Board Rejects Proposed Tourism Advertisement in Westbrook, Connecticut

WESTBROOK - Concerns raised by board members and residents squashed a proposed $1,625 advertisement in the Connecticut Vacation Guide.

The measure was unanimously rejected by the Board of Selectmen at a Dec. 6 meeting.

Glenn Monroe, owner of the Westbrook Inn, proposed the town fund a four color 1/6 page ad that would appear in the annual magazine which has a circulation of 575,000.

The proposed ad, with a photo of a Westbrook beach, stated, "Historic Westbrook, New England charm at its best!, Located on relaxing Long Island Sound, fine restaurants & B&B's, beautiful beaches, outlet shopping, antique and specialty shops, www.westbrookct.us."

Monroe felt the ad would encourage more people to visit Westbrook and hopefully encourage some to move to Westbrook.

He also explained that other towns such as Old Saybrook, Clinton, and Guilford have used town money to promote their towns.

Monroe said advertising in the Connecticut Vacation Guide was getting "a lot of bang for the buck" and provided rate and circulation comparisons with the Yankee Magazine, Connecticut Magazine, New York Times (Connecticut Weekly Section), The Shoreline Book, and Light House Maps.

The deadline for the ad was originally Nov. 14 but the town was given an extension until Dec. 6, Monroe said.

Newly elected selectman James Crawford said the ad fails to mention Water's Edge or the town's boating businesses.

He questioned why the town should fund an ad that "identifies specific businesses" and not the town's natural habitat or its attractiveness.

"It needs to be paid for by businesses that will benefit directly from it," Crawford said.

A hand-delivered letter from Anne Barton written to the Board of Selectmen stated that the ad also does not mention beach cottage rentals.

Barton wrote, "I feel that the Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Committee should come up with ways to promote tourism if this is a major concern, not a bed and breakfast owner who hopes to benefit directly from this ad."

Resident Dan Coan said "the advertising should be the responsibility on each individual business owner," and argued that funding the ad would be "an unfair and downright irresponsible to pay for with town taxpayer money."

A former member of the Chamber of Commerce, resident Jeffrey Kriete called the ad "one of a million pieces of paper for people to look at" and that it would not "bring appreciable business to town."

Kriete said he advocates fixing the "Welcome to Westbrook" signs near the town borders and placing tourist information brochures at the town's various restaurants.

Discussion of the town possibly financing the ad started on Nov. 1 when Monroe presented the idea to the Board of Selectmen.

While he was invited back to provide more information, a misunderstanding occurred leading Monroe to be absent from the Nov. 15 selectmen meeting, Bishop said, adding that his absence prompted the Board to vote down the proposal.

In that rejection, the Board wanted to allow the town's Economic Development Commission to manage all tourism advertising.

While Bishop said the other selectmen had no objection revisiting the issue at the Dec. 6 meeting, he believes the proposal was rejected because it was "too limited in focus."

Bishop said he has requested money for the Economic Development Commission budget to develop a more comprehensive approach regarding tourism.