DIXFIELD – Selectmen on Monday set a public hearing on a proposed street standards ordinance for Oct. 23 at 5 p.m. in the community room of Ludden Memorial Library.

The 13-page ordinance has been in the works for a couple of years. A draft of changes made by the Planning Board in response to selectmen’s requests was reviewed during Monday’s meeting.

The greatest change to the proposed ordinance is a requirement that new roads in a subdivision be paved unless the developer is granted a variance.

A procedure to hear hardship appeals will likely be devised, said board Chairman Tony Carter, by establishing an appeals board.

The hearing is set to receive comments from residents on the proposed ordinance. Copies of the document will be available at the town office.

Once the public hearing has been held and any changes made to the document as a result of the hearing, residents will have a chance to approve or deny its enactment at a special town meeting.

In other matters on Monday, the board decided to have police and public works department heads provide a monthly report at the selectmen’s first meeting of the month. Other departments may report to the board as well, or through the town manager.

The practice of having department heads provide such reports was eliminated a month ago on a trial basis.

In a related matter, the board began reviewing the public works department’s goals, including such things as prioritizing road projects, developing a schedule for vehicle refurbishment and setting up a plan for parks. The board will soon set up a workshop with the public works department to define the goals.

A workshop to discuss police department goals was set for 5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 2.

Also on Monday:

• the board reappointed Richard Pierce to another two-year term on the River Valley Growth Council.

• signed a town smoking policy that prohibits smoking in municipal vehicles.

• directed Town Manager Jeff Jacobson to look into municipal costs for plowing state Route 142 and Canton Point Road, two state-owned roads. The state pays the town $33,000 annually to provide winter plowing.