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Ellsworth council renews Sanctuary lodging license after heated public testimony and staff inspections
Summary
After extensive public comment — including neighbors' complaints of drug activity and residents’ testimony that the Sanctuary provides housing for people in treatment — councilors approved renewal of the Sanctuary lodging license following code and fire inspections that staff said addressed prior violations.
The Ellsworth City Council voted March 16 to renew a city lodging license for Sanctuary & Investors LLC (33 Birch Avenue) after an extended public hearing in which neighbors described drug-related incidents and residents and managers said the property provides essential housing for people in treatment and recovery.
The vote came after multiple residents showed up to urge either approval or extra scrutiny; several people who said they live at the Sanctuary described stable housing, functioning hot water and help in recovery. Other residents and neighbors described photos online showing needles, people passed out and at least one incident that required ambulances and police. The code enforcement officer, Robert Grant, told the council he, his deputy and the fire inspector conducted an inspection before the license was signed and observed that the owner had replaced and upgraded the fire alarm system and that fire doors were functioning. Grant said he did not observe ongoing hot-water problems during that visit and that previous major code items had been corrected.
Sanctuary management told the council some photos circulating on social media were accurate but concerned older images or posts portrayed conditions that had since been remedied; a manager said nonresidents had been involved in at least one recent incident and that staff remove problem individuals when identified. Residents addressing the council said the facility has provided housing stability for people on treatment court and others who otherwise would be on the street.
Councillors debated whether to consider the Sanctuary separately from the other dozens of license renewals on the agenda. Councilors ultimately approved most license renewals as a block and then voted separately to approve the Sanctuary lodging license.
The council’s decision does not remove the city’s authority to investigate future complaints; councilors urged neighbors to document incidents (police calls, property damage, code complaints) so staff can act on verifiable evidence. The council and staff noted that funding relationships between tenants, state programs and the property are separate from the land-use and license standards before the council.
The license renewal follows staff inspections and required corrections noted by the code enforcement officer; councilors also asked staff to monitor neighborhood impacts going forward.
