By ANDY GARDNER

MASSENA -- Seacomm Federal Credit Union CEO Scott Wilson came before the Board of Trustees on Tuesday night to talk about his institution’s growth and construction plans.

He also pledged to maintain and pay taxes on the Main Street branch building after it closes. He said since business at the 79 Main Street branch is down but overall membership is up and they want everything under one roof at Stearns Street.

“Really we have significant growth but … we’ve run out of space,” Wilson told the board, adding that their total membership has swelled 20 percent since 2007.

“You may look in [at the Main Street branch] and think it’s really busy. But from what we’re seeing, it’s not.”

The expansion is good news for Massena, the Seacomm CEO said, noting they anticipate creating 28 jobs over the next several years as a result.

Wilson responded to criticism Seacomm has received for hiring P.W. Campbell of Pittsburgh, Penn. as a construction management firm.

“They know what our needs are … they don’t actually construct the building, they just oversee the construction,” he said, adding that the firm specializes in credit union projects. “Most contracting work will be done by local contractors.”

Wilson noted that the Stearns Street branch will be getting a 15,700 square-foot expansion that will also house Seacomm’s call center, commercial loan, and its new risk management department. He added that they want to keep their call center local rather than outsourcing.

The structure will be designed so it can easily be expanded down the road, if necessary.

“We know, and I’m sure you do, that North Country people like to talk to North Country people,” Wilson said.

He said they will look at keeping the ATM at Main Street after the branch closes.

“We will maintain [the building] and pay taxes on [it] until we sell [it], and we won’t just sell to anybody,” according to Wilson.