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Temporary repairs underway at Embry Municipal Pool; council warns replacement will require future votes
Summary
Bucksport public works director says crews have identified frost‑damaged drains and completed temporary repairs expected to allow refilling by next week, while councilors and residents said a permanent replacement would be a multi‑year, multi‑hundred‑thousand‑dollar decision likely requiring a future referendum.
Bucksport — Town staff told the Bucksport Town Council that crews have identified frost damage around the pool drains at the Embry Municipal Pool and completed targeted repairs expected to allow the pool to be refilled by the middle to the end of next week.
"We have finally identified what we think has happened," said Pierce, the town's public works director, describing crews removing concrete and replacing drain pipe around damaged drain baskets. "Tomorrow, we're gonna finish out cementing the bottom of it... Probably Monday, put some hot top in it, get it cleaned up so we can seal it. I think we're on the right track." Later he added, "Fingers crossed that holds water."
The update, given during the council's regular meeting, came with repeated thanks from councilors and staff to local contractors and town crews who volunteered equipment and labor. The council and staff described the fix as a short‑term repair, not a permanent replacement.
"We have to call this what it is — it's a band aid," the town manager said, adding that the repair could hold for several years but is not guaranteed because the pool structure and materials predate modern frost protection. Council members said they will consider longer‑term options as part of the next budget cycle and that any proposal with a price tag above the town's referendum threshold would be sent to voters.
Residents at the meeting pressed for background on a 2019 ballot measure related to the pool. Councilors said voters had approved authority of up to $1,000,000 in 2019 for repairs or replacement, and that the council at the time chose to fund some work from reserves rather than take out a loan. Councilors and staff said the COVID‑era budget priorities delayed larger capital work and that the town will need to discuss whether to establish a pool reserve or place a future replacement proposal on a referendum.
Town staff also noted operational costs: Maine Water agreed to waive the town's water‑fill charge for the most recent refill attempt, and staff said filling the pool can cost roughly $4,000–$5,000 each time. The town plans to perform a controlled refill this cycle to confirm the repair before full re‑opening.
Next steps: staff will complete the cement and paving work, attempt a refill as forecasted, and report results back to the council. Councilors directed that options for a longer‑term funding plan be considered in next year's budget process; if a replacement plan exceeds the $300,000 referendum threshold cited at the meeting, the council indicated voters would decide whether to proceed.
The council discussed the repairs and the funding options during the council's discussion item on the Embry Municipal Pool. No final decision on a replacement project was made at the meeting.
