ROCKLAND – In the past two weeks, citizens have submitted a petition regarding Yachting Solutions ideas. Others have requested a public restroom at Sandy Beach. Two Short Term Rental applications and three new applications for Owner Occupied Short Term Rentals were processed. Arts in Action has begun a part of an educational mural, and two businesses are looking to relocate to Rockland.

Read the entire Rockland City Manager’s weekly report here. 

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
 Met with Mid Coast School of Technology on their school construction project. They will be coming to council to request a slope maintenance agreement. Instead of constructing a retaining wall the school would like to slope the area onto city property and to have an easement to maintain the slope.
 Received a citizens’ petition in support of the City’s efforts to improve the waterfront area at the Public Landing as per the conceptual plans submitted by Yachting Solutions.
 Met with the chair of the Energy Committee to discuss the Weatherize Rockland Program and what did and didn’t work.
 Sandy Beach – Met with citizens that would like to see a public restroom built at Sandy Beach as it is one of the most highly used beaches in the City.

OFFICE OF THE COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
 Business assistance. Assisted 4 businesses looking for space or developable property in Rockland – two that are already here and need different or additional space, and 2 that would like to locate in Rockland. There is limited (unused) space zoned for certain types of commercial/light industrial  uses – an issue for potential consideration in the comprehensive planning process.
 Comprehensive plan technical support. We are working through the details of a contract to provide technical assistance to the Comprehensive Planning Commission.
 Brownfields. The City has grant funds available to help eligible property owners assess their sites for contaminants at no cost to them. We are in the process of reviewing one application, and have enough funds available to help perhaps 4 more property owners.
 Grants.
o Fish Pier. We are working on the second phase of the application to the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Economic Development Assistance Program for the balance of funding needed to redevelop Rockland’s Fish Pier, due April 25.
o Harbor Plan. We are beginning to outline a proposal for the Maine Department of Marine Resources’ Shore and Harbor Grants Program for development of a new Harbor Management Plan; while the program statement is not yet posted, we expect the proposal will be due in early May.
o CDBG – economic development. We have been invited to submit a full proposal (the second phase of the application process) to the Community Development Block Grant Program to help a local business double production capacity and create 7 new, full time jobs. All necessary match would be provided by the beneficiary.
o CDBG – housing assistance. We are working with the Genesis Fund on the second phase of an application for funds to assist 6 cooperatively owned mobile home parks with their infrastructure needs, including one in Rockland. Like the Home Repair Network grant, the City would serve as administrative agent for the grant.
 Stakeholder suggestions. Recent stakeholders include:
o Making marketing a priority – with a focus on food, art, and ocean.
o Hiring an economist to determine at what point cruise ship volume would threaten land based tourism and perception of Rockland, rather than looking into the short term economic impact of cruise ship visits.
o Specific suggestions of potential businesses to recruit to Rockland, and in particular to the former JC Penny space. (On that subject we’d say only that the property manager is working to re-lease the space; and we hope to have news to share soon.)

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE
Administration –
 Chief Boucher attended Class day at the Academy.
 Attended a Parking Committee meeting.
 Conducted a Security review with members of the Career Center.
 Last week D/C Young attended a week long FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar.
 Completed compliance updates with the State Police Access Integrity Unit for the purposes of accessing information from our mobile data terminals.
 Facilitated a department wide block of mandatory training required by the Maine Criminal Justice Academy.
 Began updating three department policies as required by the Maine Criminal Justice Academy.
 Met with representatives of Coastal Traffic Inc. to discuss traffic signals within the City.
 Assisted the Mid-Coast Maine Drug Enforcement Task Force by providing personnel and resources to assist them with an ongoing investigation into the importation of illegal drugs into Rockland.
 Facilitated the completion of department wide monthly policy reviews.

Criminal Investigations Division –
 Attended a meeting with representatives from various disciplines regarding the new Child Advocacy Center.
 Coordinated with the FBI concerning information sharing and reporting of school violence threats.
 Conducted training in the patrol division on evidence preservation and collection.
 Continued working on ongoing criminal investigations.
 Worked with the Mid-Coast Maine Drug Enforcement Task Force to investigate the importation of illegal drugs into Rockland.
 Coordinated with the Department of Health and Human Services regarding an ongoing child welfare investigation.

Patrol Division –
 Officers continue their ongoing partnership with RSU 13 schools in Rockland by providing high visibility police presence during times frames that school administrators have deemed most crucial to student safety. This is done when personnel and resources are available.
 Officers responded to two threatening complaints at the South School. In both cases threat assessments were conducted. These assessments were a joint collaboration between Rockland PD, school administrative staff, the students that made the threats and the parents of those students. It was concluded that neither of these threats were credible and the students returned to class.
 Officers assisted the Knox County Sheriff’s Office in serving a Writ of Possession.
 Officers assisted the Knox County Sheriff’s Office with an ongoing investigation.
 Officers conducted alcohol compliance checks at establishments in Rockland that serve alcohol.
 Officers Conducted bail and probation compliance checks on residence of Rockland who are on bail conditions or probation to ensure they were in compliance.
 Officers conducted targeted traffic enforcement details at various locations in Rockland including school zones and Main St. The purpose of these details was speed limit enforcement.
 Officers delivered City Council packets.
 While conducting property checks officers found three that were unsecure. Responsible persons were notified to come and secure the buildings.
 Officers assisted the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency in attempting to locate subjects involved in their ongoing investigation.
 Officers responded to 139 calls for service, investigated 6 traffic accidents and conducted 24 traffic stops. As a result, 7 people were either arrested or summonsed for various violations.

Parking Enforcement / Animal Control –
 Issued 46 parking tickets.
 Attended a Rockland Parking Committee Meeting.
 Issued two summonses for Unlicensed Dogs.

OFFICE OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY DIRECTOR
 Completed the 2016-2017 annual report.
 There were occasional high flows through the treatment plant due to snow melt and runoff but otherwise have averaged below 2 MGD.
 There were some temporary issues with the treatment process, fortunately the lab technician and the operators maintained control of the process and avoided any violations until everything was back to normal.
 The lab did BOD and TSS testing for Northhaven.
 The weirs in the primary and secondary clarifiers were cleaned.
 Began inspection and testing of the chemical systems in preparation for startup in May.
 Worked on running the underground power for the new entrance gate operators.
 Temporarily relocated some chemical piping in the vortex pump room to make room for removal and replacement of one of the pumps.
 Replaced a broken underground chemical line at the south end of the plant. These lines are buried in a containment sleeve so that any leaks are contained and recycled back into the plant; nothing is able to get into the ground.
 Sent used motors from misc. equipment to A.C. electric for testing and rebuild to be used as spare parts.
 Worked with assistance from Woodard & Curran and Horizon Solutions to troubleshoot and repair a control problem with the gravity belt thickener.
 Completed the P.M. service on plant water pumps 1, 2, 3, & 4.
 Weekly inspection and testing of the ten pump stations.
 Interstate Septic cleaned and pumped the wetwell at the Glenwood Ave. pump station.
 Responded to a Dig-Safe request in Harbor Park for Maine Water.
 Worked with Wright-Pierce Engineering to create showing the areas of the city that are combined sewer and the concentration of Stormwater in the sewer within those areas. This is data that was gathered through city wide smoke testing and flow monitoring studies we performed.
 Scheduled an on-site meeting with Wright-Pierce Engineering and CMP to review and discuss the S. Main St. sewer separation project.
 Picked up parts at C.N. Woods in Portland for repairs to the sewer vac/jetter truck.
 Inspected and approved installation of the first portion of the new sewer force main at the Midcoast School of Technology construction site.
 Investigated a reported sewer backup on Frederick Street.

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES DIRECTOR
 Basin repair completed on North Main, Walnut Street, Admontem Ave.
 Assisted Harbor Master with floats.
 Maintenance work at library.
 Began City-wide street and sidewalk sweeping.
 Lawn damage repair.
 Shoulder repair on the Bog Road.
 Tree Removal
 Q2S pump removal and replacement.
 The Park and Main Sidewalk safety improvements project bid offer has been sent to Farley Inc.
 Met with Coastal Traffic regarding traffic signals.
 Reviewed sign placement with local business.
 Sewer jet repair.
 Conducted storm water sampling.
 Met with Woodard & Curran and DEP to discuss landfill closure reimbursement.
 Met with contractor to review various types of subbase treatment and road resurfacing.
 Attended meeting at Bolduc Correctional facility.
 Arts in Action has begun a part of the educational mural.
 Worked on spring cleanup communication and schedule. Spring cleanup will start April 30th and will be broken down into 4 sections with each section having a week to place brush and leaves out for pickup.
 The solid waste compactor bid has been submitted.
 Waste disposal has now transitioned from PERC to Ecomaine.
 Met with Patrick Adams from MDOT to review the Maverick Street intersection for potential safety improvements.
 9 Rockland Street building demolition and yard cleanup is now complete. We will seed and hay in the coming days. Peter Overlock Construction has done an outstanding job on this project.
 Ongoing cold patch city wide.
 City wide sign repair.
 City wide trash removal.
 Ongoing garage cleaning and 5s improvements.

OFFICE OF THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR
 The Annual Poetry Contest has begun, and this year’s theme is Speak Out! Please see the Library website for official rules, and submit your poem by August 1st. Prizes will be awarded Wednesday, August 15th. The winners will have their entries published in the Courier Gazette and participate in the 2nd Annual Millay Festival and Poetry Month Rockland’s Final Celebration in September.
 Fred Irons presented his painting, Last Game, to the Library in honor of the late, former Rockland resident, Harold Dondis. He and Dan DeLuca (who initially contacted me about the gift) travelled to Rockland to present it in person. We are still choosing the perfect spot to hang it.
 Catinka Knoth’s Art classes for both adults and children featured Papercuts and fairy tales in honor of Hans Christian Andersen.
 Once again, Jesse Ellis hosted Silent (Sign Language) Social Hour. It’s a place for people to learn the basics of American Sign Language by doing, and grow by learning. It is a place for people to learn about Deaf Culture. This is a voice-off environment; finger spelling is taught and encouraged.
 I attended Agenda Setting meeting of City Council.
 Tuesday evening brought a Destination Wellness event-- Seated Massage. Antje Roitzsch and Deborah Cautela offered information on the health benefits of touch, ideas on how to incorporate massage into one’s routine, and provided some basic training in how to give and receive better seated massage.
 Patty King met with Kristy Garcia, who will be leading a Magic, the Gathering, a role-playing card game here, monthly, beginning in May.
 Thanks you to Public Services staff (Jimmy and Keith) for repair of the counter in the women’s rest room on the lower level.
 Jessie Blanchard (along with Rockport Library’s Keith Drago) presented College Next, at U Rock, which introduces non-traditional college students to research tools and resources.
 Jessie and I continue to review the Library’s new website, passing items along to Dave Bell and Nate Davis for inclusion, or correction; it’s getting very exciting.
 I submitted the Library’s Annual Report of the Library to the City.
 Miss Katie (Drago) brought some magic to Wednesday story hour with a collection of fairy tale stories. The children were excellent listeners and followed the fables by creating their own castles and fire breathing dragons!
 Katie Drago reported that this was the second week in a row with 22 attendees at Baby Time. The Children's Room was filled with singing, dancing, and laughter. Our oldest "baby" sang along to all the words, accompanied by our youngest, who was attending his first Baby Time at 3 months old.
One baby shook their shaky eggs on their own for the first time today. Another added some new dance moves to our songs. It was a class filled with smiles and silliness.
 WABI filmed Sharon Hobson, of One Less Worry, today; they went to the various sites where she provides toilet paper, tampons, and pads. Sharon has been stocking the Library restrooms with the last two, for some time now.
 The Thursday evening Community Event was a wellness talk with Theo Berez: Movement & Fitness: Where to Begin and Why. Theo discussed incorporating fitness into your life, regardless of your size and the shape you are in, by breaking down barriers that stop people from becoming active. Participants were encouraged to bring questions, an open mind, and wear comfortable clothes for a little basic movement training. Theo is the Wellness Director of the Pen Bay YMCA. This is the inaugural event of the grants-funded Checkout Movement & Healthy Living @ your Library series.
 Katie Syrett, volunteer extraordinaire, spent extra time here this week, as she worked on shifting books in the fiction section, where we’d previously weeded the collection.
 Jessie met with Rudi Graf, a Cornerstones of Science (COS) Board Member; he visited with a few libraries on the Midcoast to learn about the effectiveness in the COS Science Trunks we use for STEM  programming. Jessie was able to give suggestions for libraries to make better use of these great tools.
 Patty also met with Nancy Wood, the Nutrition Educator for Knox County Community Health Coalition, about a couple of programs which will be presented as part of the new Healthy Living series.
 I met with Theo Pratt, of the Midcoast League of Women Voters, who is coordinating a forum in May, which we’ll be so-sponsoring. For those unfamiliar with the LWV’s role, they are a “nonpartisan political organization, which encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.”
 On Saturday, the Children’s Room hosted Messin’ with the Basics for kids, with artist Joyce Steel, where kids explored the characteristics of painting varying lines, shapes, and colors, and put that knowledge to work painting with watercolor, accompanied by music.
This was part of The Arts...for Kids & their Families @the Rockland Public Library series.
 UPCOMING: Join Miss Katie in creating modern art contrasting background color with black and white drawings. Creative art crew is for all ages and abilities.
 Also, in honor of National Library Week, watch a small town librarian (Bette Davis) stand up to local pressure to remove a controversial book from the shelves - on principle, not out of sympathy for its perspective. Directed and co-scripted by Daniel Taradash (From Here to Eternity), this reflection on the rights and responsibilities of citizens was a timely response to Anti-Communist sentiment in the 1950's.

OFFICE OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
 John and Bill attended a Zoning Board of Appeals Hearing that ultimately ended up being rescheduled.
 Bill attended a Comprehensive Planning Board meeting.
 Bill attended a MBOIA training in Newry, Me.
 John attended a Planning Board Meeting.
 We renewed 2 Short Term Rental Applications and processed 3 new applications for Owner Occupied Short Term Rentals.
 Bill did five license inspections, 557 Old County Rd, 235 Camden St, 606 Old County Rd, 167 New County Rd, and 1 Commercial St.
 John and Bill met with contractors; property and business owners regarding various proposed projects throughout the city, some of these meetings were in conjunction with the Fire Department and included on-site inspections.
 We issued five building permits. We issued a permit for the demolition of a house on Rockland St, a shed on Spruce St, a deck on Tea St, a fence on Seavey Ln, and replacement stairs on North Main St.
 We continue to be busy with various other permits, inspections, and assisting the public with questions. The following permits were issued by the Code Office:
o 6 Building Permits
o 2 Electrical Permits
o 3 Plumbing Permits
o 1 Planning Board Application
o 3 New Short Term Rental Applications
o 2 Renewal Short Term Rental Applications
o 7 Complaints

OFFICE OF THE FIRE CHIEF
Over this preceding week, in addition to the response to 64 Fire and EMS calls, conducting apparatus checks, daily cleaning, routine repairs and maintenance to the fleet and of the quarters, the following occurred:
 The past two week shave been filled with quality trainings and reviews of department policy and procedures. We held one of our “Super Saturday” training sessions where everyone spends the morning covering the mandatory Department of Labor trainings.
 We also spent an evening preparing for our upcoming Man vs Machine class that we are all looking forward to. This class will renew the skills needed on the technical rescue piece of our profession. Do to the heavy industrial trades that are in Knox County, we have responded to numerous calls where workers have become trapped within machinery or other complicated situations that require quick and accurate intervention. Members from multiple departments will be joining us for the day long class.
 Staff attended a meeting at PenBay Medical Center in reference to the transfer of patients from their skilled facilities and their continuation of care after their arrival at the Emergency Department. This is a great start to the conversation of patient care and the information needed throughout their admission.
 Chief Whytock attended a conference class with Fire Chiefs from around New England to better prepare ourselves for our responses to emergencies. The training was well attended and the information was extremely valuable.
 A crew assisted Rockland Public Services with demolition of a building on Rockland Street. Fire crews were asked to wet down the structure to prevent as much dust from becoming airborne as possible.
 Our Paramedics had their recertification class on Pediatric Advanced Life Support, or PALS.
 FF Max Negley has completed his probationary requirements for Tower 3 and is now certified to operate the truck. Tower 3 is the most complicated apparatus we have and the training required to operate it can be difficult. Not only is driving time required, but the proficiency in operation must also be completed. Well done Max!
 The Fire & EMS Department was fortunate enough to receive a $25,000.00 grant from the Steven and Tabitha King Foundation to assist with the replacement of our breathing apparatus. The funds received will be put to good use and we are forever grateful to the foundation for their support.

OFFICE OF THE FINANCE DIRECTOR
 We have completed the 2nd phase of the budget process, and will now begin preparation for meetings with the City Council. During this 3rd, or final, stage of the process, the Council will have the opportunity to question the budget committee and/or make changes as they see fit. The Department Heads should be commended for a job well done, as they made some difficult decisions and compromises in completion of this task. The timing of the Council meetings will depend on working around their current schedules.
 We have completed the audit process, and will be meeting with both our auditors and City Council for a final review. Once those meetings are complete, the audit will be available online at the City’s website.
 Another Finance Department employee and I will be attending the Tyler Technology annual conference at the end of this month. Tyler Technology is the company that we use for our accounting system. The system includes, among other things, general ledger accounting, payroll, accounts payable and purchasing. Where we are looking at upgrading our accounting system to the next version, this will provide a training opportunity, as well as a chance to meet with the systems people to discuss and get educated on related issues.
 The Fire Chief and I have spoken to another agency in order to compare their EMS billing system in order to compare it to the agency that we are currently using. We are focusing primarily on financial collection rates. We will be speaking with other billing agencies in the future to get a fair comparison as well.
 As of today, the General Fund Account cash balance per the bank: $7.3MM.