DIXFIELD – John O’Donnell advised selectmen Monday night that the town needs to assess property closer to its market value.

The professional assessor from John O’Donnell and Associates of New Gloucester also said his company would only bid on the work after seeing the specifications for it. He recommended the town not do a full revaluation. Money can be saved if existing sketches are reliable so every structure won’t have to be measured and if interior assessments are not requested. He recommended eliminating interior assessments.

O’Donnell said Dixfield was not out of compliance with the state as yet on assessing standards, but “You need to plan ahead. It takes a couple of years and you are right on the edge.”

In other business, a public hearing was held on two federal $10,000 grants received to develop a capital improvement plan for the Dixfield Water Department. Town Manager Nanci Allard said Dixfield needs to upgrade its water system, and she has chosen an engineer from Sevee and Maher Engineers Inc. to develop a plan.

The Post Office lease that expires in two and a half years was discussed and Allard suggested selectmen consider not renewing it so there will be more room for the town office. Chairman Hugh Daley said he didn’t want to lose a local post office.

The board held an executive session to discuss a personnel issue.