The selectmen shall appoint forthwith a time for examining the premises and hearing parties in interest, and give 12 days’ notice thereof to one or more of the petitioners. They shall also give like notice to persons owning or having an interest in lands through which the right-of-way to be laid out, altered or discontinued may pass, and when a right-of-way is to be altered or discontinued, a like notice shall be given to persons owning or interested in land abutting such right-of-way, of such time and of the time when they will consider claims for damage. They shall also cause a like notice to be published in a local newspaper generally circulating in the area not less than 10 days before the time set for the hearing.