BRUNSWICK
Brunswick Town Council hopeful Daniel Harris went on the offensive against his opponent, incumbent District 5 Councilor Gerald Favreau, during a candidates forum on Thursday.
All five council candidates attended the forum sponsored by the Brunswick Downtown Association, but it was Harris and Favreau who drew the sharpest contrast.
“I’ve gotten to know Jerry. I think he’s a wonderful, dedicated person, but I do not think he has been making sufficient effort in getting to the root of the problems afflicting the community,” said Harris.
Councilors, he said, should not simply be accepting and relying on recommendations from town staff.
Chief among their disagreements was a proposed connector road between Gurnett and Thomas Point roads that would be funded through a proposed Tax Increment Finance district.
The road would allow developers to obtain traffic movement permits along Thomas Point Road that would spur development and improvements to that road.
The connector road, Favreau said, would help “kick-start Cook’s Corner all over again,” bringing in business complexes — as opposed to retail — and sparking economic development in the area.
Harris described the proposed road as the most “tangible” area of disagreement he has had with Favreau, specifically the road’s cost and how to fund it.
“To me, public money should not be used to help private developers develop their land,” Harris said. “They’re sophisticated real estate developers. They don’t need the town of Brunswick to finance the road.”
According to an Oct. 10 engineering estimate, the total project would cost $2.2 million.
Harris said that public money should not be spent “helping a private property develop that land.”
“The stores at Cook’s Corner and the Merrymeeting shopping center are certainly in trouble,” said Harris. “The town ought to be communicating more thoroughly with the landlords to see what they need to make the existing buildings more utilitarian for … business.”
Defends project
In an interview after the forum, Favreau defended the project, as well as his record. Favreau said the town is working with the engineering firm to find ways to lower the project’s cost.
“It depends on the council,” Favreau said. “They have to improve this road. So we have to sell it to the council and show them that we can afford it without impacting the taxpayers.”
The project, Favreau said, would also spur job creation in an area of town that has seen an exodus of retailers.
Favreau disputed the notion that he relied too much on staff recommendations.
“When we get items before us, we have to dig in and do our homework,” Favreau said. “I disagree with (Harris’s) comment, and we can agree to disagree.”
All candidates tackled a number of subjects, including what they want to see the zoning rewrite committee accomplish and the future of the downtown.
At-large race
At-large candidate Katherine Wilson and her opponent, John Portela, disagreed with the idea of installing a roundabout at Maine and Pleasant streets to facilitate traffic flow.
Wilson said she was in favor, but conceded it would take years before that project could be built.
Portela said he would consider it, but that he wasn’t sure it was needed. “I haven’t become convinced that intersection is a major bottleneck,” he said.
Sarah Brayman, who is unopposed in seeking reelection to her District 7 seat, said a roundabout “divides downtown too much and I don’t think it’s needed.”
Favreau said he would consider a small roundabout on Maine Street, citing the success similar infrastructure has had in Bath.
However, Harris said a roundabout would not be cheap, and would result in fewer parking spaces downtown. “I would not recommend a roundabout there at this time,” he said.
Both at-large candidates said the town needs to not overspend and learn to live within its budget. Portela noted the loss of millions of dollars in school aid over the years.
The 90-minute forum was moderated by Sande Updegraph, executive director of the Greater Freeport Chamber of Commerce and member of the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority.
jswinconeck@timesrecord.com
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