RUMFORD – If all goes as planned, by this time next year the Municipal Building renovation project will be completed.

Plans to renovate and bring the nearly century-old Municipal Building up to fire, life and safety codes were launched Monday afternoon when the Building Committee met with architect Jim Reuter.

Voters last month approved spending up to $828,000 to comply with state fire marshal requirements and other codes, and to ensure handicapped accessibility.

For the past few months, a maximum of 49 people have been allowed in the historic Municipal Auditorium at one time because of fire code violations. Prior to an inspection by the the state Fire Marshal’s Office, concerts, performances and other events had been held in the hall, as well as regular selectmen’s meetings.

Reuter, of the Bethel firm of Smith Reuter Lull, was authorized to create a detailed design of the changes to be made to the building.

Several members of the Rumford Historical Society attended Monday afternoon’s meeting to express concerns about the possible relocation of their office and archives, which are on the second floor adjacent to the auditorium.

Len Greaney, vice president of the society, said the space works well for the organization.

“It would be very difficult to make us move out of there. Behind the stage is not handicapped accessible,” he said. “The archivists who work for us could not work there. We want you to consider saving the space we’re in.”

Preliminary designs had moved the historical society to several rooms at the rear of the stage to make way for construction of handicapped-accessible bathrooms.

Suggestions included moving the general assistance office, also located on the second floor, to make way for bathrooms. That office would then be moved to the main floor.

Other renovations include constructing an egress from the auditorium and downstairs courtroom, building additional handicapped-accessible bathrooms, and constructing fire walls around the building.

Reuter expects to present a final design at a Building Committee meeting scheduled for Feb. 26. Bid packages will likely be ready to go out May 3, with the contract awarded in June. Work would begin soon after.

In addition to approving spending up to $828,000 for the work, voters also OK’d borrowing the funds from the Maine bond bank.

Building Committee Chairman Jim Thibodeau said the funding method could be changed if people agree during the town meeting election in June. He said if voters agree to spend the money all in one year, thousands of dollars in interest could be saved.