BANGOR (AP) -- Saying residents' health and safety is at risk, the state has placed in receivership a nursing home and six assisted living centers run by a Connecticut company.

Action by Maine's Health and Human Services Department came to light Thursday during a presentation to state lawmakers seeking $87,000 to enable a state-appointed receiver to run the facilities, which house a total of 180 residents. The department on Oct. 2 filed a petition against Chester, Conn.-based Eagle Landing Residential Care LLC seeking an emergency receiver.

A phone message left with an attorney for the company, Charles Dingman, was not immediately returned Friday.

The state became concerned earlier this year when complaints surfaced that residents at the Penobscot Nursing Home were losing significant amounts of weight, said Catherine Cobb of the human services department.

Inspectors found that vendors had stopped delivering food and supplies because of unpaid bills at the 60-bed nursing home. As it improved its performance, problems at other Eagle Landing sites appeared, Cobb said.

The state's court petition said that because of Eagle Landing's financial difficulties, deliveries of food, supplies and heating fuel were interrupted, phone and Internet service were cut off and the company was unable to meet payroll.

The court document also says the company has used employees' credit cards to pay for food deliveries and telephone service, and in one case petty cash was used to purchase 100 gallons of heating fuel. Some vehicles used to transport residents have been repossessed and workers' compensation and liability insurance policies have been canceled.

The petition says Eagle Landing owes the state $400,000 in provider taxes, penalties and interest, and $793,500 in MaineCare overpayments.

DHHS Commissioner Brenda Harvey said that when deficiencies were spotted during the summer, inspectors worried whether people would be adequately cared for when the weather gets cold.

"There was no improvement and no plans for improvement," Harvey said. "The tipping point comes when the health and safety of the residents is compromised."

The facilities include Penobscot Nursing Home and Northern Bay residential Living Center in Penobscot, Dolley Farm Residential Care Home in Westbrook, Gray Manor in Gray, Rocky Hill Manor in Westbrook, Snow Pond Residential Care Facility in Sidney and Somerset Residential Care Facility in Madison. They are all expected to remain open.