Signups for off-hours use of meeting space could be a “selling point” to residents if selectmen propose a new town office, Alna Third Selectman Doug Baston said Aug. 30.

He said the fire station has space when the fire department isn’t using it, but other than that, the town lacks a meeting place, he said.

He, First Selectman David Abbott and Second Selectman Melissa Spinney talked via the speaker of Baston’s cell phone with Charles Earley, president of Lewis and Malm Architecture. The board hired the Bucksport firm to come up with concepts and initial estimates to update the town office or build a new one behind it.

Selectmen told Earley they needed more time to mull the layout for an addition. They expressed interest in one of the firm’s concepts for a new building. It had a lobby and vestibule, an open concept for employees’ work areas, about twice the archives space as now, and a meeting space with room to seat about two dozen people, according to Earley, selectmen and a copy the board provided of the concept.

“I like that plan, personally,” Baston said. Groups could sign up to come in for yoga, crocheting or other activities, Baston said. The board, Earley and resident Ed Pentaleri mulled a possible second door for bathroom access when the office is closed. However, Earley said it could cost storage space, and he doesn’t like to design a building without storage because it’s something people overlook. Earley said he could work on a different design for the bathroom.

Also Aug. 30, selectmen said their latest information is the Old Sheepscot Road can be repaired for less than the $40,000 the town has on reserve for the project. They don’t know the cost yet, but if there is money left, residents could vote to spend it on something else, such as other roadwork, selectmen said.

The board meets next at 6 p.m. Sept. 13 at the town office.