WILTON – Chuck Crawford, owner of the Wilton Falls Building, has offered to give it to the town. Prior to their meeting on Monday, Aug. 28, the Board of Selectmen and several toured the building, located on Burns Hill Road, opposite the police station.

“This is the beginning of a process,” Chairman Matt Fish said. “There are some opportunities here,” if the town wants to become a landlord.

Selectman Kermit Williams said it “would be great if the town owned it.”

Acquiring the building would give the town ownership of the police station parking lot since 40 of the spaces are dedicated to the building.

Selectman DJ Garcia said, “I want to see the conditions (of the gift) before a decision is made.”

Crawford, the founder of Kimball Physics, acquired the building in 2014 from Wilton Main Street Association. It is currently assessed at about $435,000.

“I discussed it with Chuck before he bought it,” Williams said. “He saw it as an opportunity for the town.”

Resident Tom Schultz voiced some reservations. As a former Water Commissioner, he said, “We had issues with Crawford over a back flow.” He also noted that Kimball Physics had been cited by the EPA for “improper storage of hazardous waste. You need to know that.”

Williams said Crawford used the building “to store his own stuff, not Kimball Physics.”

Jennifer Beck, chairman of the Economic Development Committee, said. “There have been a number of offers for the building. We have talked about several ideas.” She said the committee would “get together to discuss it.”

Fish said the board is now asking for community input. “There will be public hearings.”

The building dates to the late 1800s and was originally part of the Whiting Box Shop complex. It was later Wilton Pressed Metals. Over the past 50 years it has housed a wide variety of small businesses. It is now the home of the Open Cupboard Food Pantry and, according to some sources, several ghosts.

In other business on Monday, the board voted to authorize the clerk of the Water Commission to sign documents related to the Water Department loan. Beck said the construction of the River Walk gazebo has been delayed because of other Highway Department projects as well as various codes dealing with stormwater. Department of Public Works Director Mike Tatro said they “would get to it as soon as possible.’

The Planning Board will waive most of their requirements as the site is town owned. Margaret Duggin was confirmed as an alternate to the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Thanks were extended to the Meltzer family for their recent efforts raising money for cancer with a whiffleball tournament.

It was noted that the town had not been notified of work on the railroad crossing on Howard Street. While the railroad, current owner is CFZ, can do “whatever they want in their right-of-way,” road crossings affect the town and emergency services.

The next meeting of the board was set for Monday, Sept.11, 6 p.m., in the Town Hall Courtroom.