JAY — The town is closing on the sale of the old town office on Wednesday, Town Manager Ruth Cushman said Tuesday.

Terry and Diane Smith of Wilton are buying the Main Street property for $25,000, she said.

The plan is to develop it into a professional building, Terry Smith said. The couple has residential rentals in Jay, Livermore and Wilton. This will be the first commercial rental, he said.

The building, a former school, has been vacant and on the market for nearly two years. The town office staff and Police Department relocated to a renovated former restaurant across from Jay Plaza on Main Street in July 2008.

Cushman said the sale happened quickly.

She called each selectman to get the go-ahead on the sale, she said.

They felt it was a good business opportunity and it wouldn’t sit vacant any longer, and it would go back on the tax roll, she said.

After the real estate fee is subtracted, the remaining money will go into the general fund to be used to offset taxes.

“We promised the people back before we purchased (the new town office building) that any proceeds we get will go back into the general fund and be used to lower the tax commitment,” Cushman said. “I am most excited that (they) want to develop the building and try to attract businesses there.”

dperry@sunjournal.com