WILTON – More general assistance has been requested this year than in other years, Town Manager Peter Nielsen told selectmen Tuesday. The cost of oil is the likely reason but the town is near the end of the $2,600 appropriated for assistance at town meeting last June, he said.

Someone offered a contribution to help others with heating costs and the board voted to accept donations to be used through general assistance.

State law requires the town meet the need, he said. So he made the board aware that the town would have to do whatever it has to do to help people with needs, even if that requires using surplus funds.

The board also discussed the idea of creating a tax club. Selectman Irv Faunce brought the idea to the board and is going to research how it works in three other towns with such clubs.

With this program, property owners pay an equal amount of their taxes monthly without an interest charge.

The board discussed how the program would be administered and the extra paperwork that would occur through record keeping, he said.

Some members of the board were supportive and some were not, he said. But, the board could not act because interest amounts are involved so the town would have to vote on it at a town meeting.

Chairman Paul Gooch suggested that the board wait to see if there is any interest from the community and discuss it at town meeting.

A short public hearing was held during the meeting to discuss a grant to improve access to the Wilton Free Public Library.

Librarian David Olsen and children’s librarian Sandy Warren attended the meeting to comment and answer questions about handicap accessibility, said Nielsen on Wednesday.

The library building project is expected to be completed in April except for paving, Olsen said.

A $100,000 grant is helping to fund improving access to the library. Private fundraising has provided the remainder of the $450,000 needed for the project, he said.

The town manager also told the board that the police chief, town manager and a selectman had been invited by Pastor Doug Dunlap of Wilton Congregational Church to participate in planning a domestic violence program. Faunce agreed to represent the board for the spring program.