[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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",6236595,"mediaKeyId","3355843-2e7e0a580c5410f489d3307e66d85f22","parentId",3355843,"title","City to ask council to use state grant for two mechanical CPR devices for fire/EMS","audioSeconds",246,"startMs",1946000,"endMs",2192000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3355843-2e7e0a580c5410f489d3307e66d85f22&start=1946&end=2192","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3355843-2e7e0a580c5410f489d3307e66d85f22/thumbnail_1946000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6236595/Maine/City-to-ask-council-to-use-state-grant-for-two-mechanical-CPR-devices-for-fireEMS","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236595-f8ed1ac511a558790a52f3505be9ad91/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149189&Signature=axURSoYVH8yhNxipLIDiFdtvADy3PRUBrBMLA115eYRCyfoxfTlZBQwPslPuR3nAObl597q3A8F0cBy2rf5vDoNUGymRfBywnqGPnDCLAiTCx0txiMHF31pYIOOaMJh~9dSRIY7YvpwV9SfsCjh0~3TIFm7kk7XR0XNlJ3UnsDcdcXbU-IQbniv9YJbcY8808GvFTuHiLD7e06OX6fG22eUvSENaXKnaAhad4SJrgkZQWw-QHTqRIqlqJXuRpt7FIuwvDzRcbs4PaU90u3GihV2xe7rp8zVctEOEp7GKUBXCsrHIzRy67ceuwGNuDQj~kJlJk0fTRk~zXMZtsZnuEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-16T13:20:58Z","article","Scott told the Finance Committee the fire department received a state grant intended to buy two mechanical chest-compression devices and that staff will ask the council to approve using the grant on Monday. He said the two devices and accessories total about $38,000 and that the state grant provides roughly $35,000–$36,000; the remaining balance would be paid from a city revenue account.

Scott described the devices as equipment that \"wrap around the chest, and they basically do the whole thing,\" saying the technology allows continuous compressions when crews are separated: \"Anytime those crews have separated, they still have some capability that is far better than not happening.\" He cited Castine as a nearby example where the device contributed to a positive patient outcome.

On training and deployment, staff said the devices can be placed into service quickly and that firefighter responders would be capable to use them within \"30 minutes to an hour,\" with vehicles placed in service only after training is complete.

The request is on the council agenda for Monday; Scott said the grant funds have already been deposited and his presentation will ask council to authorize the purchase. No purchase was approved during the Finance Committee meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Finance Committee Meeting - May 16th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Staff told the Finance Committee the city has been awarded a state grant to buy two mechanical chest-compression devices for EMS; the devices cost about $38,000 together, the grant covers most of the cost and staff will ask council Monday to use the award.","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},6236600,"Staff propose reintroducing fire inspection fee schedule to charge developers, not residents",362,1043000,1405000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3355843-2e7e0a580c5410f489d3307e66d85f22&start=1043&end=1405","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3355843-2e7e0a580c5410f489d3307e66d85f22/thumbnail_1043000.jpg","/articles/6236600/Maine/Staff-propose-reintroducing-fire-inspection-fee-schedule-to-charge-developers-not-residents","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236600-34e345725bf0ebdff8c68e7f8f05916e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149189&Signature=TAZ-ZnOtyj18Q-EUx4FkDW7lKMaU0-u16clZa0wgL3u5ql55liNIiX7cL1sbwesB2a8EvY1Y4CmqlaJKKxjcpxQRz2zw87O~81-6SZ6MfJAazVkMXsB-7JPxFFGojX6IfUoEZhs~Qteb-L0vS7DTywhujIWifPVtDdbpJn2HCbXcBE62oGXg4PnwowBbLeTWFej8Gwn~RUA3RXKjm~0tv00b9mIYzrnAk7PA820zfztxOlmZVY99qzKrWDROngK2wAMI~yz-dT7iUknpMiGg0YDhXaTtHNMCDW88R0bF3yFCWWwVR-F2i14XBWU7NIlYGmxGQc16ZJagt2-fVbFV7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Scott, a city staff member from the buyer department, told the Finance Committee he and former Chief Lowe collaborated to rebuild a fire-inspection fee schedule removed by ordinance in December 2020. Scott said the change \"is to put the developers responsible for all their inspections and their plans review and not let a regular a regular homeowner have to pay for those.\" He said the city estimates the fee schedule would generate roughly $15,000 to $17,000 annually based on recent inspection volumes.

The proposal would require a Chapter 4 amendment to re-establish a fee schedule that Scott said was previously in place and was \"all but eliminated\" in December 2020. Scott said the revised schedule incorporates inspector fringe into the base to meet council direction and that the fees were benchmarked to similar-sized Maine communities such as Bar Harbor, Bangor and Brewer.

Council members discussed potential effects on development. One member cautioned that the aggregate set of development and impact fees can influence development decisions and said the \"long dollar\" — long-term tax revenue — can outweigh short-term entry costs. Scott and other staff said they aim to keep fees competitive with neighboring communities so they do not unnecessarily deter projects.

Scott said the change would be applied to new work moving forward, not retroactively: \"It would be retro. It would be moving forward.\" He also said the item is on the council agenda for Monday. No formal ordinance change was passed at the Finance Committee meeting; council action is required to amend Chapter 4.","City staff presented a proposed reimplementation of Chapter 4 fee schedules to shift fire inspection and plan-review costs to developers; staff estimate $15,000–$17,000 in annual revenue and said the ordinance change is on the council agenda Monday.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6236605,"Finance staff say budget near goal at 2.9%; auditors delayed as TIF review and parks hires move forward",83,232000,315000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3355843-2e7e0a580c5410f489d3307e66d85f22&start=232&end=315","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3355843-2e7e0a580c5410f489d3307e66d85f22/thumbnail_232000.jpg","/articles/6236605/Maine/Finance-staff-say-budget-near-goal-at-29-auditors-delayed-as-TIF-review-and-parks-hires-move-forward","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236605-ac4eb8e4e56a53563040bfdcea0ad913/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149189&Signature=YIMH~GV0nUMbwJ~XU3C731EzggJmBsS0JVwjTLF99L~4ax2Qe4V9P406Rii7Du8McumDyiuNLt6d7PZhIDnFuxqZ7Cp89EJ-2~l3QCUnblz0npqwAWgGanNWC3Ozr4pj6r1V7QmkifCEK~qxTGTqhaqUrQY68N~Y3qtEvJUo6f-wfIpIT0uxoOfRyywzrhs1LRsL0-ijRTzKcA5UHz3ZeH2IR3fsRcgSu3xF486Rnz3QedzmKY6OvULqxQqSkVdmNESZymjN-35FrYWx9fWmD~k-9BABF-~aalVaQFxLM-GGGmNVX1moTDzDXIN0UK2~d1J50yy~~amMkYH5P4wmLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A finance staff member told the Finance Committee the proposed budget has reached the target tax/ levy goal, saying, \"I think we've, you know, landed the plane at 2.9%, which is was the goal.\" The committee heard that a planned audit missed the April 30 deadline and staff expect to meet repeatedly with auditors to finish reports ahead of a May sign-off.

The discussion matters because the committee is balancing a near-term adoption timeline with longer-term economic-development priorities tied to Tax Increment Financing districts, staffing and council expectations for strategic planning.

Finance staff described steps intended to speed and clarify the annual process, including starting strategic planning earlier, getting council input on policy-level priorities instead of line-by-line reviews, and onboarding up to three new council members next year to shorten meetings. Staff also said they have issued a consultant RFP \"to help us guide that TIF process both in, you know, managing, the current TIFs and where the funding's at,\" and signaled a potential refresh of priorities for TIF-funded projects last updated in 02/2014.

Staff flagged an \"unallocated around $400,000 in into funding, that's currently sequestered to only specific types of economic development activities,\" and said some of those restrictions may be due for a policy update. Committee members discussed options ranging from modest edits to a larger reimagining of TIF areas (including a downtown/\"Waterfront District\" and a courthouse-area expansion) to direct investments in housing and parks and recreation.

On staffing, finance staff said the budget includes funds to post a parks and recreation director job and to onboard an economic development director pending final budget approval: \"I'm gonna have a parks direct director, job description ready to post on Tuesday,\" the staff member said. Staff also noted roughly $500,000 in budget items currently overseen across departments rather than by a single department head, and discussed consolidating oversight.

Committee members pressed for clearer timelines and better council onboarding: one member urged more council participation earlier in the process so meetings focus on policy tradeoffs instead of detailed line items. Staff agreed to schedule additional meetings with auditors and to provide updates on the consultant RFP and hiring posts before the council's Monday budget sign-off vote.

The committee did not take formal votes on TIF changes, hiring or budget adoption during the session; staff said the council's budget sign-off is expected in May and several items (the TIF consultant contract and new hires) depend on that adoption and subsequent personnel actions.","Finance staff told the Finance Committee the proposed budget landed at 2.9%, auditors missed an April 30 deadline, and staff have issued an RFP to review TIF districts while preparing to post a parks director and onboard an economic development hire.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City to ask council to use state grant for two mechanical CPR devices for fire/EMS

Staff propose reintroducing fire inspection fee schedule to charge developers, not residents

Finance staff say budget near goal at 2.9%; auditors delayed as TIF review and parks hires move forward