KENNEBUNK ”“ When Kennebunk selectmen reconvene on Tuesday ”“ after canceling their last meeting due to weather ”“ they’re expected to approve a consent agreement to pay a fine to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

The fine is being levied for town crews unknowingly violating rules while preparing for recent paving and shoulder improvements on Great Hill Road.

Specifically, the work was not compliant with the Natural Resources Protection and Erosion Sedimentation Law, with encroachments made to a handful of “dune areas” ”“ in this case, rocks lining the side of the road.

Kevin Donovan, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, said the areas in question have been repaired to the satisfaction of the MDEP.

Still, there’s the matter of the fine, which will come to about $3,450 ”“ on top of about $2,220 in materials and $1,430 in labor and equipment usage.

Town Manager Barry Tibbetts said the funds will come from the Public Services division’s budget. Preliminary plans are also in place to instruct town crews on practices which are compliant with the MDEP’s standards.

“What we’re going to do is send out staff to an erosion and sedimentation workshop so that we can do some education on this issue ”“ so that when our staff is out there doing work, they can be better prepared to understand the implications of these things,” said Tibbetts.

He said he wants the fine paid quickly so the town can find “closure” with the MDEP.

“Bringing closure to the DEP is a good thing,” he said, “because they like to bring closure to these things by 60-90 days after it’s been alerted to them.”

In this case, the town itself notified the department of its transgressions.

“Mistakes were made across the board,” said Donovan. “And that’s what they are ”“ mistakes.”

As for the staff, said selectman John Kotsonis, “We’re talking to them so that it doesn’t happen again.”

— Jeff Lagasse is an Assistant Editor at the Journal Tribune. He can be contacted at 282-1535 ext. 319.