POLAND – Town officials will present their proposal for an economic development study and ask voters for funding at an upcoming special town meeting.

The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously this week to award an $11,500 contract to Community Dynamics Corp. of Auburn pending town meeting approval. In addition to the base contract fee, selectmen agreed to ask for $1,500 for the firm’s expenses and two other possible consulting projects.

Selectmen set the special town meeting for 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 6. The location is yet to be determined. Town Manager Richard Chick said he would present the warrant article to the board at the Dec. 21 meeting. By that time, a location should be confirmed, Chick said.

The money to fund the study will come from the town’s tax increment financing funds. TIF districts are generally created as investments by municipalities and incentives for businesses to grow. The additional tax dollars generated by business growth are then earmarked for reinvestment in the town’s economic development or infrastructure.

Selectmen Steve Robinson requested a schedule of Poland’s TIF funds and districts. Chairman Glenn Peterson suggested a workshop on TIF districts and funds for the entire board.

If voters approve funding for the economic development study, Community Dynamics Corp. will conduct a four-phase process that will give town officials information and recommendations for attracting business and diversifying Poland’s tax base.

The Auburn firm won out over PolicyOne Research Inc. of Portland, which came in with a bid of $12,000. However, the PolicyOne bid included all expenses while Community Dynamics’ did not.

The Portland firm estimated it would complete the study in eight weeks. The Auburn firm estimated six months.

During a Nov. 30 interview with the selectmen and Planning Board, Community Dynamics explained that the community needed time to become aware of the project and recommendations, to ask questions, and to feel comfortable.

“We don’t want to do a lousy job,” said Steve Levesque, principal consultant for Community Dynamics. “If you want it quicker, we can do that. But your folks need time to deliberate on some of these things.”

Board member Wendy Sanborn raised concerns that six months could add up to a substantial amount of expenses not specified in the contract.

However, Chick suggested that the town would be able to free up general fund money and staff time by taking advantage of experienced consultants for two upcoming proposals due before Maine’s Department of Community and Economic Development.

During a previous presentation, Levesque and company Vice President John Cleveland also offered to help Poland in its efforts to overhaul its comprehensive land-use plan and to secure financing for any future projects that may result from the study.

Selectmen Bud Jordan pointed out that regardless of what the board requests, voters will have the final say on how much money they will approve for the project.