ROCKLAND — During the week of June 21 - June 27, the police department made use of its patrol motorcycle. The department has also been asked by Maine Bureau of Highway Safety to travel to Massachusetts and assist them in selecting a command post vehicle for impaired driving enforcement . The library started a new children’s storytime at the Thursday Rockland farmers’ market. The finishing paving of road patches at the Mechanic Street trail extension is scheduled for this week. The City continues to work with the Farnsworth Art Museum about its upcoming street event. The wastewater treatment facility is seeking grants, and the harbor master worked on a Homeland Security Plan to incorporate secure areas involving the new gangway. Read of more upcoming events and activities in the full report below. 

OFFICE OF THE CITY ASSESSOR

 Processed Real Estate Transfers, updating parcel cards, sales book, and property splits.

 Processed Personal Property accounts, updating ownership, owned items, depreciation, State BETR'S 801 returns, BETE exemptions.

 Processed building permits, reviewing, updating property cards and assessments.

 Analyzing qualified sales of all properties and neighborhoods for a fair and equitable assessment.

 Completing State forms and returning for processing.

 Updating GIS with the new splits and merges.

 Listening and reviewing properties at the property owner's request.

 Updating Tax Maps and posting to the web site.

OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL FISH PIER

 One Lobster vessel permit was issued this week.

 The f/v western sea offloaded 350,000 lbs. of herring 

    The f/v western wave offloaded 600,000 lbs. of herring.

 Hosted a meeting with Eco Analysts Inc., Prock Marine, Acting Public Services director, and Todd Forrester on where do we proceed on the dumping of the dredged spoils if they fall in the non-contaminated category. Less cost at sea and double the cost for the land fill due to trucking. Next item will be where to conduct test bore holes for soil testing. Todd Forrester to work with Army Corp on what areas need to be tested. Also, will conduct the application permitting process for at sea and DEP application for the Solid Waste Facility if needed.

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES DIRECTOR

 Trash pick-up City-wide.

 Graded gravel roads.

 Mowed roadsides.

 Swept downtown area.

 Cold patching.

 Trimming brush.

 Made and painted barricades (horses).

 Installed posts at treatment plant for fencing.

 Pacific Street basin repair.

 Guard rail repair on Old County Road.

 Repaired water line at library.

 Painting intersections and roadways.

 Watered flowers.

 Repaired basins.

 Solid Waste Facility – pull pump south flush repair and replace.

OFFICE OF THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR

 Catinka Knoth's Adult Drawing class featured birds, blooms, and berries this week, while Children's class this week drew summer gardens.

 Dave Larrabee of Public Works had his staff dig an exploratory trench to find the leak in the lines to the AC system chiller. There was a crack in one of the couplings, and that was repaired, with special pressure clamps supplied by Maine Water. An additional pinhole leak was found at the chiller, and the component replaced. The current plan is that we will stop at these repairs for now, and arrange to replace the entire length of pipes after the cooling season, and prior to Public Works fall/winter season.

 I am still in conversation with Maine Water to see if we can get a break on the excess water used as a result of the leak; however, the previous leak was less than three years ago (their time frame for leak adjustments), so this outcome is unknown at present.

 The Memoir Writing Workshop was held on Tuesday. This group meets weekly, and is open to anyone who wants to write, share, or just listen.

 The first of a six week series began Tuesday--Polliwog Pages Workshop Series for Children with writing educator Yvonne Blake. This is part of The Arts.... series of programs.

 Jean Young worked with some of the High School student volunteers, to pick out titles for Wednesday Storytime, advising them on what makes a book good for reading aloud.

 This Thursday was the first of summer-long Storytime at the Rockland Farmers' Market. Children's librarian Jean Young had the honor of the opening event. This will be hosted by staff and volunteers from the Friends (primarily) throughout the season.

 The Thursday Evening Arts and Cultural Event was a film: Juliette of the Herbs, a beautifully filmed lyrical portrait of the life and work of Juliette de Bairacli Levy: world renowned herbalist, author, breeder of Afghan hounds, friend of the Gypsies, traveler in search of herbal wisdom and the pioneer of holistic veterinary medicine.

 On Saturday, we continued the Art Series for Teens & Tweens: Chalk & Charcoal Pt. 2. Local artist Alayna Smith reviewed chalk and charcoal techniques learned at the first class as a refresher and for any new students. Students used their imagination to create their own drawing. Students were required to try to use some of the basic techniques in their drawing, using charcoal, chalk, and paper.

 Sunday was the Friends' Garden Tour

 Upcoming: The Library is a site for the Summer Lunch (and breakfast, too, for the first time) Nutrition Program. The Library will be closed July 3rd and 4th (legal holiday and actual); July 5th will be the last Sunday open.

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE

D/C Young –

 Met with representatives from the Farnsworth Museum to discuss the encumbrance permit for Oak Street. The site plan has been approved by the Police Department.

 Assisted the Farnsworth Museum concerning temporary closings of Elm Street and Masonic Street in order to move signs. This was completed on 06/25/15.

 Assisted the Lighthouse Museum with Coast Guard appreciation day on 06/25/15.

 Coordinated with the City Attorney concerning a Freedom of Information Request.

 Oversaw the Summer Solstice Event which took place on 06/20/15 with no significant issues.

Sgt. Camporiale –

 Attended the F.B.I. Law Enforcement Executive Development Command Institute Seminar. This is a week-long training designed to enhance leadership and command skills.

Sgt. Finnegan –

 Met with a University of Maine at Rockland student to assist in a project the student was doing.

 Was requested by the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety to travel to Massachusetts and assist them in selecting a command post vehicle for impaired driving enforcement. Sgt. Finnegan was requested to provide input on what features the vehicle would need.

 Consulted with the Maine Criminal Justice Academy regarding curriculum for the drug recognition expert training.

Sgt. Smith –

 Was able to deploy the department motorcycle for patrol during the week as staffing levels allowed.

 Corrected traffic light problems at Home Depot intersection and the school lights on Broadway.

 Assisted Camden PD with returning found property.

Patrol Division –

 Answered 209 complaints.

 Issued nine summonses or arrests.

 Conducted four private details.

 Checked the public restrooms on Tillson Avenue. (nightly)

 Delivered Council Packets.

 Conducted end of year school visits.

 Assisted Thomaston PD with a Trespassing Investigation.

 Conducted 22 vehicle stops.

OFFICE OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY DIRECTOR

Pollution Control Facility

 The treatment plant is running well at this time.

 There were two days of CSO events that caused plant flows to go from a daily average of 3.5 MGD to a high combined flow of 18.7 MGD.

 Met with Michael Jenkins from the USDA about grants and funding assistance to assist with major projects at the treatment plant and in separation of collection system as part of the Rural Utility Service Program.

 Department of Labor conducted a full inspection of the treatment plant, pump stations, and written safety program.

 Worked with Wright-Pierce to provide information on recent upgrades to the treatment plant that need to be incorporated into the treatment plant operations manual.

 Worked with Woodard & Curran to re-program and make repairs to C.P.5, polymer pump #1, and various other control that were affected by a lightning strike that occurred this week.

 Worked with Sullivan Associates to install a H2S monitor by the belt presses and diagnose a problem with the DO sensor in aeration tank #5.

 Replaced the steps to one of the sample buildings.

 Worked on lawn mowing and landscaping.

 Interstate Septic Service cleaned and pumped the wetwell at Glenwood Avenue pump station.

 Met with Green Mountain Technologies Inc. a composting consulting group who is evaluating the potential growth benefit of the composting operation at the Solid Waste Facility. We provided them the quote from a contractor to saw cut out the dividers in the recycle building area.

 The lab did BOD & TSS testing for Vinalhaven.

 The DMR QA lab work is completed.

Environmental Services

 Worked with employees from Wright-Pierce to inspect and calibrate the flow monitoring instruments that are being used for the collection system flow monitoring study.

 Completed CCTV pipeline inspections of the sewer mains on Payson Lane, Carrol Lane, and Lawrence Street.

 Continued work on sewer manhole inspections and surveys to be entered into the G.I.S.

 Shipped the mainline sewer camera to C.U.E.S. Inc. for repairs to the drive clutches, a loaner camera was provided until the repairs are completed.

 Made some repairs to the electronic rain gauge being used for the flow monitoring study.

Other Projects

Thorndike Parking Lot

 The line striping is 90% completed and is scheduled to be completed on Monday the 29th.

 Most of the items on the contractor's punch-list have been addressed.

Laurel Street

 The new sewer main and manhole have been completed.

 Preparation for paving is beginning.

Rockland Harbor Trail

 The stone dust area of the trail is completed.

 Hydro-seeding has been done.

 Paving patches and repairs are scheduled for next week.

Winter Street

 The water main connection to Main Street is done.

 The storm drain basin at the rear of Atlantic Baking Co. is installed.

 The contractor has encountered ledge and the portion of pipeline running along the side of the Main Street buildings is moving very slow while they hammer and excavate the ledge.

OFFICE OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

 John met with an attorney regarding any issues with replacement of the fire damaged structure at 65 Tillson Ave.

 There was an inspection done of a unit within the Rankin Block, 600 Main Street due to a report of hoarding.

 John met with Terry Pinto and a representative of the Lobster Festival to discuss disposal of gray water from festival vendors.

 License inspection was done at the Time Out Pub.

 There were two complaints filed this week.

 The following permits were received by the Code Office this week:

7 Building permits

4 Electrical permits

4 Plumbing permits

1 Sidewalk Display permit

1 Sign Permit

1 Street/Sidewalk Encumbrance permit

1 Table & Chairs Permit

OFFICE OF THE HARBORMASTER

 Welcomed a couple of unexpected visits of the ACL's American Glory. Because of bad weather and poor scheduling they needed a dock in Rockland and with some jockeying of boats we were able to help them out.

 Worked a bit on our Homeland Security Plan to incorporate secure areas involving our new gangway.

 Consulted with Terry Pinto and Brian Plourde on a solution to the gray water disposal problem of the Lobster Festival.

 Inspected five more of our rental moorings and got them ready for the summer.

 Boats at the dock, boats on moorings, lots of boats in the harbor coming and going.