[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6252489,"mediaKeyId","3188216-81309433c854f2f2fb0c7d32d00aefc1","parentId",3188216,"title","Finance Committee told audit still open as staff readies final budget, police contract and fleet recommendations","audioSeconds",86,"startMs",128000,"endMs",214000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3188216-81309433c854f2f2fb0c7d32d00aefc1&start=128&end=214","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3188216-81309433c854f2f2fb0c7d32d00aefc1/thumbnail_128000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6252489/Maine/Finance-Committee-told-audit-still-open-as-staff-readies-final-budget-police-contract-and-fleet-recommendations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252489-c3a546a6c71afcfa7f4aa8b92213d3f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771075752&Signature=SFfRD4sFDdK4QMGxbEzlM4VPcbJNrwyhykj~fZDOYKARfEaVQYN1NdQ1x4wi4CVUPKXwIWwU796x8GP31QPG~qQttFOwOGfLbriLnSmTztQ5HSwwtNH9c8c-GgnSnua0uE2XvjUPchR6G7ZrDVkXTSYjCk2QZ341W0ylxrvqBySPnvw-lvVFRidLlkvtnGwQIO-94I8QXFiEH6k33KOCy~OT3C-Ne67KjJWFuXiz6QbXp80AwEChBUkdAWR~iaGeTqmDiUzJLxCwtcakEksfAL633CfCxvyCn1gFqiwJjde13Lx3Zfo4~UZ7y4U0AvVe6~bPLZRHb9PveDU79FZ~wQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-04T08:54:49.147Z","article","Finance Committee staff told members on May 2 that the city
udit remains unfinished and that staff will circulate an updated digital budget book next week that folds a recently approved police contract and final fleet recommendations into the FY budget.

Staff member (Finance staff) said the auditors are \"working nonstop\" and that \"it's May 2. It's not where we wanna be at, but we're, we're trying to finalize this audit, and we're getting closer. That's what they told me yesterday.\" The staff member said a recent data issue tied to a Cassell/Eunice migration was resolved and that correcting it will help with beginning balances and reconciliations.

Why it matters: The audit's completion affects the city's beginning balances and the accuracy of budget tables. Committee members were told staff will prepare an updated cover memo outlining department-by-department growth drivers, a change log of council recommendations, and the final fleet recommendations before a last budget workshop and the council\u000budget vote in May.

Staff outlined several specific near-term actions and updates. Those include:
- Incorporating the approved police negotiation into the budget and sending an updated cover memo and a digital budget book to committee members next week.
- Finalizing fleet recommendations with Enterprise for public works, fire, and code officers, including a discussion about whether a facilities position could use an existing vehicle (\"Could they use Jim's old truck?\" staff asked).
- Presenting a consultant\u00010-year update on \"Urki\" (referred to as the 10-year anniversary of the facility), including a preliminary assessment of maintenance needs and revenue expectations; staff said ERCI is funded through the city's TIF (tax increment financing) fund and that a full accounting of last year's rent revenues and current projections will be provided.

Audit and reporting status
Staff reported working closely with auditors and acknowledged remaining work. The staff member said the audit team identified and resolved a system migration issue that had affected beginning balances. The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) report, which had an original April 1 deadline, was submitted after the committee obtained an extension to May 1, staff said.

ARPA and TIF
Staff said American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocations were completed and obligated with the state in April; unobligated spending may still be reported later this year as projects incur expenditures. The staff member said ARPA funds must be spent by December of this year and that the city had allocated funds and was in the process of recording obligations and expenditures.

TIF-funded ERCI
Committee members discussed ERCI (identified in the meeting as funded through the TIF). Staff said they will provide a full accounting for ERCI, including rent revenues from the prior year and expectations for the coming year, and noted consultant analysis prepared for the facility's 10-year anniversary showing the building is in a maintenance phase and may need new investment. No specific capital plan or dollar amounts were adopted during the meeting.

Requests and next steps
Committee members were told staff will circulate the updated budget book and cover memo and that the committee has a scheduled final budget workshop before the council vote in May. Staff also said they will continue working with Enterprise on vehicle recommendations and with consultants on ERCI accounting and potential investment needs.

Quotations in this story come from meeting participants and staff as recorded in the Finance Committee transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Finance Committee Meeting - May 2nd, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Finance Committee staff told members on May 2 that the city audit remains unfinished and that staff will circulate an updated digital budget book next week that folds a recently approved police contract and final fleet recommendations into the FY budget.","taxTitle","Finance Committee, Ellsworth, Hancock, Maine","taxId",70091,"location","Maine","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6252484,"Resident flags Beals Avenue truck-weight restrictions ahead of proposed development; committee to refer to local roads",451,718000,1169000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3188216-81309433c854f2f2fb0c7d32d00aefc1&start=718&end=1169","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3188216-81309433c854f2f2fb0c7d32d00aefc1/thumbnail_718000.jpg","/articles/6252484/Maine/Resident-flags-Beals-Avenue-truck-weight-restrictions-ahead-of-proposed-development-committee-to-refer-to-local-roads","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252484-9888eccf18f5468097d2b3cc446f70bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771075751&Signature=V0zsg38y9DkpVT8BYj6P5Ps1SycQxdECL4ij8a9w7xbX-zlcEYwrDz~SHtVh1BBJexH-oYvekkP-aqglfT2zFIuf6-ug0MTt1ANZApIR6h7OdKsU-ZDvhZEvPiBY2WbRh4-ogHFIjvenffIDbQrcwFsWI72lDsc9i9JRUF6~g9VOwqbK82fxz01TWokaAnb6sfaa4murdhdc0DPRqGUb~u2idXzjm128-DS8XspXaK4Bu-CVNEC~iY2mIQdEDOX-566s1KRg7yrpAqXmphVzWEbHP3ompOn4dZ8tzChiLwswe9567kNbSQYlbybfMtwsBIErxwFOjB4wx9X2NpAQ8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jared Wilbur, a resident, asked the Finance Committee on May 2 to review Chapter 7 of the traffic code and focus on Article 9, which restricts vehicle weight and dual wheels on Beals Avenue. Wilbur read the ordinance language during public comment and urged staff to proactively discuss access points with a developer to avoid repeated complaints and enforcement calls.

Wilbur quoted the code as written: \"No vehicle exceeding 6,000 pounds gross weight or dual wheels shall be operated at any time over Beals Ave, or any part of.\" He asked for clarification on what vehicle classes that weight limit covers and whether the city should work with the developer on which intersection construction traffic should use.

Committee members and staff responded that the Local Roads Committee or the city\fommittee that manages local roads would be the appropriate venue to address the question. A committee member said, \"That's a good point ... that would probably be the best venue to bring that to,\" and staff agreed to bring the issue to the local roads group.

Speakers also described construction access options used on previous projects. One speaker explained that in a prior move a building required a temporary access built with crane mats and blocking because the existing entrance could not handle the load. That speaker described crane mats as large hardwood mats, often 8 inches thick and 4 by 12 or 16 feet, placed on turf and removed after work to minimize environmental impact. Another speaker noted that in wetlands projects, regulators such as the state DEP often require swamp mats or similar materials for temporary access to reduce damage.

Action and next steps
Committee members directed staff to refer Beals Avenue access and ordinance compliance to the Local Roads Committee for review and to coordinate with public works as needed. No ordinance amendment or enforcement action was taken at the meeting.

Quotations in this story are taken verbatim from the Finance Committee transcript of public comment and member responses.","A resident asked the Finance Committee to review Chapter 7, Article 9, the Beals Avenue vehicle-weight and dual-wheel restriction, and urged proactive coordination with a developer about construction access. Committee members said the Local Roads Committee or public works committee is the appropriate venue and staff will refer the matter.","actionData","errors"]

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Finance Committee told audit still open as staff readies final budget, police contract and fleet recommendations

Resident flags Beals Avenue truck-weight restrictions ahead of proposed development; committee to refer to local roads