ROCKPORT — Preceding every regularly-scheduled Rockport Select Board meeting, usually held twice a month, the town manager prepares a report updating the board and town about various municipal initiatives. Town Manager Rick Bates prepared the following April 8 report:

Manager’s Report – April 8, 2019

Ambulance Review Committee

The ambulance review committee was to meet Thursday, April 4 to review performance and make a recommendation and the changes in the contract. Given that there is no change in the fee I expect that the contract will be before you at the May meeting for approval by the Select Board

Generator

The generator has been all installed and connected. The company came in to do a test run of the system and there was a problem with the fuel supply. Our plumber was in the hospital when the test was performed and unable to be reached. He is back home recuperating. Mike is currently working with him to solve the problem and get the fuel problem fixed and the test performed.

Library Construction

The bids went out on March 22 and the Library Building Committee has had a couple of meetings. The most recent one was to meet with the neighbors and hear their concerns. Charlie from Phi was on hand to answer any questions and allay their fears to some extent. Surprisingly, there were not a lot of questions and the ones they had were easy answers.

Bids are due back to the Town on April 18 by 1 p.m. and I will be opening them, at the Opera House at 3 p.m. in the Geoffrey C. Parker Meeting Room, this will be livestreamed. The design team will then be working on the bids received with the goal of getting a clear recommendation to the Building Committee no later than May 2nd for them to review and make a recommendation to the Select Board.

It is my recommendation that you plan to hold a meeting on Monday, May 6th to hear the recommendation of the Building Committee and vote to make the award, so that the administrative part of the process can move forward, and any final approval could happen at the regular meeting on May 13th, if needed.

Of course, all of this is dependent on the bids coming in where we need them.

Complete copies of the Bid Documents are in the small conference room at the Town Office for anyone that wants to review them. They are extensive.

Town Clerk/ Tax Collector

We hired a new Assistant Town Clerk to replace Brenda Kurr, who retired after 18 years of service. Wyatt Summers started with the Town on March 21 and has been spending a lot of time learning the ropes in the office.

Linda reports that she has begun to do online boat registrations during the month of March. Linda also reported that we have received a franchise check in the amount of $38,000.Public Works Department

The Public Works Crew was called in over the past couple weekends for a snow storm/clean up during the past month but recently, with the exception of a brief little snow today, the public works crew has switched gears from winter maintenance to other transitional work.

They completed their Employee Sexual Harassment Training and Silica Testing. They have begun cleaning basins and culverts. Work at the Opera House was completed for the shape inspection.

Jimmy did an EXCELLENT job fabricating a new railing in the balcony and making modifications to the sound booth. These were done to be in compliance for our SHAPE inspections and certifications. They are also completing their Truck repairs and shape inspection repairs in the shop. They have been filling a huge number of pot holes.

Assessing

Inspections are underway and Kerry has been bringing Hannah along for experience. Numbers normal, Camden’s down somewhat, but dollar value high. Goal to have inspections done by first week of August.

Kerry, Hannah and Caitlin attended the Maine Chapter of Assessors meeting in Augusta with training on Personal property and assessor health and safety

MDEA will be coming in to the regional assessors meeting to talk about how to recognize Meth Labs while doing inspections.

Kerry reports that there is just 1 application for abatement, that was denied. The applicant might appeal it.

Street lights

I had a meeting scheduled with Real Term Energy that had to be postponed by them. We have another meeting tentatively scheduled for April 8th to review a proposed contract.

Safety

Diane has been working hard on all of our safety training and inspections.

Just finished a few actions items at the Opera House, Harbor and Public Works from their shape inspection. One item left for Public Works, Training on Lifting and Rigging which will be done on Friday, April 5th.

Final inspection date will be in the next month or so to confirm the items identified during the visit, have been corrected.

We are in hopes to be “Town” SHAPE compliant before June. There are only 10 other towns statewide that are Shape Compliant.

This has been a lot of work for Diane and all the Staff who have been participating. This will be a big deal when completed!

Finance

On top of all of the work on the budget, Megan was able to make some much needed changes to the CIP plan to make it more readable and easier to understand. Now if she can only make the print bigger so I can read it without a magnifying glass.

We thought we had an intern all set for the summer, but the one potential applicant found another job closer to home.

The insurance liability paperwork has all been updated and submitted to MMA.
The phone system is being upgraded by GWI as there are too many problems at their end.

Nearly all of the changes under the new internal control policy have been executed with the exception of a few in the Town Clerks office that remain to be completed.

Finance Budgets ... what more can I say except that we again received the GFOA Distinguished Budget Award for our budget. This is not due to the numbers in the budget itself but to the presentation, thoroughness, ease of understanding and how transparent it is. This all has been accomplished by Megan who works tirelessly on this.

Fire Department

Numerous calls, one of them, 19 miles to Tenant’s Harbor for a fire. Another was to respond to an illegal burn.

There was a water line break at the West Rockport Fire Station on the town side of the water main. Maine Water came and temporarily fixed the line to station, a permanent fix would mean we would have to have to tear up the driveway to replace the line to the building.

The Chief did a fire safety tour of the YMCA.

Engine 24 and Jeep, restocked for forest season. The department is in the planning stages of a car seat safety, touch a truck, drug take back, sit in a cruiser event to be held later this spring. Whole day event for families.

Harbor

The Harbormaster attended Harbormaster school in Castine; topics included were major crimes, drownings and response to sever bleeding.

The harbor committee has been meeting regularly and discussing the proposed ordinance changes. In addition, Abbie has been working with the Conservation Committee in re-establishing the Shellfish Committee.

Recently we had an extreme hightide over average (12.2 feet) with storm surge. Seawall starting to fall and every time high tide it puts more pressure on it. Eye bolts were installed in the wall in an attempt to string cable around it to help hold it together. This will likely be of limited success. The commercial floats going in after repairs are done, followed by the recreational floats. Abbie has been reissuing a lot of moorings.

Library

Yes, there is more to the library than the construction.

The library is planning a 5 K road race on June 23 at the Harbor to make a splash and raise money for the library.

Poetry month gearing up as well as planning for the book sale and summer programs.

Police Department

Unfortunately, our officers responded to an unattended death of an elderly female this week. This person lived alone and was discovered outside her residence. It’s is believed she had passed away many hours or possible the day before. There are many seniors who do not have daily contact with anyone.

The Police Departments of both towns have been developing programs to help.

Rockport residents are welcome to sign up for our daily “Good Morning Camden-Rockport”Program. Members are called each day between 8-10 am. If there is no answer an Officer is dispatched to check in the member. Jeff Sukeforth at Camden Police Department. If you know of anyone who could benefit from this program please call 236-7953 and sign up with Jeff.

There is also a new “wander’s” program to help with our residents suffering from dementia and other situations that would lead them to get lost in our community.

The phones at Rockport Police Department are now answered automatically. When calling 236-2026 you will get a recording with instructions including “If this is an emergency please dial 911”for Police service dial 1 for Administrative service dial 2. This change was made due to a number of callers reporting emergencies and complaints directly to the office and not to this dispatch center. We want all calls for service dispatched appropriately through our communications center for proper dispatching of resources.

Cyber Security

MMA will be doing a cyber security audit to ensure that our new security system is as secure as possible. This audit is entirely voluntary and has no negative impact on our insurance rates. It is strictly designed to help us. We may be one of the first few communities to complete this audit.

Finally

I attended the Revenue Sharing hearing in Augusta and submitted written testimony in support of bringing back revenue sharing to the statutory 5% level. The hearing was attended by about 75Manager’s and members of Select Boards and Councils. Excellent supportive testimony.

I also attended the LPC meeting in Augusta to review and give guidance to MMA for some of the nearly 2000 bills working their war through the legislature. A common theme is arising from all of the positions that are being supported by MMA. The legislature should not be developing new legislation that costs towns more money without funding it.