KENNEBUNK — Kennebunk residents will be asked in June whether to set aside town funds to cover storm expenses the town hopes will get reimbursed by FEMA.

The Board of Selectmen approved Tuesday night a June 12 town meeting referendum asking permission from residents to transfer from town surplus up to $150,000 to cover overages in public infrastructure costs in the 2018 fiscal year. 

Kennebunk, like many coastal communities, was hit hard during storm activity that brought heavy winds and astronomically high tides. 

Town Manager Michael Pardue said the town has yet to see if federal disaster assistance will be available for recovery efforts from the recent Nor’easter.

The town sustained an estimated $800,000 of damage from storm activities earlier this month, he said. 

Should the town get funding from FEMA for repairs, Pardue said, it would have to front the money and FEMA would reimburse the town later. 

The town will look into short term improvements to sidewalks and roads to prepare for summer with the hope that it will get permanent repairs funded by FEMA in the future, he said. 

If the town were to be reimbursed by FEMA for work done with the proposed funds, the money would go back to town surplus, Finance Director Joel Downs said.

“If we can reclaim it, we certainly will,” he said. 

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.