With more town officials opting to work out of Montezuma's town hall building in recent years, the small structure situated along Route 90 has become a little too cramped for comfort.

“The town is growing and it's time to grow with it,” said Richard Smith Sr., Montezuma highway superintendent. “It's getting to the point where we've got to do it.”

Next week, the town will hold a public hearing regarding its 30 foot by 80 foot proposed addition. For the past several months, a building committee has been working to design the addition, said Smith, who is on the committee.

In the current building, various town employees operate out of the one office. A conference room is used for all public meetings and town court, which Smith said has required some juggling of schedules. The two remaining rooms are used for records storage and the historian's office.

The proposed addition would include four rooms to be used as office space, a utility room, a kitchen, an office for the town clerk and two bathrooms, in addition to the two already in the building.

When the existing structure was built more than 10 years ago, many town officials worked out of their homes, Smith said. When he was town judge, Smith held court night at his home. That practice, for liability reasons, is now “frowned upon” by the state and thus more officials have begun to work out of the town hall, he said. Aside from being cramped, the existing town hall set-up also creates privacy problems when residents come in to discuss issues, he said.

“When the current building was built, they didn't think there was a need for offices,” Smith said. “The town is growing ... we're just trying to spread out.”

The cost of the addition will be between $250,000 and $275,000. If the new addition is approved, Smith hopes that bids on the project will come in lower, however.

The building committee was formed last fall. With the proposal now complete, the town board will have to vote on the project following a public hearing.

The proposed addition would be connected to the current building but would have separate utilities. The current building does not have air conditioning, whereas the new addition would have air conditioning and a furnace.

The town has not hired an architect, but the committee has recommended the town hire Janice Miller Architects, of Skaneateles, who is currently reviewing the design created by the committee.

“We're trying to keep (the addition) down to the bare minimum,” Smith said. “For Montezuma, this is going to be a good-sized project.”

Staff writer Anne Gleason can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or at anne.gleason@lee.net.

If you go

What: Town of Montezuma public hearing

When: 7 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 8

Where: Town Hall, 8102 Dock Street, Montezuma