Waterford’s New, Business-Minded Planning Director

Waterford’s new planning director, Dennis Goderre, has never worked for a municipality before. And for First Selectman Dan Steward, that was intentional.

“When you take a planner who has worked in municipal government, that’s the way it is,” Steward said. “When you take someone like Dennis, who hasn’t been in municipal government but has worked on the other side, (he's asking) what are the ways you can make municipal government better? And I think he brings that intelligence to the table.”

Goderre, who started Monday, replaces Tom Wagner, who retired this year after 30 years on the job. Goderre said a municipality is like a business and one of his goals is to work with homeowners and developers, not against them.

“Towns are a business,” he said. “And businesses succeed by only serving the people. My department is one of those that is at the forefront of interacting with homeowners and investors and having that friendly atmosphere and customers service (is important), just like any type of business.”

As planning director, Goderre is charged with reviewing new developments coming into the town, putting together the department’s budget and overseeing the maintenance of the town’s buildings. He said he took the job because he wants to see this area succeed.

“I’m passionate about Connecticut,” he said. “I have two young girls and I want to see our region succeed. And I’ve been wanting to get involved with a municipality like Waterford and when this opportunity came along I thought with Waterford, being such a strong anchor to the region economically and many other ways, I could use my skill sets to better the community and beyond.” 

The Background

Goderre, 43, worked as a consultant for the past two-and-a-half years. Before that, he worked for a variety of engineering and architecture firms.

He said he is a certified planner and a licensed landscape architect. He grew up in Franklin and now lives with his family in Lebanon.

While he has never worked for a municipality, except for as a contractor, he has worked with municipalities. Steward said he hopes he takes those experiences and uses them to improve the town’s planning department.

“I was not looking for someone who had municipal experience on this side,” Steward said. “Because I think there is a need for change in values in the municipal environment. And I thought Dennis brought a lot of that to the table.”

Goderre said he was familiar with Waterford, but “didn’t know every nook and cranny.” Steward has been taking him around town this week and Goderre has been meeting the staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission as well.

Goderre didn’t discuss any specific plans he had for Waterford, or areas that could be more developed, saying he was still learning the new area. But his goal he said is to improve the town while he is here.

“I just hope I’m able to make Waterford a better place,” Goderre said. “And continue to make it a desirable place for business, for people to live and to maintain the high quality of life people enjoy here.”