LISBON
The town council will conduct a public hearing Tuesday night on a proposed downtown tax increment financing program that if approved by the state, could allow the town to better market the two downtown areas within Lisbon.
The council meets at 7 p.m. at the town office and has a full agenda planned.
Economic and Community Development Director Tracey Steuber emphasized this would only allow the town to seek a conditional approval for a downtown TIF from the state Department of Economic and Community Development. The town would then need to submit a complete application.
The Downtown Omnibus municipal Tax Increment Financing District Development Program would allow the town to capture 100 percent of new assessed value in real estate property with the TIF district, over the original assessed value for the proposed 30-year TIF period, to be applied to the development program. The proposed TIF district would encompass the Lisbon Village and Lisbon Falls downtowns, a total of approximately 175 acres.
The TIF would fund improvements to the downtown to draw private investment. Steuber said the request is only to seek the conditional Downtown TIF approval so the town can capture the “original assessed value” as of April 2013, since additional development has taken place more recently, creating new value the town wants to capture.
Steuber stressed this is very early in the process and that the town is committed to nothing. She will be at the meeting to discuss the TIF further along with legal counsel for the town.
The council will also conduct a public hearing on a special entertainment permit for Sandra Harkins, doing business as Railroad Diner.
Councilors will hear a school budget presentation from the Lisbon School Department, discuss the parks director vacancy and consider allowing the police chief to apply to the Homeland Security Grant Program for supplemental funds.
After a fire badly damaged the public works building a year ago and voters rejected a bond to build or buy new digs, the town repaired and renovated the garage with $376,000 in insurance money. There was $166,000 left over so the council will be asked Tuesday to allow staff to solicit bids for construction of a 25-foot-by-80- foot steel structure addition to the public works garage.
The council will conduct first readings of three ordinances; the Non-Storm Water Discharge Ordinance; the Post-Construction Stormwater Management Ordinance; and an amendment to Section 47-4 regarding street excavation.
An executive session is scheduled for the council to discuss the finance director position and the council is slated to appoint a finance director.
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