WINDHAM — The selectmen chairman cast the deciding vote last night on a proposal to spend $53,450 on renovating the historic Bartley Building, home to the town's administrative offices.

The vote came one week after the board, also in a 3-2 decision, backed a plan to build a new multipurpose Town Hall that would house administrative, town clerk, tax collector and assessing offices as well as the Planning and Development office.

Chairman Dennis Senibaldi said that his vote last night for the $53,450 expenditure does not mean that he no longer wants a new Town Hall. Rather, he supports the Bartley upgrade because residents approved money for the improvements in a previous warrant article.

He also said the upgrade, including window replacements, second-floor wall construction and installation of a folding staircase to the attic, will increase the building's value.

Selectman Galen Stearns said the improvements will bolster energy efficiency.

"I'm for it regardless of what we do in the future," Stearns said.

Selectman Roger Hohenberger also voted for the proposal.

Selectman Charlie McMahon, a strong supporter of a new Town Hall, said putting money into the old building is unwise.

"It's a monumental waste of money," he said.

McMahon and Bruce Breton voted in the minority.

The work was awarded to low bidder Kingwood Builders of Windham and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31.

The Bartley House is located at 4 North Lowell Road, across the street from Town Hall.

A week ago, selectmen forwarded a plan for a new Town Hall to the Capital Improvement Committee for the group to rank the $2.25 million project among others. The 15,000-square-foot building would be constructed on Fellows Road, across from Nesmith Library.

Selectmen want to set aside money through 2011, then bond the remaining balance.

Earlier last night, residents of the Breezy Gale neighborhood at Cobbetts Pond voted 17-5 to establish a village district for reclassifying private roads as village roads, and to raise money for paving and other road improvements.

The voters elected commissioners, a village moderator, a clerk and a treasurer. Only residents of the village will pay for the road improvements.