OXFORD — Voters on Thursday approved changes to tobacco, zoning and dog ordinances, but turned down proposed amendments to the Cemetery Ordinance, saying officials need to take care of its cemeteries.

The special town meeting drew about 50 voters to the Municipal Building on Pleasant Street.

Amendments to the Tobacco Use Ordinance ban product use and smoking, including electronic smoking devises, from the town’s ball fields and Pismo Beach.

Changes to the Dog Ordinance added terms and definitions such as a nuisance dog and a dangerous dog.

Amendments to the Zoning Ordinance include additions to the table of land uses, including tiny home setbacks and requirements and re-establishing a limit on medical marijuana permits.

Voters turned down a request to amend the Cemetery Ordinance. The proposed amendments were to:

• Define what cremation remains must be in a vault;

• Put the responsibility for opening and closing graves on the site owner, not the town;

• Require cornerstones on all new lots;

• Restrict pet burials, unless it is at the same time and with its owner. No domestic animal, such as dogs are allowed in cemeteries. 

Resident Sharon Jackson said money should be put in the budget for repairs to stones and for maintenance of town cemeteries.

Following the meeting, selectmen met and agreed to table a request a change to the sewer rates that would increase them for some customers and decrease them for others.

Town Manager Butch Asselin said some of the water consumption increase could be offset by residents who install a sub-meter to remove the amount of water being used to water grass and gardens.

Selectwoman Samantha Hewey asked that the board table the request and look more closely at the impacts, particularly to residents.

In other business, the board tabled plans to deal with nonprofit groups seeking town funds. Chairman Floyd Thayer said he objected to using taxpayer money and said people could make donations to the nonprofits.

Other board members however argued that there should be a policy that allows nonprofits to seek town funding that benefits Oxford, but still remains fair to taxpayers.

Nonprofits can petition a town meeting with 10 percent of the total voter turnout in the last gubernatorial election, or 230 voter signatures, to place the request on a town meeting warrant.  

ldixon@sunmedagroup.net

Adrian Miller, senior account executive for Patriot Energy Group, addresses the Oxford Board of Selectmen on Thursday about options to purchase electricity. The town takes Central Maine Power’s standard offer, which is a fixed price, through 2019.