kept up with customer flow as well as incoming payments via mail like it was second nature.  Most recent reports show a 46 percent collection rate of 2018-2019 real estate property taxes and an impressive 66 percent collection rate of personal property taxes.
• We are very fortunate to have hired a great part time front office assistant in September.  Kendall is her name and she fits in beautifully with our staff.  She’s currently working toward several certifications that will aid her in providing back up support to the Town Clerk for vital records, Registrar for election/voting support and Tax Collector for MV excise/state fee collections.  We’re happy to have her on board!
  
  
• Katrina has been extremely busy with preparing for the November 6 elections.  As of this report, we have issued 950 absentee ballots to registered Camden voters.
  
  
• Liz and Marlene are making good use of the town’s new harbor mooring software that was recently purchased.  A lot of work will go into entering data into the new program that will provide years of reliable mapping/mooring/user fee information for Liz (Harbor Clerk), Steve and his staff down at the harbor.
  
  
• We welcomed several staff members from our contracted audit firm RHR Smith who have been performing the field work and testing to eventually produce an audit and financial statements that are required by State Statute on an annual basis.  That report will be delivered to the Select Board at one of their regularly scheduled meetings in the near future.

Fire Department:

• Residents and property owners can now obtain Open Burn Permits free, online at wardensreport.com on days when permits are being issued
  
  
• Fire Prevention Week was Oct 7 - 13
  • We visited CRMS several times 
  • We are again conducting our fire prevention art program with CRMS students
• Firefighter Beveridge and Assistant Chief Lowe have completed all requirements and have received their Certified Fire Inspector certification from the NFPA 
• Conducted several Departmental training sessions 
  • Firefighters participated in ambulance driver training with North East Mobile Health
• Conducted routine apparatus and equipment maintenance programs
  • Annual hose testing process is nearly complete
• Conducted several Life Safety Code inspections for lodging & victual's licenses
• Responded to multiple fire incidents
  • Including 3 recent malicious fire alarm activations from 51 Mechanic Street
    • Residents activate the fire alarm to summons help when they think the staff isn't responsive enough to their needs
    • We have met with the Administrator and will be providing training in the future to staff
  • Met with Investigators from the Fire Marshal's Office about a fire at 66 Park Street
• Chief and Asst Chief attended a quarterly meeting of the Knox County Mutual Aid Assoc
  • The Knox County Fire Training Academy will be providing a Firefighter I & II program this fall
  • AC Lowe is involved with the administration of the program
  • Firefighters Beveridge & Heath will be instructing some of the classes
• Chief attended a several meetings of the KRCC Executive Board
• Continued to work with Thayer on the public safety building HVAC
  • The Engineering Department recently provided the information we have been requesting
• As Code Enforcement - we have been completing education and testing for MUBEC certifications 
  • We have been accompanying the CEO during inspections as part of the education process
• As EMA Director - Attended the monthly Knox County local directors meeting
  • FF Heath is working on closing out the FEMA Disaster assistance request from Oct 2017
• As Public Health Officer - 
  • We have taken multiple phone calls from residents at 20 Deer Run complaining about resident/tenant issues
  • We have requested written documentation of the complaints which we have not received
  • We have referred the tenants to Pine Tree Legal for assistance