PITTSFIELD, Maine (AP) — An official in Pittsfield says she’s shocked by the sudden closing of a call center in Maine that employed 65 people.

Town Manager Kathryn Ruth also tells the Morning Sentinel (http://bit.ly/oFYqbb ) that she learned about the layoffs Tuesday.

Tom Auger, who leased space to Global Contact Services, says he was “floored” by the announcement and that he would have given the North Carolina-based company a year’s free rent if it would have saved the jobs.

Global employees made customer service calls for insurance, financial and telecommunications companies. The company opened its Pittsfield center in 2008. The company said the decision was due to a client’s decision to suspend services, and was not a reflection of employees’ performance.