Reprinted from The Trumbull Times © Copyright 2010
April 1, 2010

By Donald Eng

In his first policy address, First Selectman Tim Herbst focused on economic development, describing plans for a renovated Westfield mall, an upgraded Town Center and other ventures in a speech to Trumbull Chamber of Commerce members Wednesday morning.

Herbst said his first 115 days in office have been a learning experience, and what he has learned most is that municipalities are the final resting place of bad decisions at the federal and state level.

"Local government is where the buck stops," he said. "Local leaders are at ground zero in dealing with the constraints of a severe economic recession. Every day, while we are on the front lines. Those at the federal and state level make our job even harder."

Unable to count on Washington or Hartford, Herbst said business and political leaders must act locally.

"We have no one we can count on other than ourselves, and we must empower ourselves to take action," he said.

The best way to act locally to protect the town from economic hardship is through promoting an economic development policy that supports businesses and fosters competition, he said.

For example, although Trumbull Center owners have announced plans to update the shopping center's façade, Herbst said it wasn't enough.

"Vacancy rates have never been higher," he said. "Trumbull Center requires more than a cosmetic solution."

Spurring competition for shoppers is the best way to bring about an upgraded Trumbull Center, he added.

Toward that end, Herbst cited the forthcoming renovation of Westfield mall as an example of providing residents with options.

"In a depressed economy, they too see the possibilities for our Trumbull Shopping Park," he said. "This renovation will renew residents' confidence in the mall and get our economy here in Trumbull moving again."

The mall's renovation is the key to the town's economic growth, he said. The town's role is promoting public safety at the mall.

"Through the hard work of Chief Thomas Kiely and our police department, we have stepped up our patrols, and we have committed money in our budget this year for the implementation of a K-9 program," he said." Those measures will deter crime, promote safety and assist the mall in creating an atmosphere conducive to consumer confidence."

Herbst went on to advocate for a re-opening of the Master Plan of Development to set down concrete plans for Trumbull Center, Long Hill Green and the Town Hall area of Main Street.

"If you look at towns like Greenwich, New Canaan, Westport, Stratford and even Milford, the area where the Town Hall is located plays an integral role in the formulation of the community's downtown," he said. "We must maintain a core philosophy, which holds these same principles in mind."

He challenged the Economic Development Commission and Economic Development Director Deborah Cox to proactively improve the business climate at places like the Trumbull Corporate Park and the Reservoir Avenue corridor.

Cox and the commission have recently completed work on a proposal to institute a tax incentive program that Herbst said would come before the Town Council later this year.

Finally, Herbst told the assembled business leaders that the town valued their presence.

"You provide jobs to 17,000 people, and approximately 3,000 are Trumbull residents," he said. "We value your business, and we want you to find value in being here."

The administration's role is to act as stewards to protect and strengthen the town, Herbst said.

"My vision for Trumbull is to be a well-recognized community of choice," he said. "Not only for those who live here, but for those who made the commitment to own, operate or work in a business.