Oxford Borough Council members noted the passing of Dr. Russell Doyle at the start of their meeting on March 7.

Council president Kathryn Cloyd said, “Our condolences go out to his family and friends.” Doyle was not only a well-known doctor in the community, but had also served on Borough Council and various boards throughout the Oxford community and beyond.

He practiced medicine in the community for over 30 years. He and his wife Dr. Fayle Doyle helped start the Southern Chester County Medical Center in Jennersville.

Doyle also served in the U.S. Army and the Delaware Air National Guard. He was a Flight Surgeon and the CO of the Delaware Air National Guard Medical Clinic, eventually becoming the State Air Surgeon.

He served in both Operation Desert Shield and in Operation Desert Storm. He retired from the Air National Guard as a Colonel in 1992. He served in many positions in the medical community until his retirement from the family medicine practice in 1988. Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford. 

Council also took time to briefly discuss the war in Ukraine.

Cloyd said, “Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of the people in Ukraine.”

She also announced the dates for the new rain barrel workshops, which are Saturday, March 26 and Saturday, April 2 at 10 a.m. Residents may sign up by emailing [email protected]. If a resident has  previously signed up for a rain barrel, an email has been sent to them inquiring about their preferred date.

During public comment, Marge Laige, an Oxford Hotel resident, posed some questions to council regarding parking at the Oxford Hotel. Council will apprise the borough solicitor of the ongoing situation.

Council approved Resolution 1328-2022 to submit the PA Local Share Account (LSA) program grant application to the PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. to support the Oxford theater project.  

Council also approved Resolution 1329-2022 to the Borough’s 2017 Multimodal Transportation Fund (MTF) Program award to name Kathryn Cloyd, Council President, and Pauline Garcia-Allen, Borough Manager, as authorized to sign grant documents on behalf of the Borough. Public Works Supervisor John Schaible, explained infrastructure management to council and the public. This is the first part of council’s ongoing educational pieces designed to inform them and the public of the inner-workings of the borough. 

Schaible presented an overview of the Borough infrastructure which includes, but is not limited to the following:

Borough sidewalks and curbing (1/4 of a mile), repairing, snow removal

Street lighting, fixtures, decorative lights from service tap to light bulbs

Water system, wells, storage, treatment, distribution (waterlines) metering

Traffic Signals, school zones, traffic loops and detection cameras

Streets and roads, potholes and other repairs, snow plowing, street cleaning, etc

Maintenance of stormwater system and grates

Maintenance on borough buildings including parking garage, public works, police station, etc.

Oxford Memorial Park maintenance, including trees, playground area, etc.

Mowing of borough property

Schaible emphasized potential problems exist regarding storm water and street maintenance funding. He would like to see a capital budget for such issues.

The public is invited to borough council meetings to ask questions on these issues and all issues regarding the use of tax dollars.

Also on the agenda discussing codes was Oxford resident and government specialist Spencer Andress. Andress began an overview of the codes, including state, county, and borough codes. He specifically emphasized the importance of fair and competent codes enforcement and which government arm was responsible for enforcement.

Andress will continue his discussion on Codes Enforcement at the next borough council meeting. 

There will also be a discussion on the borough budget at that time.

Future topics will include environmental issues, trails, the Anti-Defamation League, and finances.

The next borough council meeting will be held on March 21 at 7 p.m. at the Borough Hall.

The public is always encouraged to check out the borough calendar at oxfordboro.org for more information on other meetings.