MECHANIC FALLS — The Town Council on Monday voted to put the old town library building up for sale.

The 1850s era brick structure on the banks of the Little Androscoggin River in downtown area, has also served as a private dwelling, a law office and a jail.

The council’s vote was to list the building with a Realtor for six months and, if prospects don’t develop in that time, to auction it off.

Councilors hoped that in the hands of the right party, the building could be put to good use and would continue to enhance the appearance of the downtown, however they also acknowledged the building wasn’t in the best condition.

Town Manager John Hawley said there has been some interest in it.

Faced with prohibitively high costs to make the building handicapped accessible, library trustees voted last spring to more operations to the third floor of the Municipal Building.

Hawley reported that Twin Construction has completed its part of the third floor renovations and said he expected the ceiling will be insulated this week.

“Movers will be here on the 6th and hopefully the library will reopen to the public the first week of November,” Hawley said.

Most of the work, he said is being done by volunteers. That includes some art work being planned for some of the walls.

Hawley also reported that the public works department’s new salt shed is finished and about 90 tons of salt is already in storage. He noted that the building has been dedicated to Lucien Paradis and Terry Tirrell.

The council also approved amendments to the town’s traffic ordinance. Fees for parking violations were increased, with the lowest tickets going from $10 to $25. The revised ordinance also makes it illegal to plow or otherwise move snow from privately owned property onto or across any public way.

The council also appointed Jennifer Boenig to fill the vacancy on the RSU 16 board of directors caused by Dave Griffiths resignation. Councilmen accepted the resignations of Jen Kyllonen and Bill Bickford from the Recreation Committee, and appointed Hawley to the Recreation Committee. Hawley asked to be appointed so that the committee would have enough voting members to allow a revision of the committee’s bylaws to go forward.