MARION — Marion Town Meeting voters will be asked to approve $700,000 to construct a new harbormaster’s office at the Island Wharf property.

The new building, to be considered at the May 9 Town Meeting, would provide much-needed space, Harbormaster Isaac Perry said. Three full-time employees now share a 220 square-foot office.

“There’s simply not enough room,’’ Perry said. 

Construction of a new building would take place near the current structure in the northeast corner of the wharf. Office space there would increase to 1,430 square feet. 

The total cost estimate for the new building is about $2.9 million. A grant for $303,000 has already been received for the project from the Seaport Economic Council, Perry said. 

The office hopes to receive another $2 million in grants from the council, Perry said. The project will only go forward, Perry noted, if these grants are awarded.

The $700,000 that is being requested from Town Meeting voters to complete the funding would be covered by boating fees and would not require taxation, Perry said.

Fees will not be raised as a result, he said.

Timing is on the town’s side, Perry said, since these state grants are available “for projects exactly like this.’’

The new building would provide more space for storage of materials, some of which are now stuffed into public restrooms during the off-season when they are closed to general use.

The building also falls short of code requirements in certain areas, Perry pointed out, with only one exit and entrance, for example. Only the doorknobs, a review determined, meet standards for the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to Perry.

Right now, “no one is forcing our hand’’ to make changes, he said. But in time, he explained, that could happen, and costs will only increase. 

“We’re trying to do it on our own terms while we can get grants,’’ Perry said.

In addition to the three full-time employees in the wharf office, an additional full-time employee works at Town Hall. Communication with this off-site employee requires phone calls and emails and can be cumbersome, Perry said.

This communication often involves “a routine task that could be completed simply if we were all in the same office.’’

The number of employees at the harbormaster’s office has been the subject of discussion at times. Select board candidate Edward Hoffer has described the year-round employee count as “overkill,’’ particularly during the off season.

In a more recent interview, Dr. Hoffer’s position has softened. After spending time with Perry and understanding the work that is done, Dr. Hoffer said he feels “a little less strongly’’ about possible overstaffing but explained that the issue would “really need a closer look.’’

Five seasonal employees work during the busier summer months, including one full-time person. Of the remaining summer staff, one who works four hours a week, another works 12 hours per week, with some of them worked in exchange for tax reduction in the senior tax write off program; and two at about 10 hours per week, Perry said,

The Finance Committee supports the funding request.