Some 75 people, including residents, labor officials, local town and school board members — and even an economist — turned out Tuesday night at Brighton Town Hall to protest a hotel owner's application for tax breaks from the County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency (COMIDA).

Minesh Patel, operating under the name Brighton Lodging LLC, applied for some $338,643 in tax subsidies and abatements through COMIDA for renovation of the Wellesley Inn, 797 E. Henrietta Road in Brighton. In the notice of public hearing, COMIDA stated it would help Patel purchase the 2.89-acre parcel and upgrade the 40,000-square- foot property through 10 years worth of exemptions of state and local sales-and use-tax, mortgage recording tax and general property taxes. According to the application, Patel plans to install new furniture, fixtures and equipment throughout the hotel, enlarge the lobby and check-in area, upgrade lighting and landscaping and create a new pool and fitness center.

According to Brighton town Councilman Ray Tierney, Patel previously sought and received COMIDA subsidies for another hotel property, on Jefferson Road in Henrietta, but was twice found in violation of COMIDA's 100 percent local-labor requirements, and, in November 2006, lost the benefits.

Further raising ire with protesters, Patel automatically receives $100,000 worth of benefits simply for applying to COMIDA for the JobsPlus abatement subsidies. A 10-year cost-to-benefit ratio cited in several places on the application shows Patel is only required to create one new full-time job. He projects he would create no more than three full-time jobs in the first five years of abatement, the application shows.

But Tierney said there were numerous mistakes on Patel's application, that he did not disclose the subsidies he'd already received for his Jefferson Road property, and that Patel also controls a third hotel, a Best Western, elsewhere.

Town officials passed a resolution two weeks ago stating that if COMIDA is giving away money that would otherwise come to the town, the town should have a right to review such an application, before COMIDA issues a tax break.

"We wouldn't veto all of them, but this one, no way," Tierney said. "The guy already got $100,000 and he doesn't have to give it back if it fails. This is wrong."

Rachel Dewey can be reached at (585) 394-0770, Ext. 270, or at rdewey@mpnewspapers.com.