FARMINGTON — The Board of Selectmen voted to pursue a contract with John E. O’Donnell and Associates for assessing services beginning Jan. 1.

Following an executive session Monday to review the four firms who responded, Selectmen Josh Bell, Stephan Bunker, Andy Buckland and Michael Fogg chose O’Donnell, Town Manager Richard Davis said. Chairman Ryan Morgan was absent.

The members chose the firm based on a price of $45,000 a year for three years, as well as the quality of the firm and the board’s belief the firm will deliver the service requested, he said.

This fall, the board chose to seek an independent firm to provide assessing services rather than hire a full-time assessor. Current Assessor Mark Caldwell plans to retire at the end of the year.

The board considered the option of contracting services as a way to save money for the town. The current assessing cost is approximately $99,000 with about $12,000 allotted for additional administration staff in the office.

“John E. O’Donnell and Associates of New Gloucester is a municipal accounting firm specializing in tax assessing, tax revaluation and tax mapping,” according to the company’s website. The firm provides contracted assessing work for other local towns, including Wilton, Jay and Livermore Falls, Davis said.

The board directed the town manager to enter into a contract with the firm, he said.

The board postponed the town manager’s annual performance evaluation until the full board is present, he said.

abryant@sunjournal.com