Norwich — Construction will begin Monday on a $166,000 project to restore the floors of City Hall to their original 19th-century, yellow pine wood condition — a project partially funded through a state historic preservation grant.

The city awarded the project to low bidder Better Homes Bureau LLC of Stamford for $165,950. The company will begin the work Monday, ripping out the crumbling black-and-white diamond pattern modern tile floor to reveal the yellow pine boards still lying beneath.

The original floor will be sanded and inspected to see if boards need to be replaced, said Robert Seward, City Hall building supervisor. Damaged boards will be replaced with new yellow pine boards, he said.

Public Works Department crews spent Friday afternoon removing items from a large display case and then removing the display case from the third floor hallway, and taking down portraits of past City Councils that line the hallway leading to the Council Chambers.

A bust of famous Norwich African-American artist Ellis Ruley, on loan from the Slater Memorial Museum, was returned to the museum for the duration of the floor restoration, Seward said.

He said the work will begin at 7 a.m. Monday.

Monday's 7 p.m. City Council meeting will be held in the Council Chambers as planned, but the third-floor public restrooms will be closed during business hours. Employee restrooms on the second floor will be opened to the public during the third-floor work, Seward said.

Public Works crews posted signs throughout the building Friday directing visitors to the alternate restrooms.

The contractor will work on one floor at a time and will have 30 days to restore each of the three floors at City Hall, Seward said.

Norwich received a grant of up to $90,000 from the state Historic Preservation Office for the project and must provide an equal matching amount.

c.bessette@theday.com