MECHANIC FALLS – Town officials gave the go-ahead to begin a townwide property revaluatiaon, appointed a new council member, and approved a liquor license for a new restaurant and tavern at Monday’s Town Council meeting.

The tax equalization contract was awarded to John O’Donnell & Associates at a cost of just over $68,000. O’Donnell was at the meeting and told selectmen data collection for the mass revaluation would begin within a month and would involve adjusting property values to bring them in-line with recent real estate sales.

He said his firm would use a computer program to extrapolate the values of every town property based on the recent transactions as well as external inspections of peoples’ homes. He said his method of valuing property without the need for internal home inspections was cheaper and less invasive, although he said internal inspections would still be available for those who wish to appeal their valuation.

“If people think it’s unfair then the assessor will go through their house,” he said. “But we see thousands and thousands of properties and we don’t get it wrong that often.”

Town Council Vice Chairman Walter Lowe said the equalization project shouldn’t cause residents to panic. “It doesn’t mean your taxes are going to go up,” said Lowe. “One-third will go up, one-third will go down, and one-third will stay the same.” He invited residents to visit town hall to see what is currently listed on their property cards.

Town Manager Dana Lee said although work on the revaluation will begin shortly, the new tax bills won’t be put into effect until the August 2005 billing cycle. Lee said the time lag will give residents ample time to make any necessary adjustments on the properties status, such as putting it into a tax shelter like agriculture or open space zoning. He said a letter fully explaining the revaluation will be sent to every resident within a month.

In other business, the council accepted the resignation of Councilor Roxanne Doyer and appointed former Councilor Marchian Crane as her replacement. Doyer resigned when she took a full-time position in the Union 29 school system, and town charter forbids any elected town official from being employed by the town.

The council also approved a liquor license, pending Planning Board approval, for Kathy and John Lovely to open a new restaurant and tavern, the Longbranch, at 128 Lewiston St. The couple said the 120-seat restaurant will feature reasonably-priced, home cooked, buffet style food and the 40-seat tavern will have a western theme and cater to a more mature crowd.

They plan to open by the first of the year.