MECHANIC FALLS — The town survived Tropical Storm Irene with minimal damage, Town Manager John Hawley told town councilors at Tuesday’s meeting.

“Fortunately Irene didn’t live up to expectations. We had no road damage, but a lot of trees and telephone poles were down,” Hawley said.

Hawley reported that power had been restored to everyone in town by Thursday afternoon, four days after the storm passed, and estimated that the town’s expenses for equipment and manpower, during and after the storm, would amount to about $12,000.

“All things considered, we fared well,” Hawley said.

Hawley also reported that he has been told that the project to install a wood pellet boiler at the municipal complex is still on schedule to be ready for this year’s heating season.

“The girls in the office are getting a little nervous. It can get cold in October,” Hawley said.

In a related matter, councilors awarded the bid to supply pellets for the boiler to Maine Wood Pellet Co., of Athens, at $180 a ton. Hawley noted that Maine Wood Pellet was the only respondent from the four area suppliers that had been asked to bid.

Hawley said that the system, if we have a typical winter, is projected to use 79 tons of pellets.

Councilors also authorized Hawley to proceed with other energy saving plans for the Municipal Building — putting in insulation above the third floor’s drop ceiling and creating an airlock in the town office foyer, essentially a glass box with a set of glass doors, to prevent cold air from sweeping into the second floor.

The projects are being paid for with a $36,000 energy grant the town received. According to terms of the grant, the money must be spent by the end of December.

Councilors also told Hawley that he could negotiate with Twin Construction, of Mechanic Falls, to go forward with the project to renovate space on the third floor to accommodate the public library.

Twin Construction, the only respondent of six firms contacted, came in with a bid of $12,700. It has since been learned that the structural walls are fine, reducing the scope of the renovations.

Work is expected to begin soon as the library will close the doors at its location by the Little Androscoggin River on Sept. 24.

The council also directed Hawley to prepare an ordinance that would impose penalties for property owners who plow snow off their property and across the road; granted the renewal of a liquor license for Big Daddy’s Pub; and accepted the resignations of Recreation Committee members Pam Grondin and Melissa Hodgkin.