ORANGE — Selectboard members gave their blessing this week to spending $2,850 to refurbish the floors in the first-floor meeting room and the mailroom at Town Hall.

Brianne Bruso, administrative assistant to Town Administrator Matthew Fortier, explained the owner of The Empire Co. visited Town Hall and provided estimates for replacing the meeting room’s wooden floor from a door jamb on its north side to the back wall as well as the floor in the mailroom. She said the work would consist of replacing the flooring by stripping it, waxing it and applying polyurethane. She said The Empire Co. has previously worked on the bandstand in Butterfield Park.

Fortier told board members he typically hates spending money so early in a fiscal year, which started on July 1.

“But I would also point out the fact that that right there, that you’re sitting on top of, is ... a trip hazard, and if somebody trips, it would be woeful ignorance, and then there’s also a decaying cavern behind [Selectboard Chair Tom Smith],” he said to laughter.

Fortier also said the top of the floor joist, which transfers the weight of the floor to the underlying foundation or beams, can be inspected once the floor is opened up. This would enable rot caused by a previously leaky radiator to be addressed if necessary.

Selectboard Vice Chair Pat Lussier asked about the source of the floor issues and Fortier said it is “mostly humidity.”

The Selectboard routinely convenes in the meeting room, as does the Board of Assessors and the Town Hall Restoration Committee. Town Hall dates back to 1868 and was briefly the home of the town library many years ago.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.