MOORPARK : Litton to Stay Through December

Litton Aero Products, Moorpark’s largest employer, has postponed its move out of the city from this month until the end of December.

Officials at Los Angeles-based Litton Industries, a giant defense contractor, announced in March they would transfer the 600-employee division out of Moorpark to another company facility in Woodland Hills.

But Dick Cameron, the division’s vice president of human resources, said Thursday the move has been postponed partly because of delays in remodeling the Woodland Hills building, already occupied by other Litton Industries divisions.

The aero products division, which manufactures electronic aircraft systems, will transfer some employees to the new facility in the third week of December.

But most of the operation will be moved during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, when the company typically is closed, Cameron said.

Moorpark city officials and business leaders, who had been very upset at the earlier news of the company’s decision to leave the area, said they’re pleased that at least the move has been delayed.

The 600 employees working in Moorpark provide a steady source of revenue to merchants in the city’s struggling downtown business district, officials have said.

“Six months can make a big difference, particularly in the restaurant business,” said Robert Coughlon, past president of the local Chamber of Commerce.

Litton Industries is trying to sell or lease the Moorpark facility, located at 6101 Condor Drive.

Company officials will give a tour of the building to the Moorpark City Council during a special council meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Mayor Paul W. Lawrason Jr. said council members want to be familiar with the facility so they can promote it to other businesses that are considering locating in the city.