West Swanzey Selectboard discusses forming TIF advisory board; no formal vote

A town staff member told the West Swanzey Selectboard on April 2, 2025, that the next step after approving a tax increment financing (TIF) district is to establish a five-member West Swanzey TIF advisory board and appoint a district administrator, tentatively the town administrator.

The advisory board proposal is grounded in the transcripted reference to RSA 162-K, which the staff member cited as the statute authorizing the appointing body to name a district administrator and an advisory board. The staff member said the advisory board would serve “to advise the district administrator, the town administrator, and/or the selectboard on planning, construction and implementation of the development program and on maintenance and operation of the district after the program has been completed.”

The advisory board, as described in the meeting, would have five members serving staggered three-year terms with no term limits. At least one member should both own property in the district and live in town; other members must be property owners or residents of West Swanzey. The staff member emphasized that members should be willing to work actively on outreach and project review.

Meeting discussion focused on four early priorities for the advisory board: public education about how a TIF district works; engagement with experienced external practitioners and municipal staff who have implemented TIF districts; showcasing potential projects from the town plan using visual aids or financial models so residents can see concrete possibilities; and exploring infrastructure improvements that are feasible without a completed purchase of the local water company. The staff member said the water-company purchase “did not pass,” and that the lack of that acquisition will slow some development work and make year two of the board’s work heavier on infrastructure planning.

Selectboard members and staff discussed recruitment and a short list of potential candidates. The staff member named Nick Bracus as a recommended candidate, saying he previously served on a West Swanzey TIF board during the district’s setup. The assistant town planner, Stefan Mayhew, was cited elsewhere in the packet on related items but did not move a motion during the TIF discussion.

No formal motion to create the advisory board or to appoint the district administrator was recorded in the transcript excerpt. Staff recommended that the selectboard approve the establishment of the advisory board and name the administrator at a subsequent meeting, and that recruitment of members follow that approval.

Next steps outlined in the discussion include formalizing the administrator appointment, publicly advertising the advisory-board openings, and arranging one or two informational meetings with outside practitioners experienced in TIF implementation. Staff said initial work in year one would focus on public education and outreach; more intensive infrastructure planning would follow in year two pending water-utility and financing developments.