RUMFORD – A design of a major renovation of the Municipal Building leaves the Rumford Historical Society offices at the current location while providing space for handicapped accessible bathrooms.

Members of the society earlier in the month had expressed concern that their office would be moved to a non-handicapped accessible space at the rear of the auditorium stage.

At Monday afternoon’s meeting of the Municipal Building Committee, architect Jim Reuter and members of that committee further refined plans for the $828,000 renovation project that will bring the nearly century-old structure into compliance with fire, life and safety codes and handicapped accessibility.

Reuter is a member of the Bethel firm of Smith Reuter Lull.

The historical society office will remain, but the society’s storage space will be moved to the rear of the auditorium. An earlier discussion that suggested relocating the general assistance office, also located on the second floor, to the first floor, was reconsidered.

It will remain at its present location.

Sufficient space was found to construct two bathrooms on the second floor. One space had once been the auditorium’s cloakroom.

Selectman Chairman Jim Rinaldo said funding for the project will be available a month or so later than first anticipated, resulting in a slight change in the project’s timeline. The town plans to go to the Maine Bond Bank for funding.

Because the money won’t be available until the first of June, the project will likely begin in early fall and be completed by the end of March 2008.

Included in the construction project are new or expanded egresses from the auditorium and downstairs’ court room, installation of several fire walls, and installation of handicapped accessible bathrooms in the basement and first floor.

The committee will finalize the renovation plan in May, then bid packages will be available to potential contractors in July.

Residents approved spending up to $828,000 to comply with state fire marshal requirements and other codes in January.