Regional community action official warns services were undercounted, seeks to preserve day services and names two local board nominees

An agency official appearing before the Hancock County Commissioners on March 3 said the region’s community action programs were undercounted in prior reports and outlined steps being taken to maintain services and protect local programs.

At the March 3 meeting the presenter said unreliable data from DownEast Community Partners left the agency’s early records incomplete and that, after taking over many services on July 1, the organization found “just under 2,000 service units” reported for Hancock County likely underrepresent actual work delivered. The official said some DOT transportation contracts had already been reassigned by other providers when the transition occurred, requiring coordination with neighboring community action partners and the state Department of Transportation.

The presenter said the agency transitioned Head Start and early childhood programs on July 1 and intends to apply for the forthcoming federal Head Start procurement; the agency expects to serve as the interim provider for Hancock and Washington counties through Nov. 30. “We intend to be able to continue to offer these programs and services,” the presenter said.

Commissioners heard that the home energy assistance program has been largely flat-funded. The presenter described delays in federal funding after a government shutdown that pushed emergency funding release from November into December, and said emergency household allocations were reduced this season, affecting the program’s ability to fund furnace replacements and weatherization work. The agency reported a waiting list of roughly 150 households for furnace replacements and repairs and said it has supplemented help with donor funds and partnerships when possible.

The official also reported local fundraising to preserve Friendship Cottage in Blue Hill, a day-services facility for older adults that is being sold. The presenter told commissioners that community donors have raised more than $500,000 and that agency staff were meeting with the donor group and legal counsel to explore a purchase that would retain the facility’s services in the county.

Finally, the presenter asked the commission to formally nominate two Hancock County residents to the tripartite board of the three-county community action agency. The nominees were Nicole Beers, identified in the record as a Bucksport elementary school principal, and Josephine Cooper, identified as chair of the Le Moyne select board and a founder of Friends in Action. Chair (Speaker 1) moved to appoint both as public-sector board members representing Hancock County; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

The presentation drew questions from commissioners about eligibility thresholds, timing of fund releases and program capacity. The agency official said the home energy assistance funds exist but that timing and eligibility limits have constrained delivery. The commissioners did not take other binding actions on program funding during the meeting; next steps identified by the presenter included applying for the federal Head Start procurement and pursuing a potential purchase offer for Friendship Cottage.