MECHANIC FALLS — The council Monday approved using $3,600 from the town’s fire apparatus reserve account to complete work on a brush truck that members of the fire department are building.

Volunteer fireman Shawn Dostie estimated that he and other members of the department had put at least $24,000 in labor and donated parts into a cab and chassis, that itself had been donated by Rowe Ford. Pressed for time now, he said they really need another $3,600 if they are going to get the truck on the road before brush-fire season.

Dostie said that the 1965 Jeep will be taken out of service and 2001 pickup they bought from the water department will see reduced service once the new brush truck is operational.

“We’ll be able to use it year-round and for more than just for fires in back brush areas. We’ll be able to use it for scene lighting and traffic control,” Dostie said.

Dostie said the truck could be put into service by May 1.

Town Manager John Hawley said the fire apparatus reserve account had about $57,000 available and, given what the volunteers have put into the truck already, the town will be getting a lot for the $3,600.

Hawley also told the council that last week he had filed an application with the state Forest Service for a wood-to-energy grant to purchase and install a wood-pellet boiler.

“If funded, this has the potential to save the town up to $19,000 a year in oil expenses, based on what oil was a few weeks ago,” Hawley said.

Hawley noted that wood pellet boiler would virtually eliminate the town’s dependence on oil for the town office, fire station and public works buildings.

Four holes that were found in the town office roof have been plugged and that has apparently cured the problem that brought out the buckets a few weeks ago and, according to Hawley, the good news is that 17-year-old roof was otherwise declared to be in pretty good shape and could last another eight to 10 years.

It cost $355 to patch the roof.

The council also approved amendments to the town’s adult entertainment ordinance as recommended by the Planning Board and also accepted a new section to the ordinance dealing with medical marijuana, which was essentially a ratification of state law on the matter.

The council tabled, until its May meeting, action on an amendment to the zoning ordinance that would rezone properties along the Route 26 corridor from Rural to Highway Commercial.

The properties affected are on Route 26 from Five Corners to the Oxford town line. The rezoning is in anticipation of development spillover from the casino planned for a lot that lies just into Oxford.

In other business, the council accepted with regret the resignation of Peter Ford Sr. from his seat on the council.

Ford, who was elected one year ago, said his resignation would be effective June 30 and was made now so that townspeople will be able to choose his replacement on the June 14 voting day.

His resignation brings to three the number of council seats that will be open and also means there will be at least two new faces on the council. Dan Blanchard and Roger Guptill are completing their three-year terms, and while Blanchard can run for another term, Guptill will be termed out, having served his limit of three consecutive three-year terms.