Board discusses budget and $10,000 estimate for impact-fee consultant

The New Durham Planning Board reviewed its annual proposed budget and highlighted contracted services as the principal near-term need. Board members discussed engaging an engineer or consultant to update impact-fee language and impact-fee estimates; a firm provided an estimate of about $10,000 to perform the work.

Board members agreed to add the impact-fee consultant item to the Aug. 18 workshop for scope and contracting decisions. "If you have that money in our current budget I'd use a **** ***** ** ****," one board member said in the discussion; members generally supported moving forward with a scoped contract and carrying any remaining work into next year’s budget if necessary.

The board asked staff to keep the item on the workshop agenda and to follow up with the selected consultant about scope and timing before finalizing an agreement.