RUMFORD – Selectmen denied a request by Massachusetts businessman Peter Hatzis for a 30-day extension to find two anchor tenants for Abbott Farm Plaza.

Roger Whitehouse, a local real estate agent representing Hatzis, asked for an extension to Feb. 15. He said the Christmas holidays made it difficult for Hatzis to nail down two businesses as he had agreed to do last month.

Hatzis entered into an agreement to buy the building complex and the surrounding 78 acres at a cost of $220,000. As part of the preliminary purchase and sale documents, Hatzis agreed to find two tenants by Jan. 15, and to satisfactorily maintain the buildings for two years. If the contingencies weren’t met, the town had the right to buy back the property at the same price.

Whitehouse said Hatzis had made at least 40 contacts and had spent at least $15,000 on associated development costs. He said, too, that two of those contacts were Associated Grocers and Reny’s Department Store. No formal agreement has been made with either. But Whitehouse said Reny’s is “sitting on the fence.”

Board Chairman Jim Thibodeau said he did not want to extend the time.

“If we give Peter Hatzis an extension, we’d give an injustice to those who are interested (in the property),” he said.

He then read a letter of intent from an unidentified Massachusetts shopping center development company that expressed interest in buying the property and developing it.

Also, at a previous selectmen’s meeting, several local people had objected to the town’s sale of the property before people had had a chance to consider making an offer.

If Hatzis doesn’t get two anchor tenants by Jan. 15, the town will again accept proposals.

Whitehouse argued that extensions to meet requirements were often done in the real estate business, but Thibodeau said no.

“I made a statement that if the due date came, there would be open season on the property,” adding, “We have no intention of releasing that property without a development plan.”

Whitehouse also said he was authorized to offer the town an additional $30,000 for an extension to April 30.

But Thibodeau said additional money was not a consideration.

Hatzis may resubmit a proposal, which would then be considered with any others.

Whitehouse said after the meeting that he will contact Hatzis about the decision. He will then decide whether to apply again.