SUMNER – Assessor John O’Donnell recommended to selectmen Monday night that the town start a property revaluation this summer because assessed values are less than 90 percent of sale prices.

Selectmen’s secretary Cyndy Norton said the town is currently at 86.9 percent of market value, slightly less than the ideal range of 90 to 100 percent.

O’Donnell will go through all the sales and watch what the market does in the next months. If the percentage stays the same or increases, he said preliminary work can be done in 2009 and the revaluation can be put off until 2010. If the percentage continues to go down it might need be done in 2009, Norton said.

She said the homestead exemption and tree growth allowance went down because the town was penalized for being below 90 percent, forcing the taxable value on homesteads and tree growth up. In addition, Norton said the town lost $50,000 to $60,000 in taxes due to collapsed buildings in the snow last winter.

Walter Jasniewski brought an informal citizens petition to the selectmen Monday night from homeowners and users of the Tuell Hill Road between Route 219 and Redding Road. The petition says the gravel road is almost unusable in winter because or ruts. Residents want it improved.

Selectmen will take the issue to the Road Committee.

There will be a special town meeting Jan. 15 to choose a representative for the new consolidated school system. John Philips is the only one to take out nomination papers.