WILTON – Selectmen decided Tuesday to take into consideration recommendations for downtown improvements and other ideas.

The recommendations come from a citizens planning committee formed in August after discussion about what keeps the town from encouraging businesses to locate here.

One issue raised was whether the town’s zoning ordinance was too restrictive. The committee said it thinks the ordinance is “pretty well focused” with only minor changes being needed to bring it more into line with state regulations.

The committee focused more on the appearance of the downtown area, which it says leads to a bad first impression of the town.

Town Manager Peter Nielsen said he is working on a new state grant application for more than $150,000 for improvements to buildings. The deadline for the application is Jan. 15. There are no matching requirements.

The total amount available to towns under the grant for such improvements is $350,000. Nielsen said he received seven estimates from business owners with ideas for possible projects. The committee also suggested moving the town office downtown to attract people to Main Street and putting in specialty shops and upscale businesses. Towns will compete for the funds.

“I think we have the elements of a good solid grant application,” Nielsen said.

The committee said it thinks high taxes are a disincentive as well. Members said they think the town should look for economies in regional fire protection and some police services. They also think the public works department needs to look for efficiencies in manpower, such as eliminating the four-day summer work week and savings in materials, such as winter sand.

Officials said the four-day week can not be changed unless it is renegotiated because it is included in a union contract.

Nielsen will look into the sand issue with Road Foreman Ken Vining since some say parts of the large pile of salt and sand kept by the town has not been touched for many years, causing the salt to become unusable while the town piles more upon it each year.

The committee suggested that road construction projects be put out to bid and the town crew should work on maintenance projects with better overall supervision. Members say the overall goal of the town budget should be to reduce the tax rate.

The committee also identified a lack of public involvement in town affairs. One reason it gave is that some residents fear retaliation for speaking out. The committee suggested that the town send out questionnaires to identify local priorities.

Officials commended the committee for its work and agreed to take their recommendations under consideration.

In other business, officials awarded a contract for wood harvesting to L&A Ridley of Wilton. The company uses a cut-to-length system that Forrest Peter Tracy said is better than a conventional cutting operation the competing bidder uses. Tracy said the cut-to-length system will yield 10 percent more product with 10 to 15 percent less residual stand damage.

The harvesting will take place on the south end of the Guy Chandler Road on 131 acres of town property. About 50 acres will be cut yielding approximately 610 cord of pulpwood and 120,000 board feet of saw logs.

Police Chief James Parker introduced new full-time police officer Kevin McCutcheon and officials signed his appointment papers. Parker said McCutcheon has 10 years experience and a former York County police officer. He has worked part-time for Wilton since May.