FARMINGTON — Selectmen on Tuesday considered whether the town needed to form its own Economic Development Committee but took no action.

The discussion arose after the board recently learned a large business, with a potential for hiring approximately 200 employees, had passed on its intent to start up in Farmington.

Although the company had been looking at towns within the county, including Strong, over the past year, its was close to settling on the former shoe shop property on High Street.

Selectman Andrew Hufnagel said he only learned of the potential new business through an email in January announcing the company’s decision to not come to Farmington.

He talked with board members of Greater Franklin Development Corporation, who had been working with the company, but it was apparently too late.

Town Manager Richard Davis who serves on the GFDC board said everything was on track, including preparations for a Community Development Block Grant. Advertisements for a public hearing and town meeting providing all the details were ready for publication when an asbestos issue in the building arose at the last minute and the company turned it down.

“We didn’t have the opportunity to participate,” Hufnagel said, or any chance to provide incentives.

There was no need to be involved. They weren’t asking for incentives, Davis responded.

Hufnagel questioned the need for elected officials to be in the know and have the opportunity to explore what the town could do to help a new business settle here.

He mentioned two recent additions, Comfort Inn and Tractor Supply Co., that initially looked in Farmington, but chose sites in Wilton near the Farmington border.

“There’s no place to go,” he said of what he sees as a lack in the process for businesses to work with the town.

He also questioned the need for a committee that would “not sit and wait for something to fall in my lap” but would consider going out to get business into town.

Hufnagel and Selectman Ryan Morgan also questioned a breakdown in communication and the need to work together. Hufnagel said he was not being critical of GFDC or the work it does.

GFDC members, including Chairman Michael Luciano, Edward David, Fred Hardy and Judy Morton, talked about the work undertaken by the corporation.

Started as a privately funded, nonprofit organization in the late 1990s by local business people, GFDC has worked to strengthen economic development in Franklin County and Livermore Falls.

Referring to successes such as Poland Spring Water Co. and NotifyMD, Luciano explained how GFDC staff and board members work together to attract new business and bring good employment opportunities here.

Its website advertises open buildings and promotes reasons to consider Franklin County, but most interested businesses initially want their interest kept confidential, he said.

As for the two businesses Hufnagel mentioned, the large box stores such as Tractor Supply Co. will go where they want but the hotel, Comfort Inn, really wanted to locate in Farmington, he said.

Two sites seriously considered didn’t work, he said. Developers eventually worked with the Wilton Development Group and selectmen to secure the site.

Economic development doesn’t occur quickly, he said. There’s a lot of work done behind the scenes. It’s kept confidential because of competition from other communities, he said.

David, a Farmington resident, questioned whether a town economic group would compete with the work done by GFDC.

The biggest challenge arises from the need for trust and confidentiality, county Commissioner Fred Hardy said of GFDC’s efforts to establish new business.

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