PARIS – New chambers and offices may take the place of long-empty jail cells at the Oxford County Courthouse.

On Tuesday, the Oxford County commissioners reviewed plans for a makeover of a former jail attached to the building.

The area “has been, essentially, gutted,” said Jim Reuter of Smith, Reuter and Lull Architects of Bethel. “We’re looking for a new meeting room that would replace this one as well as create office space,” he said, referring to the commissioners’ present chambers.

Commissioners Jim Carey and Steve Merrill reviewed three sets of plans. Both agreed that they liked one that set the commissioners’ bench at the back of the former jail space and allowed room for seats to be fanned across the room.

“We’ve been trying to work with all the existing furniture that we have,” architect Ted Vedock said. He said the commissioners’ room now holds about 16 seats, but more than 40 chairs may fit into the new space.

Vedock said offices now occupied by Administrative Assistant Carole Mahoney and other administrative staff members would be moved to an adjoining portion of the jail space. In a second phase of the renovation project, the existing commissioners’ chambers and administrative office space may be turned over to the Probate Court.

Smith, Reuter and Lull have been working on improvements and renovations to the county buildings over the last four years or so, Mahoney said after Monday’s meeting. They have completed electrical upgrades, updated the fire alarm sensors and renovated the courthouse cellar, she said.

Mahoney said the money for the latest renovations would come from the capital reserve account. She said there are not yet any budget estimates for the work. The balance of the capital reserve account is unknown, she said. “We don’t know until the end of the year what surpluses we have.”

Vedock said he intends to have plans for the first phase of the renovations completed by January and he will then put the work out to bid. Bids should be back in time for the commissioners’ February meeting, he said.