Interim Economic Development Committee

The Durham Select Board hereby establishes the Interim Economic Development Committee (IEDC) as follows:

Purpose and Mission

The purpose of the IEDC is to guide, review, and provide advisory oversight for the Agriculture & Energy Economic Development District planning study; to ensure community values are fully incorporated; and to prepare recommendations for a long-term governance structure to support district implementation.

The Committee shall work collaboratively with Town staff, the Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG), project partners, and the public to advance a planning process that strengthens local agriculture, supports clean-energy innovation, protects important natural resources, and promotes diversified economic opportunity.

Responsibilities

The Committee shall:

1. Review, monitor, and provide input on all project tasks, including:

   • Parcel-level land suitability analysis;
   • Utility and grid capacity assessment;
   • Development of a zoning and policy toolkit;
   • Market scan of agriculture-energy business models;
   • Public outreach and engagement activities.

2. Ensure coordination among the Select Board, Planning Board, Agriculture Committee, Conservation Commission, and Town staff to maintain consistency with adopted policies and land-use goals.

3. Participate in and support public engagement efforts, including workshops, surveys, and stakeholder discussions.

4. Advise the Select Board on options for a permanent body - such as an Economic Development Commission or Economic Development Corporation - to oversee implementation following completion of the study.

5. Provide Periodic status updates to the Select Board and a final summary report at the conclusion of the planning process.

Membership

The Committee shall consist of six (6) voting members, appointed by the Select Board as follows:

• One member of the Select Board (Plus one alternate member)
• One member of the Planning Board (Plus one alternate member)
• One member of the Conservation Commission (Plus one alternate member)
• One member of the Agriculture Committee (Plus one alternate member)
• Two at-large community members with experience in business development, agricultural enterprise, clean-energy industry, or related fields (Plus one alternate member)

Alternate members shall participate fully in Committee meetings and discussions and shall vote only in the absence of the regular voting member they represent. The at-large alternate shall vote only in the absence of one of the regular at-large members.

The Town Manager and Town Planner shall serve as non-voting staff liaisons.

Organization and Procedures

• The Committee shall elect a Chair and Vice Chair from among its voting members at its first meeting.
• Meetings shall be publicly noticed and conducted in accordance with Maine’s Freedom of Access Act.
• A quorum shall consist of four (4) voting members.
• The Committee may invite non-member participants - such as representatives of GPCOG, Maine Farmland Trust, local utilities, or subject-matter experts - to attend meetings and provide information.

Duration

The IEDC shall remain in effect through completion and presentation of the final project deliverables to the Select Board. The Select Board may extend, modify, or dissolve the Committee as it considers the long-term governance recommendations that emerge from the study.

Interim Economic Development Committee Members

Select Board

• John Talbot
• Rebekah Polster (Alternate)

Planning Board

• Juliet Caplinger
• Brian Lanoie (Alternate)

Conservation Commission

• Jess Costa
• Roberta Brezinski (Alternate)

Agriculture Committee

• TBD
• TBD(Alternate)

At-Large Community Member

• Bryce Hamilton
• TBD
• TBD (Alternate)

Adopted July 28, 2026 by the Durham Select Board