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WEEKLY MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor MacLean, Members of the City Council, and Department Heads
FROM: Scott Morelli, City Manager
DATE: October 29, 2010
RE: Weekly Memo
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Next Week's City Meetings are available on our Calendar
Below please find an update on recent City activities:
- Congratulations to Art Robinson, who was recently promoted from Lab Technician to Chief Operator at our Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP)! Art was serving in this capacity on an interim basis since March and things have run very smoothly under his leadership. Congratulations are also in order for Larry Whitmore, who was also recently promoted from Operator to Mechanic at the WWTP. Larry is also known for making delicious meals for the WWTP crew on occasion. In addition, I am pleased to announce that Rick Gaeth has accepted the position of Lab Technician to fill the vacancy left by the promotion of Art. This leaves the Operator job as the only position now vacant at the plant.
- Speaking of the WWTP, congratulations are also in order for Director Chuck Applebee, who was recently award the Alfred E. Peloquin Award by the New England Water Environment Association. This award is given annually to an individual who has shown a high level of interest and performance in wastewater operations and who has made a significant contribution to the wastewater field. Chuck will accept the award at the NEWA Annual Conference in January, 2011.
- Congratulations to Dustin Barry and Josh Johnson of our Fire/Rescue team for helping to deliver a baby last week en route to the hospital.
- The Wastewater Advisory Board met last night to help define the scope of the West Street Odor Study project. The Board, along with Councilor Liberatore and two other West Street residents, unanimously agreed to focus on inserting a smaller sewer line either inside of the current line after pump station #1 and down West Street or nearby the current sewer line so that it is separate from the line on West Street. Wright-Pierce, the firm selected to do the study, will hold a neighborhood meeting for West Street residents on November 18 at 6 p.m. to give an overview of what they will be looking at to address this lingering issue.
- The Harrison Avenue project is substantially complete. The contractor will be back in the spring for one to two days to lay down the top coat of pavement and address any warranty items that likely will arise over the winter months.
- The office reorganization is also substantially complete. The City Clerk’s office has been moved across the hall to the back area between the City Manager’s office and the front office, and a new office area has been created in the front area for the Executive Assistant. The Clerk’s former office is in the process of being transformed into a conference room/filing area. The Fire Chief and Planning Director have also switched offices, meaning the Planning Director and City Clerk are now in immediate proximity to the employees they supervise. The Police Department has been using the previous office of the Finance Director as additional office space for several months now. Lastly, the supply closet has been transformed to house the photocopier and mail slots. This should reduce traffic and
interruptions of front office staff. None of this would have been possible without the patience and skilled craftsmanship of our Building’s and Ground’s department—Pat Chadwick, Dan Robideau and Rodney Baker.
- City Hall will be open on Saturday, October 30 for absentee voting from 9 a.m. - noon.~~~ On Tuesday, November 2, all voting is at the Boys & Girls Club on Pray Street.~ Polls will be open 7:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.~~ The results will be posted on our web site Tuesday night.
- A reminder that effective November 1, 2010, the City’s winter parking ban goes in to effect. This ordinance states that “no person shall leave or park any vehicle of which he/she has charge or possession, or permit the same to stand on any street, highway, square or thoroughfare within the City of Gardiner, between the hours of 12 o'clock midnight and 6 o'clock in the morning during the months of November to April, both months inclusive.”
- The Gardiner Fire Department will host a Halloween Party on Sunday, October 31 from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the fire station. There will be games and free refreshments.
As always, I appreciate the opportunity to serve the people of Gardiner as City Manager.
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