MONTGOMERY — The Montgomery Township Economic Development Commission elected fellow commissioner Daniel V. Madrid as its chairman for this year on Jan. 24.
Mr. Madrid, an attorney in the Princeton office of Fox Rothschild LLP, started serving the commission in 2008 when he was appointed by former Mayor Cecilia Birge. He is excited to serve the Montgomery business community in his new role.
”I want to help define the township’s goals in terms of economic development,” said Mr. Madrid. “I want to help promote the businesses in town and make things easier for them to succeed.”
He plans on helping to build the business community by being a sounding board for complaints, a resource for information and a forum for networking and the general exchange of ideas. Mr. Madrid intends to accomplish this by continuing to develop the Montgomery newsletter and through the use of technology to increase personal contact with the businesses.
He added that the commission should cultivate relationships with local groups such as Shop Montgomery and Rotary in addition to regional groups such as Somerset County Business Partnership.
Through a thorough analysis of the existing business environment in Montgomery, he believes the Commission can determine the appropriate strategies for business growth and development.
He also wants to have more communication between the commission and the Township Committee. Mr. Madrid’s wife, Christine Madrid, was recently appointed to the committee at the January reorganization meeting.
Township attorney Kristina Hadinger said their relationship would not create any conflicts of interest because the Economic Development Commission is strictly an advisory body. Commissioners are unable to enact ordinances or sit in judgment of applications.
Mr. Madrid emphasized the importance of upholding the wants and needs of the community. His can-do attitude also includes goals to achieve more tax ratables and lower the property taxes.
”I want to find an appropriate balance between the two — keeping communities the way they are and attracting new businesses to help take some tax burden off of home owners,” said Mr. Madrid. “It’s tricky because people don’t want to see major shopping centers — it has to be the right types of development in the right places.”
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