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Skowhegan approves $100,000 in downtown TIF support for Masonic Hall and CSN Press
Summary
The Skowhegan Select Board approved two downtown TIF awards—up to $50,000 for the Masonic Hall and up to $50,000 for CSN Press/Bookish at 14 Madison Ave—aimed at getting first-floor spaces code-compliant and supporting new downtown businesses. Both awards will be reimbursed on invoice and are subject to TIF advisory committee review and standard documentation.
The Skowhegan Select Board voted Nov. 25 to allocate up to $50,000 to the Masonic Hall renovation and up to $50,000 to CSN Press/Bookish under the downtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) program, aiming to bring ground-floor space back into active community and commercial use.
Chris Clark, representing Somerset Masonic Lodge No. 34, told the board the lodge’s project focuses on “fire and code compliance for the first floor” so the space can host community events and limited commercial activity. Clark outlined required work including emergency push bars on front doors, lighted exit signs, a rear emergency egress and minor kitchen upgrades, and said the quoted project total was $40,009.73. The board’s TIF advisory committee had reviewed the application and voted to recommend the award. Select Board Member Amber moved to approve “an amount not to exceed $50,000 toward the Masonic Hall downtown TIF application,” and the motion carried 5–0.
A separate application came from David Whiting (CSN Press) and his partner for 14 Madison Ave, the former Stitchery, where they propose a used-bookshop called Bookish in the front and Comic Shop News operations in the rear. Whiting said the total investment in the building had risen to roughly $76,000 because of an unexpected boiler problem; he asked the board for $50,000 to help cover exterior improvements, infrastructure repairs and retail-space renovations. Whiting argued the project would provide retail traffic and modest job opportunities, and that the applicants had obtained multiple vendor quotes and would invest their own funds.
Board members debated precedent and safeguards. Select Board Member Whitney (commenting from the TIF advisory perspective) outlined the allowable uses of the downtown TIF, noting the fund’s purpose is to “encourage new employment opportunities, broaden the town’s tax base and better the health, welfare and safety of our inhabitants.” Concerns were raised about past TIF recipients who later sold properties; one select board member asked whether the applicants would agree to a five-year ownership or operations requirement and a clawback clause if the business closed or the property was sold inside that period. Whiting said he would be comfortable with both conditions.
After discussion, the board voted to approve CSN Press’s application “not to exceed $50,000” for renovations and alterations, with the Chair announcing the motion carried 4–1. The board emphasized that TIF funding will be reimbursed on the basis of invoices and that the advisory committee’s rubric and state application guidance govern allowable spending.
The awards will be paid by invoice from the downtown TIF account; staff said applicants must provide bids, invoices and supporting documentation for reimbursement. The board also noted staff cannot guarantee final code approval until inspections are complete, and reimbursements will follow demonstrated work.
Votes at a glance: Masonic Hall (not to exceed $50,000): approved 5–0; CSN Press / Bookish (not to exceed $50,000): approved 4–1.
Next steps: recipients will submit invoices for reimbursement, staff will track compliance with TIF requirements, and the board agreed to schedule a TIF educational workshop to review policies and performance metrics for the program.
