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Chester County Press

'I got to help the town that I love’

03/22/2016 02:36PM ● By Steven Hoffman

Oxford borough manager Betsy Brantner announced her resignation at the conclusion of the March 21 council meeting, thanking council and the community for the opportunity to work for her beloved hometown.

This letter will serve as my required 90-day notice of resignation from my position as borough manager,” Brantner said as she distributed the letter to each member of council. “My last official day will be June 17.”

Brantner was hired as the borough manager on April 15, 2001. She recalled that there were interesting developments from the time that she started in the position.

The first week I came on board as manager there was flooding on Old Street,” she explained. “My first goal was to secure grant funding for Old Street. The residents of that street could not get into their homes due to the flooding. The borough was successful in securing funding to install storm drains. I quickly realized the responsibility and the possibilities of my job.”

Through the years, Brantner worked with borough council and Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. officials to secure more than $5 million in grants for waterline projects on Pine, Fourth Street, South Street, and North Third Street, as well as streetscape projects for South Third Street, Broad Street, North Third Street, Lancaster Avenue, and Market Street. The most recent grant that Oxford acquired was $575,000 to do streetscape improvements for Wheeler Boulevard.

One of the early projects during her tenure as borough manager was working with council members to negotiate with the National Penn Bank to secure the rights to the bank-owned parking lot that is used, in part, for public parking. Those off-and-on negotiations stretched out for over a decade. Council approved an agreement of sale on the parking lot on the very night that Brantner announced her plans to depart.

This position has provided me with an amazing opportunity to work with federal, state, and county officials and with multiple borough councils,” Brantner said. “I think now is a good time to step down from this position in order to pursue yet another adventure.”

She expressed her gratitude for the chance to serve the community.

I thank you all for this amazing opportunity,” she said. “It is the best job that I ever had. I got to help the town that I love. I will always be indebted to council for giving me the opportunity to help my hometown.”

Brantner’s announcement came in the closing moments of a three-hour meeting, and the council members were surprised by the announcement. Each member took a turn thanking Brantner for her hard work and dedication to the borough.

Oxford Borough Council president Ron Hershey congratulated Brantner on a job well-done and said that he really enjoyed working with her. Other council members expressed their regrets that Brantner was resigning from the position. They formally accepted Brantner’s resignation letter—with regrets—and then adjourned the meeting.

Brantner said that part of her plans for the future include doing work for non-profits in the area. She vowed to continue to be an advocate for her hometown.

I will continue to promote the Borough of Oxford, the business community, and the wonderful people in the community,” Brantner said.