WEST PARIS – After being closed for the past week and half, the Arthur L. Mann Memorial Library has reopened with a new furnace.

The building was closed early last week upon the recommendation of the State Fire Marshal’s Office. The old furnace was leaking fumes and there was concern about the potential of carbon monoxide in the historic building.

Selectman Howard Gurney said Thursday that the old furnace was kept operating until the new unit was installed to keep the pipes from freezing, “but no one was allowed in the building because of the threat of carbon monoxide. Western Maine Heating put in the new unit Tuesday as they had said they would so the library is ready for the public to use again.”

The library reopened Wednesday, head librarian Lynda Lary said. The hours are: Monday, 1:30 to 6 p.m.; Wednesday, 1:30 to 7 p.m.; and Friday, 1:30 to 6 p.m

In other business, Chairman Wade Rainey reported that selectmen and Town Clerk Cheryl Shattenberg are putting the finishing touches on the proposed 2004 municipal budget and preparing articles for the 2003 annual town report.

“We are working to get the rough draft of the town meeting warrant and proposed budget ready to go to the printers by the middle of February,” aid Rainey said, “so the town reports should be in people’s hands before the end of the month.”