TOPSHAM — Selectmen voted unanimously Thursday to hire Planning Decisions Inc. and law firm Bernstein Shur to help the town construct a municipal downtown tax increment financing district along Main Street.
The consulting and legal services, not to exceed $20,000, will be funded with money in the current budget.
The town issued a request for proposals for a TIF consultant.
After receiving five, the Topsham Development Inc. board recommended the Planning Decisions and Bernstein Shur team to selectmen.
Town Manager Cornell Knight said Selectman James Trusiani asked if there would be a conflict of interest in the selection because Bernstein Shur serves as the town’s attorney, but Knight said he sees no conflict.
The decision to retain Planning Decisions and Bernstein Shur passed 4-0. Selectwoman Marie Brillant was absent.
The consultants will first help determine the boundaries and structure of a TIF district, envisioned to stretch along Main Street from the Frank J. Wood Bridge to the Interstate 295 overpass, and then to develop a summary development plan.
If the town then wants to proceed with creation of a downtown TIF, the consultants would be charged with preparing a complete, formal TIF economic development plan and all supporting documents needed to submit the plan to the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development for approval.
A new TIF district must be approved by Topsham voters.
A TIF district is a locally approved plan that allows municipalities to earmark property taxes for economic development or other specific municipal uses.
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