The Plaistow Planning Board on July 16 voted 4‑0 to enter contract negotiations with the consultant identified in the board’s RFP response (referenced in the record with variant spellings) to update the town’s public safety impact fee methodology. The board approved moving forward within the budget available to the planning board and directed staff to negotiate contract terms.

Why it matters: the town has not updated its public safety impact fee methodology in several years; the board and selectmen discussed budget constraints and determined that an update to the public safety fee would provide the most value for available funds. The update will determine the fee charged on net new building area and could affect future development cost allocations for fire and police services.

The board reviewed two proposals in response to its RFP. One firm identified in the record as “Puigere/Fugere/Fujair Planning and Development” of Milford, N.H., proposed a scoped cost for the public safety update of $15,000; an alternative submittal from DTA of Raleigh, N.C., listed a higher a la carte rate (~$28,800) that exceeded the planning board’s available funds. With approximately $20,000 available for impact‑fee work, members and the selectmen’s representative concluded that commissioning the public safety update represented the best use of current funds. A motion to enter contract negotiations with the top‑ranked consultant for the public safety impact fee update carried 4‑0.

The board discussed that the selected consultant has local experience and previously worked with the town; staff will work with the consultant to finalize scope, deliverables and meeting costs and will report back to the board. The board noted remaining funds would be modest and asked the consultant to identify any extra meeting or scope costs (the proposals included per‑meeting costs should out‑of‑scope work be needed). The board authorized staff to negotiate a contract and return with the agreement for formal execution.