Swansea board waives RFQ, authorizes SWRPC zoning audit up to $15,000

The Swansea Select Board voted to forego a formal RFQ/RFP and authorized the town administrator to enter an agreement with the Southwest Regional Planning Commission (SWRPC) to perform a zoning audit, funded up to $15,000 from the planning department.

Town planner Adam told the board SWRPC would handle a targeted update rather than a full rewrite, focusing on reorganizing the ordinance, updating definitions and uses, and adding user‑friendly charts and online indexing. “The organization of the organization, it's a mess, frankly,” Adam said, arguing SWRPC’s local experience and membership dues make it both efficient and cost‑effective for the town.

The planner outlined a process that begins with a kickoff meeting with the planning board, a discovery phase reviewing the ordinance and master plan, joint meetings among zoning and conservation boards, community roundtables, and a full markup of recommended zoning amendments. He said the work would aim to align the ordinance with the town’s 2022 master plan and state statutes and produce draft warrant articles for possible 2027 consideration.

Board members asked for specifics on what the $15,000 would cover and whether some amendments might be staged across multiple years. Adam said the 2026 allocation would complete much of the foundational work and that some amendment packages could be held for later warrant seasons if needed.

After discussion, a board member moved to waive the procurement requirement and authorize the agreement with SWRPC up to $15,000; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

The board’s authorization allows staff to finalize terms with SWRPC and to proceed with public outreach and joint meetings with boards and commissions. The planner said the effort should make the ordinance more searchable and user friendly online and would include public education materials prior to any warrant articles.