WILTON – The owner of the mothballed Farmington Diner told selectmen Tuesday night that she wants to reopen the business, but her plans are uncertain.

Rachel Jackson Hodsdon attended the meeting at the request of selectmen, who have received complaints about the building’s appearance at the corner of Cemetery Road and Routes 2 and 4 in East Wilton.

The back is covered by a large black tarp that is starting to weather and tear. Motorists view the backside where the kitchen was, and see the tarp.

Neighbors have been understanding, she said.

“It takes time,” Hodsdon said, explaining that her job, family and research on how to restore and run the diner as a community project have prevented progress.

She said she would like to make it a cooperative where people own a portion of the business, a reconditioned diner where local foods are served and young people are involved with the rehabilitation and training in food service.

Hodsdon said she invited students from Foster Technology Center and New Beginnings to review the project and brought a diner museum director to town to go over it.

Her biggest hurdle is location, she said. She’s struggled with decisions about whether to move it or leave it where it is.

“I’ve talked with a lot of people who’ve told a lot of history about the diner … which tells me I’ve done the right thing … It was a special place and will be a special place again,” she said.

Hodsdon told selectmen she could use help and asked why she wasn’t asked to a meeting before receiving letters indicating the board might consider the diner a dangerous building. She assured them it was safe and secured properly.

“Our intent was not to threaten you or take the building away from you,” Chairman Paul Gooch said.

Mentioning a dangerous building was probably a little premature, he said, but the board wanted to be “kept up to speed on the progress you’re making.”

The storage permit issued by selectmen last year didn’t have a time limit but should have, Selectman Terry Brann said.

While selectmen want to be flexible and work with her, Selectman Russell Black said, “We don’t know when public outcry is such that we need to do something.”