January 17, 2006 - Town of Woodbridge

Minutes From Industrial Development Commission Meeting January 17, 2006
The meeting began at 8:00 with members Giovanni DelSanto, Jody Ellant, Herb Mendelsohn,
Chairman William Montross, Diane Urbano, Charlie Gamble and Paul Rossi. Jody Ellant was
acting secretary for this meeting.
Meeting commenced with discussion of communication methods and scheduling: the following
are the groups email addresses:
Email Addresses:
Giovanni DelSanto giomow@netzero.com 389-5016
Herb Mendelsohn himlaw@aol.com 387-4222/ 651-0094
Diane Urbano yapperdcu@aol.com 397-1555/627-6531
Charles Gamble charles.gamble@tangoe.com 393-3015/824-5050
Bill Montross whatllc@hotmail.com home 389-4504/ cell 500-5243/ work 964-3417
Bill.montross@xlgroup.com
Jody Ellant jody@romefast.com 980-8959/ 387-5932
Paul Rossi prossi@cnepeaking.com w-382-9557
h- 389-5222
c-215-4958
Herb Mendolsohn was unanimously voted in as Vice-Chairman. Chairman Montross nominated
Herb Mendelsohn nominated, Jody Ellant seconded.
The meeting then continued with a discussion of Milford, Connecticut. Specifically, the retention
of Yale to perform an urban plan. Chairman Montross spoke with Kathy Gardner of the Milford
Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Richettelli’s secretary and email to Alan Lattis of Milford, and
Robert Gregory, economic development coordinator for Milford.
Milford led Chairman Montross to speak with Alan Plattus , professor of architecture of Yale
University. Milford contracted Yale to perform analysis for $40,000. However, there were some
issues in dealing with Yale, with communication and staffing. Positives were that Yale Urban
Design Workshop facilitated working within zoning guidelines.
Village.profile.com was recommended by Milford Chamber of Commerce to Chairman
Montross. Question as to whether Village.profile.com goes more to promotion rather than
planning.
Vice-Chairman Mendelosohn presented promotional material for the towns of Fairfield and
Cheshire.
Chairman Montross presented promotional material for the cities of Hamden and New Haven.
Diane Urbano suggested a simple questionnaire/ telephone survey of Woodbridge businesses to
see how we can help.
Herb Mendelsohn brought in an article that Bethany hired Yale Urban Design Group to assess
Feasibility of developing Bethany Airport.

Guilford sent out an RFP to hire consultant to assess feasibility of development south part near
the new train station. Apparently, Guilford worked with a firm in Avon to come out with a RFP
for Guilford.
Next part of meeting will be brainstorming. The following are some ideas that were raised:
Create Survey of Woodbridge Businesses to see how Town can better serve them
RFP to hire a consultant.
Is there a Woodbridge resident who may work in Yale Urban Design Group?
Is our mission to simply recruit businesses to Woodbridge?
Mission to increase commercial tax base.
Is there state or cl&p funding available to hire consultants?
What is the statutory charge of the commission?
Are we advisors to Town Planners and Zoning? They have an aesthetic ideal for Starbucks and
New development.
Town had hired group to see what planning need to be, but group may have been terminated.
Group should have the Town Plan.
Survey should be reflective of plan for town. Then use information to market it.
We need someone from Zoning to come in and tell us what has been done.
We need more than marketing help; we need planning for town.
Independent/objective help.
State Funding available to survey et al?
We need liaisons to different applicable commissions: zoning, selectman, finance,
Liaison with new development village development – see if Jonathan Perkins will come in. .
Advice on tax incentives.
Make this commission more visible to the town.
We voted to make this a nine-member commission, but need to go to board of selectman to go to
odd number.
Perhaps we can also change our name to Economic Development Commission; we are advisory
board to businesses to help our commercial tax base.

Survey to 200 businesses.
Conduct Research and seek to coordinate activities of unofficial bodies organized for such
purposes.
Do we need a business improvement district?
Coordinating official agencies and commissions.
Can we be a vehicle to communicate what is going on to citizens and businesses?
Traffic rerouting for expanding exit 59? State Road issues. Regional 5 year plan up to parkway,
Reworking entrance and exit.
Cesar Aguillara for Transportation Commission. And Roger Harrison for Regional Growth
Partnership, offshoot of Chamber of Commerce.
Regional Growth Planning Initiative, Council of Governments- we need information regarding
the traffic planning.
We need someone to come in to speak from TP&Z to give us history and bring us the plan.
Paul Rossi: would like commission to have authority to draw up plan to enhance tax base and the
development goals of town. Can we quantify goals to increase tax base/economic base?
Herb Mendelsohn: Develop plan to enhance business development and tax base and work with
business owners to reach that goal. Work on Economic Development.
Jody Ellant: Has economic development planning been performed by town? If not, we need to
ensure that it is properly done
Giovanni: promote and attract quality businesses.
Charlie Gamble: talk to Starbucks to ascertain way they identified town and their success.
Diane Urbano: will speak with Steve Miller re Starbucks. Economic development goals per
parcel min and max.
Bill Montross: reassessment: average residence went up 33% whereas business values only went
up $11% will speak to Betsy Nolan for explanation of chart.