CAMDEN — Town Manager Audra Caler said in the following report that Rockland will be hosting a Midcoast gathering March 30, via Zoom, of area select boards to talk specifically about clean energy. Her report also discusses municipal infrastructure projects and public safety data reviews.

Town Manager’s Office

• The Rockland City Council has invited the Camden Select Board, along with all the Select Boards in Knox County, as well as Lincolnville, Northport and Belfast, to join them in a discussion about renewable energy in the Midcoast.  This meeting is scheduled for March 30 at 6 p.m.
• I am working with Siemen’s on getting rebates from Efficiency Maine for the LED lighting upgrades to all Town buildings.  This portion of the project is scheduled to be completed by late May.
• The Town of Camden is estimated to receive approximately $480,000 from the Federal Government as our allocation from the American Rescue Plan.  While detailed guidance has yet to be issued on what these funds can be used for, I will be asking the Select Board to meet and discuss a preliminary program outline for using these funds.
• The Public Works Director and I will have a second meeting with the MDOT Regional Planner for the Midcoast and the Director of the Bridge Program to discuss the removal of the Rawson Avenue bridge and its replacement with a pedestrian bridge next week.  The FY22 Budget contains half the funding that can be used as a matching contribution to MDOT for this project with the remaining match to be allocated in FY23.
• Consultant John Burke has reached out to me about beginning the Parking Management Study.  My first task is to provide him with a map of all time restricted parking, both on and off-street, in the downtown.

Public Works Department

• Siemens update: The building envelope work on the Library, Public Works & Snow Bowl is complete.  The O2Prime units have been installed in the Opera House and the Library.  The O2Prime units operational efficiency were tested and validated.  The building and facility lighting upgrades should begin in the Beginning of April.
• A meeting with Patrick Adams is scheduled on March 24 to review pedestrian safety improvements.  Specifically, in town crosswalks and the use of the $57,200 federal safety funds that were awarded to Camden.
• Continue work with on Stormwater Mapping attributes with Alison McKellar.  We will be meeting with CAI on April 1^st to review some needed changes to data fields and other components of the database.  We will also be meeting with Leticia VanVuuren to explore ways that Town and County can further collaborate on future GIS projects.
• Working with Rockland on bidding road line striping.
• Assisted Harbor Master with coordination of future boat pump out station, tying into sewer lift station.
• The repointing of the Elm Street side of the Opera House is going well and should be done by 3/26/21.

Police Department

The following reflects statistics from Police Department files from February 15 to March 15, 2021. The statistics listed reflect a partial listing of the total number received. The complaints listed denote those which are used for reporting purposes or had a significant amount reported to the police during this period. 

• The department has been certified in NIBRS reporting of incidents to the State of Maine for crime statistics. Moving away from the old UCR reporting system.
• Began seasonal Sand for Seniors program.
• Lost two participants of the Good Morning Program through transfers to Assisted Living facilities.
• Det Sgt Curt Andrick completed the Mid Coast Leadership Academy
• All employees who opted for the covid vaccine have received their two shots
• Officer Mark Bennet has received on going education in Animal Control operations

• 400 Total complaints received during this period
•   23 Responses to 911 hang up / open line 
•   14 Agency Assist calls
•   13 Alarm responses
•     7  Animal complaints; 5 animal problem, 1 animal welfare & 1  animal bite or     attacks
•     2 Assault
•     1 Domestic
•     5      Drug Take Back
•     2 DUI Alcohol/Drugs
•   39 Foot Patrol
•     5 Haz Mat Responses
•   16 Information Complaints
•   15 Mental Health Issues
•     1 Overdose
• 116 Property Checks
•     5 Traffic Accidents; 17 w/Damage and 3 w/Injuries
•     7 Radar details
•     3 Sand for Seniors requests
•     3 Suspicious Persons/Circumstances
•   14 Theft
•     8 Traffic Hazard
•   39 Well Being checks

Fire Department

• We continue to assist the State Fire Marshal’s Office with their investigation of the cause & origin of the fire which occurred at 7 Mount Battie Street
• Regular, routine maintenance is conducted on apparatus and equipment
• We are currently using an online training platform to provide an annual review of safety programs and general training programs for our Firefighters
  • We are planning to resume our regular in-person bi-weekly training sessions in April
• We have started an initiative with our mutual aid partners in Rockland & Rockport to provide home safety surveys and replacement smoke detectors
  • At the request of homeowners, we have conducted 7 safety assessments in Camden and provided one homeowner with several replacement detectors
• An on-call Firefighter resigned this week because she has purchased a home in Rockland 
• We have two on-call Firefighters currently enrolled in a Knox County Fire Academy training program
• We have met with two people this week interested in becoming on-call Firefighters
• We conduct multiple, daily inspections for the Code Enforcement Office along with Rosie Curtis
  • The season when we conduct most of the inspections for Lodging & Victualer’s Licenses as rapidly coming upon us
• We are beginning to review the process to renew our certifications for Code Enforcement as well as Certified Fire Inspectors
• We continue to work towards Emergency Medical training requirements
• We have been meeting with sales representatives of various apparatus companies to develop plans for a mini-pumper