BRUNSWICK

To remove a 50-year-old dam at the Kate Furbish Preserve, town officials will seek $136,000 in funding from the Maine Natural Resource Conservation Program.

The issue is expected to be discussed during the Town Council’s meeting tonight.

The dam’s removal is part of the town’s plan for maintaining wetlands at the newlynamed nature preserve. Additionally, the grant would be used to remove an infestation of reeds within a salt marsh at the head of Harpswell Cove, according to a memo from Brunswick Marine Warden Dan Devereaux.

By doing the work sooner than later, Devereaux said, the town likely “will avoid costly repairs to trail surfaces” and would “facilitate future trail construction.”

No local match is required to meet grant eligibility.

A state decision on grant awards is expected in January.

If successful, work could begin immediately and be complete by spring 2014.

Also today, councilors likely will set public hearings to discuss changes to parking on Upper Park Row, and to appoint subcommittee members to weigh future tax increment financing requests from Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority.

The meeting is 7 p.m. in the second-floor meeting room at Brunswick Station. jtleonard@timesrecord.com

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