Newburgh, Ind. — Town staff told the Planning Commission on Sept. 2 that they plan to budget for a contractor to perform a comprehensive review and rewrite of the town’s ordinances, with the goal of completing the ordinance modernization work in 2026.

Town Manager Chris Cook and Deputy Town Manager Andrea Balboni described the proposal as a multi‑stage process: staff would seek proposals (RFP/RFQ) from consulting firms, select a vendor and then work with the Planning Commission, other boards and the public to refine recommendations. The firm HWC was discussed as an example of a consultant the town has worked with previously; staff said HWC provided an illustrative price and a sample scope to help draft the budget request.

Why it matters: Staff said a full rewrite would streamline development review for infill projects, reduce the number of boards applicants must visit for small projects and modernize codes that date back to the 1990s. Planning Director Riley Jones and other staff said unclear or dated requirements have increased the time and cost for developers and applicants seeking to do infill construction.

Timeline, scope and public input: Staff said the timeline would include an RFP/RFQ, selection of a vendor and a process that involves the Planning Commission and other boards; final adoption would come through Town Council after required public hearings. The draft schedule discussed at the meeting anticipates beginning the consultant work in 2026; staff added that the town would tailor the public‑engagement approach to the project and that boards and commissions would be relied upon for early input.

Budget posture: Staff told commissioners they placed funds in the draft budget to support the effort and that the final contract would be subject to formal budget approval and procurement rules. Andrea Balboni said the town had requested approximately $50,000 to cover consultant work and related items in preliminary budget drafts; staff cautioned that final numbers would be determined during the budget process.

Next steps: If adopted in the budget, staff said they would issue a formal RFP/RFQ, review multiple vendors, and return to the Planning Commission with proposed language and a public‑engagement plan before executing a contract.