BRUNSWICK

The Brunswick Town Council on Monday approved a fee increase in the Mere Point Wastewater District.

This is the first increase since the district was built by the town in 1992-93.

With the increase, a year-round residence charged $663 annually will see that bill increase to $1,064, or 62 percent.

Town Manager John Eldridge said the residents in that district were presented with the new proposed fee schedule in June.

“Those people had a discussion of those fees in July — not surprisingly, no one was thrilled with the increase,” Eldridge said.

Councilor Dave Watson brought up concerns about another 20 year lapse between raising fees, resulting in another round of sharp increases.

Eldridge responded, saying that a new table containing all town fee rates should now mean that fee schedules are given some degree of scrutiny every year or two.

The fees passed unanimously with no public comment.

The fees are intended to bridge a deficit and provide an account for future maintenance.

According to data from the town engineer, from 2009-2010, operating costs for the district were $27,879 with revenue of only $21,533.

In contrast, latest data puts operating costs so far at $68,997 — partially due to the replacement of a peat field that had failed, costing more than $40,000 to replace.

Revenues, however, remain flat at only $21,913.

Ambulance fees increasing

Another fee schedule to be brought up to date was that of emergency medical services fees. Fees regarding the town ambulance service was last updated in 2009.

Fees were looked at for several coastal communities to model Brunswick’s increase. Increases would cover several levels of life support as well as non-transport calls.

Currently, Brunswick charges $380 for basic life support services compared to Bath, Falmouth and Windham at $600 and even Portland at $748. The proposed increase to $480 will bring the town in line with the 15 coastal communities surveyed median of $479.63.

All other increases for variances of life support, mileage, non-transports and assisting other agencies will still put Brunswick just below the median of other communities surveyed to establish fees.

The vote in favor of increases passed without further discussion, but was opposed by councilors Watson and Sarah Brayman.

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