[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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",[32,75,86],{"_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",6200059,"mediaKeyId","3819645-f4b61a8ac34a60504769725045636267","parentId",3819645,"title","City to review ordinance after legal counsel advised against charging political events for police detail","audioSeconds",171,"startMs",895000,"endMs",1066000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3819645-f4b61a8ac34a60504769725045636267&start=895&end=1066","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3819645-f4b61a8ac34a60504769725045636267/thumbnail_895000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6200059/Maine/City-to-review-ordinance-after-legal-counsel-advised-against-charging-political-events-for-police-detail","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6200059-e7f368aa2abc0c21cd0050b2bfb89495/orig.mp4?Expires=1770948457&Signature=n7JiUF1iIN0RzXo8C1ZS58pviJF~fWh1VXXhn75IVBvLZdyJgE7V0xcIX6SZMEZHgG3E~j2kOsJ7xIKNlgKYHR1BZZCCPvNYOlhCpNa5VwXR5ICnqDcsM28kk5KN4OqNMR7aaTGNMsKfbXc-N7MiPW4qI2jx1IL8jHnutivJdFNxF2-EDRpKEAcaoBdtOZl5GZgS0TWg7tCxMNTNaxrT2bhB~nLmvgikyZfPynLDr2apGbOyDbLELKb5QhQH4df~4DqffjWyPYcoISdwcDGUSLFR-NWGaSRKtpSIP28cdM4bCMu7ySkAR2wDIDsDdWgOWJZia9SCVPbSEh4-O4I~ew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-14T08:32:59.123Z","article","A city official told the Finance Committee that the city’s ordinance that permits charging for police details may not be enforceable when applied to political events, and that legal counsel advised caution.

The point arose when staff discussed two upcoming mass gatherings advertised at City Hall. “Per our ordinance…we charge for a police detail if it’s going to be over a certain amount, but there was some back and forth on can we do that and talk to our legal counsel. … counsel advised us not to do that,” the official said, explaining that political events could carry legal risk if the city attempted to require payment for police presence.

Staff said the police department is coordinating with volunteer peacekeepers for crowd management at planned events but that police presence may still be necessary if demonstrations escalate; the presence of officers can create overtime costs. The committee asked staff to reexamine the ordinance and return with legal guidance and, if needed, a proposed ordinance amendment or administrative procedure for handling requests for police detail at political events.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Finance Committee Meeting - June 13th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff said legal counsel advised that charging for police detail at political events could create liability; staff will review the ordinance and return with guidance.","taxTitle","Finance Committee, Ellsworth, Hancock, Maine","taxId",70091,"location","Maine","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":46,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6200065,"Ellsworth leaders consider revising YMCA lease and building oversight",626,1692000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3819645-f4b61a8ac34a60504769725045636267&start=1066&end=1692","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3819645-f4b61a8ac34a60504769725045636267/thumbnail_1066000.jpg","/articles/6200065/Maine/Ellsworth-leaders-consider-revising-YMCA-lease-and-building-oversight","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6200065-159536f7edb10dd76e92b0869ff502db/orig.mp4?Expires=1770948457&Signature=M0Gpxp-b8rIqOnZaYJpN5PRcyPobhdvYwsDqPTaK3E2uZmSLXkFoyew4VzKGB3HGlTqNZuBU7WrZ-20zG7bvM2FtUSSTil9AhWAenYa7mMuSqe7sk0t1HCjFgjZmbHpJNnjcKNru2uXUI6Lgru~-wwozqEsuCu~bBceWsgmTsjvDC7-7kaAxqiYBVROEG3YbozNXgbfjTaG527lYA3s6BQzBLxHFife-6C07OlsMRtDwBTVN-VQ0NAnEcSTQnq3vV9nAQ1eXO4sS2AGv2IYheN2dLbxFGRduDVHdKh4HVtoTlaubRFaqsoZ4WRr~GcIodNb69Dgg1yFF8dLEzvIISg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilors and staff spent much of the meeting discussing the city-owned recreation building operated by the YMCA and used by Friends in Action, the Ellsworth Community Music Institute and other groups. The lease for the facility began in 2014 and, according to participants, expired in August 2024; staff said they had provided a signed extension and plan to bring the extension to the council for ratification.

The discussion matters because the building hosts pre-K programming, senior activities, music programs and other community services while the city pays the building’s debt service. “With as much as they use in that building, what is their cost per square foot?” Councilor Michelle asked, pressing staff to produce a square-footage and cost breakdown. Nate, finance staff, said the city will obtain a breakdown of YMCA space use and costs and will gather plans or bids from the original renovation to support a per-square-foot analysis.

Councilor Steve argued the city already covers substantial debt service for the building and questioned whether the YMCA should retain operational control of other tenants. “The city of Ellsworth’s debt service is…something the city is paying that the Y is using,” he said, urging the council to review full lease and extension documents. Staff said the last extension had been signed and that they would present the paperwork to the council at an upcoming meeting.

Participants described two principal paths under consideration: continuing a modified lease that seeks a more transparent, equitable allocation of operating costs to the YMCA and other tenants, or having the city take direct control of building management—using the parks and recreation director and at least one additional staffer to operate the facility and centralize bookings and maintenance. Staff noted energy costs and childcare revenue changes have increased operating burdens that the YMCA previously absorbed.

The committee scheduled stakeholder engagement: staff plan to meet with YMCA board members, Friends in Action, the Ellsworth Community Music Institute and school department representatives to map space use, square footage allocations and capital needs. Staff said they will aim to return a recommended path forward to the council by a target date near the end of the year, with the city considering shorter interim lease extensions if necessary. “We should get the math on the table, get back towards that,” a council member said.

No formal action was taken at the meeting; staff said they will (1) obtain the signed extension paperwork and present it to the council for ratification, (2) produce a per-square-foot cost and space-use map, and (3) host a workshop or series of workshops with the YMCA and other users to develop a recommended operating model for council consideration.","Councilors and staff discussed the status of the decade-old YMCA lease, the building’s multiple tenants and whether the city should assume direct management rather than letting the YMCA control bookings and sub-use.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6200070,"Ellsworth finance staff reports revenues ahead of schedule as audit work continues",333,27000,360000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3819645-f4b61a8ac34a60504769725045636267&start=27&end=360","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3819645-f4b61a8ac34a60504769725045636267/thumbnail_27000.jpg","/articles/6200070/Maine/Ellsworth-finance-staff-reports-revenues-ahead-of-schedule-as-audit-work-continues","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6200070-78aa2109d7232c340af9a6dc9b54296a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770948457&Signature=ARJyfcFp1c6iHX5ygsYpR4MbvMjT4YaNctmuWeDFyGTDj3NjQcFfgmHpVi3piRUlS4UcW6xEz2BEhwO2OTPTXvdNXxkTd1k-eQ~37H4AzZlreNK3XhTGJYNeDdeqx~dyYe3UX9tHKo5Nwx-UZtR9Mlozrs0VrKY1nFWCnBGRWV2Tjr2OeKrROveL5owd5E6uKr8LWVzFmwLMrmQg6tZ6SX1b4iUhbLsR4hsnfA0UKAcA8LmZOKrxJar1q-5WOLIG9X~M~r7Hc5lINjToi1-7LygPf1Qf0oLfaqnIb9vqFZISya4Pc8YgHchNntuTqHJ9o5J~azIiJX6oLruB9DNOgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Nate, finance staff, told the Finance Committee the city’s budget-versus-actual and expense reports through May show revenues at 95.22% of budget while the fiscal year is 91.67% complete, and that most department revenues are tracking above 90%.

The update matters because city staff are still completing the FY25 audit and councilors pressed for clarity on capital spending, encumbrances and several line items that appear over budget. “I feel like everything’s looking, looking well for the city,” Nate said, adding he and colleagues have set audit completion as a smart-goal before the end of the calendar year.

Committee members asked for follow-up on three specific items. Councilor Michelle asked why capital improvements appear at 201% of budget and whether the city has coverage for those overruns; Nate said a portion may reflect grant revenue received in FY24 that was spent in the current fiscal year and that he would double-check the accounting. “A large portion of that was something that we received…grants money from an FY ’24,” Nate said. On the public-fire-protection line, Nate said the amount is a set quarterly payment but that he did not believe it was budgeted correctly. He told the committee he would confirm the revenue-side entries tied to that payment.

Councilors also flagged street-light expenses as over budget; Nate said he would follow up with Jason and others to explain why those amounts exceeded the current budgeted estimate. Tammy, city staff, told members the city historically encumbered unspent balances between July and September to carry funds forward and that those encumbrances are still handled after year-end close. “You can encumber the revenues as well to kind of carry them forward to the next year,” Tammy said.

The committee discussed using an external finance consultant to finalize closeout work. Nate said the city has budgeted funds for additional finance consulting and expects Sue, a consultant from Bucksport, to assist with finalization steps.

No formal votes were taken. Staff were directed to provide: (1) a department-level revenue breakdown, (2) reconciliation of capital-improvement expenses against any FY24 grant revenues, and (3) an explanation for the public-fire-protection and street-light variance. Committee members agreed to return the answers at a future meeting timeline determined by staff.

Less-critical items noted during the session included routine scheduling for next week’s warrant and a discussion of meeting dates around the July 4 holiday; councilors agreed there will be no committee meeting the week that includes July 4 and staff said they will advance payroll and bills as needed to meet payment deadlines.","Finance staff told the Finance Committee that year-to-date revenues are tracking above budget while the city continues its FY25 audit and reviews encumbrance and capital accounting questions raised by councilors.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City to review ordinance after legal counsel advised against charging political events for police detail

Ellsworth leaders consider revising YMCA lease and building oversight

Ellsworth finance staff reports revenues ahead of schedule as audit work continues