BERWICK, La. — Town leaders here approved a resolution to join other governmental entities in pursuing potential claims against BP for losses arising from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010.

The resolution allowed the town to retain attornies Sam Gabb of Plauche, Smith & Nieset and Russell Stutes Jr. of Stutes and Lavergne who will serve notice to BP under the Oil Pollution Act that several governmental entities across the coast are filing a new claim to recover losses in sales taxes because of the spill.

Berwick Town Attorney Allen McElroy said he has provided the special council the town’s sales tax records for years 1994 through 2012 to determine what, if any, losses the town incurred.

There is a notification deadline of Jan. 20 under the Oil Pollution Act, he said. Once the suit is filed, it is likely that the plaintiffs will seek class action status, he added.

In other action the town council:

—Unanimously passed an ordinance increasing garbage fees from $19 to $19.50. No comment was received during the public hearing held before adoption of the ordinance.

—Approved a partial payment of $135,261.78 to LA Contracting Enterprise and $15,036.76 to Miller Engineers for work on Renwick Subdivision, which engineer Reid Miller called “painfully slow” due primarily to weather. Lot shaping is about 80 percent complete, while curbing and sidewalk work continues at about 50 percent completion, he said.