Oxford Board of Selectmen
Sept. 21, 2017
Oxford Town Office
Cleanup
What happened: Selectmen voted to allow Code Enforcement Officer Joelle Corey Whitman to pursue cleanup of 150 Paine Road and 9 Whittemore Road, through the town’s attorney.
What it means: Corey Whitman issued the third and final notices to Dolores Paine and Gilbert Pike, respectively, about their properties becoming junkyards.
What’s next: The matters will be settled in court.
Marijuana committee
What happened: Selectmen agreed to form a recreational marijuana committee.
What it means: Resident Rosemary Nicklaus asked the town to consider creating a recreational marijuana ordinance to ban retail establishments and social clubs. She offered to serve on the committee, along with Recreation Director Connie Staples and Board of Selectmen Chairman Pete Laverdiere. Corey Whitman and Police Chief Jonathan Tibbetts will also serve on the committee.
DOT meeting
What happened: Selectmen set a meeting with Maine Department of Transportation officials for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11, at the Town Office.
What it means: The public is invited and the conceptual drawings for the new intersection at the Oxford Casino and Hampton Inn on Route 26 will be discussed. Cost and who will pay for the project will also be discussed. The redesign comes after two accidents, one that killed two pedestrians and the other involving a Casino shuttle bus.
Work session
What happened: Selectmen agreed to host a work session with Staples about issues going on in the Recreation Department.
What it means: Selectman Scott Hunter said after the meeting that the issues are regarding responsibilities and chain of command.
What’s next: The work session will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27, at the Town Office and is open to the public.
Move?
What happened: On behalf of Corey Whitman, Town Manager Butch Asselin asked selectmen if she could move her office to the selectmen meeting room.
What it means: Corey Whitman’s office is on the third floor. She wants to move to the second floor because of her meetings with contractors and room for the maps, Asselin said. If selectmen agree, all offices would be on the same floor. The selectmen meeting room would move upstairs. It would cost $3,300 to upgrade the two rooms.
What’s next: Selectmen will revisit the proposal.
Union negotiations
What happened: Asselin announced union negotiations for the police contract were completed the day of the meeting, Thursday, Sept. 21.
What’s next: The contract will come before the board at their next meeting to take action on.
Honored
What happened: Longtime Recreation Committee member Pam Lovely and outgoing Selectman Scott Owens were honored with plaques and praise for their service to the community.
Transfer Station feed
What happened: Selectmen directed Asselin to look into what other towns are charging for fees at their transfer stations.
What it means: Two years ago, Oxford lowered its Transfer Station fees.
What’s next: Asselin will report back to selectmen.
Donations
What happened: Selectmen accepted two donations – $100 on the behalf of Sharon Seamon to the Oxford Rescue Equipment Reserve and $35 from Green & Mirror Ponds Association for the Rec Center Ball Field account.
Dam questions
What happened: Hogan Pond resident Christopher Glass requested the issue of the Welchville Dam be placed on the next agenda to discuss the town’s plans for it. He agreed to give selectmen a list of questions for them to address.
50th anniversary
What happened: Asselin announced Smedbergs farm stand on Route 26 will have its 50th anniversary celebration from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, and expects between 1,000 and 1,200 people to attend. Business owners are working with Oxford police to mitigate any potential traffic issues.
Homestead exemption
What happened: Asselin reminded residents if they own a home and Oxford is their primary residence they can apply for the homestead exemption.
What it means: This year the homestead exemption is for $20,000 which equatesto a $294 reduction on residents’ tax bills. Anyone who has questions can contact the clerks at the Town Office and there is information on the homestead exemption on the town’s website at https://oxfordmaine.org/.
Voting delegates
What happened: Selectmen designated Asselin and Laverdiere as delegate and alternate, respectively, at the Maine Municipal Association’s business meeting Wednesday, Oct. 4, in Augusta.
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