[{"_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",6315412,"mediaKeyId","2379240-f569a412166b948b6f820b37c3785709","parentId",2379240,"title","Mall owner says private water trunk breaks left businesses paying emergency repair costs","audioSeconds",351,"startMs",2347000,"endMs",2698000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2379240-f569a412166b948b6f820b37c3785709&start=2347&end=2698","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2379240-f569a412166b948b6f820b37c3785709/thumbnail_2347000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6315412/Maine/Mall-owner-says-private-water-trunk-breaks-left-businesses-paying-emergency-repair-costs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6315412-9cc9fa56982b157cebe807829dff2240/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163200&Signature=naa6tmP86WDoW4Vf4La3jDw0JZwqheOTm1dMciU9sSQr9GcsUPnssmgL-sSada9MU1R8XRhLeLfj6L0iGJlldQ8CqhTKEE6fOfHdxZUm02a630lYh1GlDTduVKFmaeP-gbkjJI7gKUnwzbg-TPtm7b1gQ5wC6Im45xFAJEJdLMth4xks1egPvI82jWCLPk63v9Xa73bS2l4tINgKhR00A90R-QglKgP3v5N1NckQ3I8pE5kMWJiST7VMuyQEka6HLB~9JXSOXdL6FIuHT891ieVXBOFiQDz826Ht9CCo39U2wL38RNXr~vtAA6aNP2zVa7yMjYyPjdpP2jQOeejMQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-21T15:17:21Z","article","A representative of Union River Associates told the Finance Committee that two breaks in a private water trunk serving Main Coast Mall forced the owner to hire contractors and pay emergency costs of roughly $36,000.

\"We had to go meet EJ Prescott in Bangor to get the pipes that that we needed to fix this,\" said Jared Wilbur, identifying himself as a resident and representing Union River Associates. Wilbur said the first break occurred in 2022 and the trunk failed again the following year; on both occasions the service line crosses private property, and the city declined to perform the repairs because the trunk is privately owned.

Wilbur said the trunk feeds multiple pad sites and 13 other businesses and that emergency night-time repairs and special equipment raised the cost. \"Between the two breaks, we have over $36,000 wrapped up into this that came out of our pocket,\" he said.

Council members asked clarifying questions during the public comment period. One councilmember confirmed Wilbur’s description that the trunk was constructed by a developer in 1972 and that pad sites are not directly served by the city main; instead a private trunk ties into the municipal main and distributes water to private lots. A councilmember summarized the town’s consistent practice: when a pipe break occurs on private property or a private main, the property owner bears responsibility for repair costs.

Wilbur and council members also discussed billing and previous negotiated refunds related to assessments tied to the Main Coast Mall connection. Wilbur said the parties involved had resolved final payments and that the last payment had been made; the council member who questioned him confirmed that the account was current at the meeting.

City staff and other council members praised the municipal water crew’s response when emergencies arise, and Wilbur acknowledged the water department staff had assisted on-site. \"Reggie and his crew were a 1. They did everything they could to help us,\" Wilbur said, adding he did not fault the water department for the decision about private vs. public responsibility.

The discussion did not produce a new directive or vote. Instead, council members and the speaker reiterated the current practice that mains located on private property are the property owner’s responsibility; owners may seek other remedies through agreements or future negotiations with the city if they want to change that arrangement.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Finance Committee Meeting - February 21st, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A Main Coast Mall owner told the Finance Committee that repeated breaks on a privately owned water trunk forced the owner to pay emergency repair bills totalling about $36,000; council members said city practice is to treat mains on private property as the owner's responsibility.","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},6315417,"Finance staff outline March audit visit and budget schedule as public raises repeated-audit concerns",253,166000,419000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2379240-f569a412166b948b6f820b37c3785709&start=166&end=419","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2379240-f569a412166b948b6f820b37c3785709/thumbnail_166000.jpg","/articles/6315417/Maine/Finance-staff-outline-March-audit-visit-and-budget-schedule-as-public-raises-repeated-audit-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6315417-de499c437e0cd1530c1f906ac22dbdc2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163200&Signature=gGKkY-hTUmMXQ7aeWh68rATI7Mp~bctOk8CffIl7rBQ6ubbxoqjdR~5Tu-09R5gi0gf1QOs~sJ1spVZ6K~CEcJKXFkHbltFHnz0rPdN6FP6GYlNtbRwN4F7mkUyxaS1nzfU5ppqZZP4e3g7cH3pgj1GZ-65TRIWyO1XnF4wLXvLgpkROBhnaXIy7kgU2Rd8NUbYZkDfCwxlCQfOhEdiBXUX7ee2KcofNVrhYuPpJwZiLBm~OSE2XyT6D95ElodwXCxTY2YmmpOVFu-YyU7WCCvvcLe5k91cT5yUDSKF5cg1J7oy394Vrd7TM5AygGQzbeUB~SoqkNBDkm2Kk23vN5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Finance staff told the Finance Committee that external auditors will be in the office March 12–14 as the city moves through its annual budget process, and staff confirmed departments have entered their requests into the new Cassell budget system.

The timeline matters because the auditors’ on-site work and a full set of department submissions will shape the draft the council reviews at its April workshops. \"They'll be here the twelfth through the fourteenth,\" Finance staff member Ashley said when announcing the audit visit and the budget workshop schedule for later in April.

Public comment at the meeting focused on the city’s audited financial statements. Resident John Linehan told the committee he reviewed the city's audit report and cited repeated findings, including material weaknesses in cash reconciliation, deficiencies in financial-statement preparation and repeated material audit adjustments. \"That is a position that we cannot afford as a city,\" Linehan said of a recently filled deputy position, and he told the committee, \"I do think we need an in house CPA here at the City of Ellsworth.\" He urged hiring an accountant with accounting credentials to improve internal controls.

Council members and staff answered that the city has made measurable progress over the past 12 months while acknowledging work remains. Councilmember Tammy said the finance operation is \"in such a different place\" compared with a year ago and credited staff and recent management changes for major improvements. Another councilmember noted the difference between having a CPA and having accounting expertise on staff, saying on the record that the immediate need is accounting capability in the finance office rather than paying a premium for a CPA designation.

Meeting participants discussed staffing continuity in the finance office. Committee members said finance director Nate Moore had been expected to relocate; staff negotiated a remote arrangement so he can assist through the budget season. Meeting discussion described that arrangement as temporary and subject to reevaluation after the budget process.

Staff and council also described practical changes to this year's budget workflow. Departments entered budget requests through Cassell for the first full year, which several department representatives said made it easier to view actuals, compare prior years and make corrections during review. The finance office said printed binders will be provided for the in-person budget workshops and that the final budget book will be uploaded to the city website before the council’s April budget meeting.

Committee members and staff repeatedly emphasized that audit work can highlight lingering problems even while the city’s internal processes improve. Finance staff said they will provide auditors with requested physical documents during the March visit and will work with the audit firm to minimize disruption.

Looking ahead, staff said federally funded projects that factor into the budget — including the Thriving Communities and the Village Partnership Initiative grants and several Community Development Block Grant projects — were not, at the time of the meeting, subject to cancellations. Staff said they had paused spending only briefly while confirming continued eligibility and would proceed once they received formal authorization to spend.

The meeting closed with procedural details for council members: preliminary workshop binders will be printed for in-person workshops; members may request a full printed final book but the finance office plans to distribute an electronic final budget to reduce printing costs.

","Finance staff told the Finance Committee that auditors will be on-site March 12–14 as the city advances its annual budget process. A public commenter cited repeat audit findings and urged hiring an in-house accountant; council members defended recent improvements and described a temporary remote arrangement for the finance director.","actionData","errors"]

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Mall owner says private water trunk breaks left businesses paying emergency repair costs

Finance staff outline March audit visit and budget schedule as public raises repeated-audit concerns