WATERFORD – Selectman David Marston said this week that he mulled whether to run for re-election for a while before deciding not to.

“It was kind of a close decision. I could have gone either way,” said Marston, who completed his first term at Monday night’s meeting. “Quite a few people would have liked me to do it, and I almost did to help the town out.”

Instead, Marston will spend more time on his farm and business.

Randy Lessard, a member of the tax committee and former Casco resident, will run unopposed for the selectman’s job in the Feb. 29 annual town election.

Marston said he made up his mind before Lessard took out papers.

Marston said his three years on the board have not been difficult but time-consuming.

“There isn’t any tough part. There’s nothing difficult about it. I can handle anything that comes up,” Marston said. “I went to all the committee meetings at night. I spent more time looking into taxes than anything else, and we got the taxes improved last year.”

Marston said his scrutiny of the tax situation has made it clear to him that there is room for improvement.

“We need to improve more. They have more abatements than there should be,” said Marston, adding he will present selectmen with his information at an upcoming board meeting.

Marston said there were about 40 changes in property taxes last year following an abatement review, and that was too many. He recommended hiring a tax professional, as the towns of Norway and Harrison have.

“Selectmen make the decision now (on abatements). You need someone expert,” he said.

The abatements cost the town about $13,000 in additional revenue last year, he said.

“It’s not so much the money as it is doing it right and having the tax cards right. If you get the mistakes out, and you’re doing taxes right to begin with, then you don’t have that many abatements,” Marston said.