FARMINGTON — Selectmen unanimously agreed this week to spend another $1,000 for services to complete the Downtown Development Plan.

During the third workshop held Feb. 12, John Holden, author of the plan, offered, for a fee, to complete the draft based on the suggestions he had heard during the workshops.

Holden penned the plan while working for Eaton Peabody Consultants, hired by the board last summer to create the plan for $9,850. The plan was funded through a local tax-increment financing district.

The Farmington Downtown Association suggested hiring Eaton Peabody to create a downtown TIF district, and the board approved funding the project. First, a plan is needed to create the TIF district.

When board members reviewed the plan and questioned the role of the Farmington Downtown Association in a plan meant for the town, workshops were held to allow townspeople to weigh in.

Some wanted to see more “mortar and brick” projects, rather than promotional activities in the plan. Others wanted to extend the downtown to include West Farmington.

Holden will complete the draft plan based on citizen input, Town Manager Richard Davis told selectmen Tuesday night. He has a better understanding of the direction of the plan and will eliminate references to the downtown group.

It will be a generic town/community-based plan, not for a select group. Holden will simplify the plan, including a list of projects without specifying which organization or group will do them or a timeline for completion, according to the contract to which the board agreed. He will attend another workshop or board meeting to review the revised plan.

Town TIF funds will be used to pay the $1,000 for completion of the plan.

Board members felt the plan was so close to being finished that they wanted to continue with Holden and see it done.

“Holden’s done a great job,” Selectman Andrew Hufnagel said, suggesting the board continue moving forward and not bring in someone else.

Selectman Ryan Morgan said he would vote for the contract but he was sad that it went this far and now the town has to spend another $1,000 to complete it. There was a breakdown in the process. “Shame on us,” he said.

“It’s been a learning experience for the board,” Selectman Dennis Pike said. “We did the best we could.”

In other business, selectmen met in closed session with the town attorney and attorney Patricia Dunn of the Portland firm of Jensen Baird Gardner & Henry to discuss the legal rights and duties of the board with respect to a personnel matter.

It was the third executive session the board has held recently to discuss a personnel matter.

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