RUMFORD – The Municipal Building Committee agreed Tuesday night to recommend spending $1.2 million to bring the century-old historic structure into compliance with state fire regulations. The work would also make each of the three floors handicap accessible.

The first of two public hearings on the proposal is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday at the American Legion Hall.

The committee also agreed to recommend paying for the work in one year, rather than financing it for five or 10 years.

The committee has been working with architect Jim Reuter for more than six months to come up with modifications to the building that would satisfy the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

A second option, at $820,000, was also considered. It would meet fire code requirements, but not provide handicap-accessible bathrooms on each floor, a handicap-accessible side entrance, or move the elevator so that handicapped people could more easily reach each floor of the building.

Committee Chairman Jim Thibodeau said financing the work during one tax year made sense for many reasons, one of which is the amount of interest that would be saved, at $147,000 for five years, and $279,000 for 10 years.

Town Manager Steve Eldridge said paying for the $1.2 million over one year would cost a property owner about $2 per $1,000 valuation for that one year. The committee plans to devise an informational sheet that will show the one-year cost of property taxes for owners of homes valued at several different price ranges.

Eldridge also plans to seek grant money for part of the cost that would lower the amount taxpayers must pay.

Thibodeau said, however, that the real cost would be far less because this year’s taxes dropped by $1.38 per $1,000 valuation.

“There’s no better year than when we just got a $1.38 reduction,” he said.

Committee member and Rumford Fire Chief John Woulfe said the modifications would address the life-safety issues plaguing the building along with adding to its functionality.

“We do have a lot of elderly people in town and the front entrance is difficult for many. We haven’t done a lot to enhance the building’s usability,” Thibodeau said.

State Fire Marshal John Dean said last month that the town must have a plan in place to address the use and safety issues by Dec. 11. If a plan isn’t in place – and this means approval by residents to spend money on the building – it could be shut down.

Thibodeau said residents will likely be given two choices during the Dec. 5 referendum: the $820,000 option and the $1.2 million option. They may also be able to vote for neither, but that would trigger action by the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

A second public hearing on the proposal is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 16.