WILTON – Selectmen plan to gather more information about options for the Bass Distribution Center that is being offered to the town before making any decisions, they said Tuesday.
They plan to hold an executive session at the beginning of the next selectmen’s meeting in two weeks to discuss the issue with the Wilton Development Corp.
Phillips Van Heusen Corp., the current owner of the plant, is offering the town the land and buildings on Weld Road at no cost “as a good gesture to the town,” Plant Manager Steve Bryant said. He said 76 hourly Bass workers there will lose their jobs in about 60 days.
Bryant said workers at the plant have a good attitude. They are being offered an “outstanding” severance package and a grant is currently being written for training, he said.
Town Manager Peter Nielsen said ITC, an in-bound call center, currently rents part of the building for about $10,000 per month, which represents about one-fifth of the operating costs of the facility. Nielsen said a new owner would need to make up the difference.
ITC employs about 200 people. Their contract runs out Dec. 31, but officials expect them to remain in the building. Nielsen said he spoke with ITC management and was told that while the company operates 50 call centers in the United States and other countries, it rents all of their centers. He said the company is more concerned about customers than any other consideration and is unlikely to move overseas as some rumors have circulated.
Phillips Van Heusen Corp. bought G.H. Bass several years ago and closed the Bass manufacturing plant in 1998. The town acquired the property and it was transferred to the ownership of entrepreneur Randy Cousineau, who now rents space to several businesses. Van Heusen decided to also close the Bass distribution center on Weld Road this year.
A decision will have to be made about what will happen to the building by the end of this year. If the town decides over the next couple of months not to become involved, the building will be offered to the state and then the private sector, Bryant said. Nielsen said the Greater Franklin County Development Corp., Wilton Development Corp., and Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments is currently working on finding someone to take over the building. Officials will explore several options before making any decision.
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