BRUNSWICK

It may be summer, but the town of Brunswick is still paying for costs associated with a long, harsh winter. The town council on Monday approved the over-expenditure of up to $90,000 to fund unanticipated repairs and maintenance for public works vehicles, incurred, in part, by the wear and tear of snow removal.

According to the resolution approved Monday, public works “experienced a number of unanticipated expenditures related to the repair and maintenance of its vehicles,” as well as other unanticipated costs related to operating the department’s garage.

One notable expense will be repairs to a tractor used to clear snow from sidewalks.

“We absolutely have to get a better handling on fleet maintenance at public works,” said Interim Town Manager John Eldridge.

Eldridge agreed with Councilor Jane Millett’s assumption that “the severity of winter must have wreaked havoc on public works equipment and vehicles.”

The council also approved a $55,000 transfer from big box fees to fund a preliminary study to build a long-awaited access road at Cook’s Corner. The road would funnel traffic from Gurnet Road near the Sears entrance, past Regal Cinemas and the Atrium site, before crossing Thomas Point Road and linking with Tibbetts Drive.

Councilor Gerard Favreau noted that design work of the road is almost done.

The road and infrastructure improvements are expected to cost $1.6 million. It is expected to be paid for through big box fees and Tax Increment Financing revenues.

So-called big box fees are collected from Cook’s Corner retail buildings larger than 50,000 square feet for use in improving the Cook’s Corner area.

The road is considered an important part of helping Cook’s Corner recover from losses incurred through both the closure of the Brunswick Naval Air Station and the financial crisis of the last decade.

Councilors also approved a transfer of $270,000 to shore-up some department budgets. The town had encountered unanticipated expenditures in the 2013-14 fiscal year in some departments, but found unanticipated savings in other departments.

jswinconeck@timesrecord.com

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