Rochester Selectmen have filed away a request for a new record keeping system in the Town Hall Annex by Facilities Manager Andrew Daniel.

On Monday, Daniel presented board members with plans to install new filing cabinets that would better house an overflow of paper documents.

Daniel estimated the new system would cost $51,000.

“Some files are bursting at the seams,” Daniel said. “The Board of Health is paying for off site storage of their files.”

The filing system, which is used by Acushnet, would allow for easy transport should the town leave the annex for another site, Daniel said.

Also, the 7-foot tall cabinets would leave plenty of room for additional paper files.

“A lot of these cabinets will be empty,” Daniel said. “You’ve got a lot of room to grow.”

Chair Rich Nunes questioned the need for additional paper storage in the digital age.

“Why can’t applications and plans be scanned instead of having a paper copy,” Nunes asked. “We can’t keep hoarding all this paper for years and years.”

Selectman Naida Parker, who is also the Town Clerk, and Town Administrator Mike McCue said state law requires cities and towns to maintain paper records for certain documents.

“There will always be a bit of a paper albatross that hangs around our neck due to state law,” McCue said.

McCue noted that the town is storing records electronically when possible.

“We are moving in that direction,” McCue said.

McCue said funds for the filing system would have to be approved by voters at Annual Town Meeting.

Selectman Brad Morse suggested involving the Finance Committee in further discussions regarding the filing system due to the cost.

“I mean, that’s a Cadillac system,” Morse said.