WILTON – G.H. Bass Co. employees are scheduled to receive severance packages when their jobs are eliminated at the firm’s Wilton distribution center. A state official has pledged to do whatever he can to help laid-off workers.

Operations at the center are expected to cease in May.

State Rep. Thomas Saviello, D-Wilton, asked Gov. John Baldacci Monday for his assistance in preserving jobs at the distribution center. He is also trying to get an initiative going to convince Brown Shoe Co. Inc. of St. Louis, which has secured the license to design, source and market footwear at wholesale under the Bass label, to keep the center here open.

“We do good work; we need to prove we can continue to do good work,” Saviello stated in a press release. “There’s a slight opening there, and I’m hoping that with the governor’s help, and through convincing the company that ours is a great operation, an efficient operation, we can keep the Wilton center open.”

Bass’ parent company, Phillips-Van Heusen, announced Thursday that it would close its Maine operations in Wilton and South Portland next year. The closings are expected to put nearly 300 people out of work, including 125 employees at the Wilton center, said Richard Mitchell, vice president of G.H. Bass Co. human resources.

The severance package to be offered to employees is more than state law requires, Mitchell said, but he declined to reveal its details.

“In our opinion it’s a fair, equitable and generous policy and program,” he said.

Mitchell said that he is meeting with the state Department of Labor and its Rapid Response Team members Tuesday to find out what benefits are available to employees.

“We are talking and trying to work with them,” Cashman said, in regards to keeping the Wilton center operating.

Saviello said he was deeply saddened by the announcement, especially at this time of year.

“We are losing good jobs that affect hardworking Mainers,” Saviello stated. “It will be difficult to replace these jobs. It is one more reason to get the Pine Tree Zones up and running.”

The Legislature approved the zones as a way of providing major tax incentives to businesses that move to areas of the state that are economically distressed, he stated.

Maine Commissioner of Economic and Community Development Jack Cashman said he and the governor have been in contact with folks from Brown Shoe.

Brown Shoe officials were unavailable for comment Monday.

Talks are in the initial stages, he said.

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