WILTON — Selectmen unanimously decided to research three options for the former Wilton Primary School and present them to town voters.

After grappling with what to do with the school for about four years, costs associated with asbestos removal, demolition or development, the issue left the board and the town with no easy answers.

Town Manager Rhonda Irish was charged with gathering more information on three options including soliciting bids for asbestos removal, demolition, and inquiring whether developers would be interested if the asbestos was removed.

She is also seeking information on applying for a Community Development Block Grant to help with removing asbestos. The grant would require a 20-percent match from the town and the building would need to be used for business or economic development purposes, Irish told the board.

Inherited from RSU 9, the board has tried selling the former school building and half acre property on School Street, and met with developers on creating elderly housing or an alternative school. Selectmen also gave a group of surrounding neighbors, The Neighborhood Association, six months to research and present a prospective plan.

Tiffany Maiuri representing the neighborhood group told the board they were unable to find a resolution. The group considered using it for a recreation center, a new combined town office/police station, daycare or even tearing it down, but there’s no great option, she said.

One estimate for the cost of asbestos removal came in at $125,000.

Three housing developers, who talked with the group, estimated the cost of adapting the building for housing would be more than $400,000, even if the town sold the building for $1 as the town previously considered with one plan, she said.

Costs for auctioning the building are the same as before, Irish told the board. There would be no cost to the town if the building sells, or $2,500 if it doesn’t. The board was concerned about someone purchasing it then struggling with asbestos and renovation only to have it end up back on the town’s plate.

Demolition costs, based on previous quotes, could tally up to $200,000 for the town, Selectman Irv Faunce said.

“Where will the money come from?” he asked.

The board then considered whether spending the $125,000 for asbestos abatement could result in more developers being interested in the property while agreeing that amount sounded better than a potential $200,000 for demolition.

Selectman Paul Gooch said there are other buildings in town that could require town-financed demolition. It could take three times that amount for work on the larger, town-acquired tannery building and then there are other buildings to consider, he said.

“We don’t have the $200,000 to take the building down,” he said.

Faunce questioned spending the money for asbestos removal and then having no developer. He suggested that the options be put together and presented to the town.

[email protected]