PARIS — Oxford County commissioners on Monday discussed the possibility of installing a high-density filing system at the Registry of Deeds East office at the Oxford County courthouse.

The system consists of mobile shelving for easy access to files and takes up less space. It would allow handwritten books belonging to the Registry of Deeds and housed in the basement to be brought upstairs.

Register of Deeds Patricia Shearman said storing books in the basement is not good for long-term record preservation.

“Some of the books down there look good, but we can’t defer those old books in the basement much longer,” she said.

However, during a review of the floor framing of the deeds office at the courthouse, Matthew Miller, an engineer from Windham and president of M2 Structural Engineering, said that the floor would not be strong enough to hold the filing system.

He said the office can handle 100 pounds per square foot, but the proposed filing system would require a floor that can handle about 700 pounds per square foot.

The office floor would need to be strengthened, he said.

If commissioners decide to strength the floor, “we can proceed to finalize the design and details,” he said.

Cole said Miller would visit the office at the end of November.

mdaigle@sunmediagroup.net

Oxford County commissioners on Monday discussed strengthening the floor under the Deeds office, which is on the first floor of the Oxford County courthouse. (Sun Journal File Photo)