A Re-Connective Festival weekend is scheduled in Oxford on Aug. 5 and 6. Oxford Arts Alliance and Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. have joined forces, supported by lead sponsor Landhope Farms, to bring back the successful Connective Festival of past and turn it into a weekend of fun.

The joint venture between the two groups will now be a weekend festival. On Friday, they will host a Rock the Block event with a lineup of music from local and regional acts along with food trucks, lawn games, and much more. 

Saturday will feature Art in the Park with artists, art vendors and demonstrators. Additionally, there will be live music, food trucks, and a creative corner for kids.

Council was happy to approve a motion to amend Oxford Main Street Inc.’s Special Event Permit for the First Friday in August to extend the event hours from 5 p.m.to 8 p.m. to 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

In other business, council approved the final G3 Implementation Plan so the borough can proceed with their grant application for the G3 Grant Program.  The Chesapeake Bay Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns (G3) Grant Program funded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region III(EPA) and the Chesapeake Bay Trust was created to support design projects, financing strategies, and/or implementation of green street projects. The goal of this grant program is to help communities develop and implement plans that reduce stormwater runoff, increase the number and amount of green spaces in urban areas, improve the health of local streams and the Chesapeake Bay, and enhance quality of life and community livability. The G3 Partnership provides support for local, grassroots-level greening efforts to reduce stormwater runoff from towns and communities in urbanized watersheds.

This program supports design projects, financing strategies, and/or implementation of green street and community greening projects. This program also supports white papers on innovative ideas for green infrastructure and charrettes to plan and vision a green street project with developers, citizens, planners, and other key stakeholders. 

The grant amount funds up to $15,000 for conceptual plans, up to $30,000 for engineered designs, up to $150,000 for implementation projects, up to $50,000 for community greening projects, and up to $20,000 for white papers.

Council president Kathryn Cloyd was applauded for her efforts in supporting and encouraging environmental efforts in the borough.

Dave Ross, chair of the Environmental Advisory Council for Oxford said, “Oxford Borough, particularly Kathryn Cloyd, has been the leader in applying for this grant. You are a beacon to other regions.”

Council member Peggy Ann Russell said, “Kathryn needs to be applauded for her ongoing environmental efforts within the Borough.”

Council approved Resolution 1337-2022 authorizing participation in the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs Junior Council Person Program. The application will be posted on facebook and the boroughs website at: oxfordboro.org.

Council ratified a motion to approve the borough as a signer to the letter of support for the University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center’s grant application to the EPA Environmental Finance Center (EFC) Grant Program for funding to support its municipal assistance program and to be an EPA designated Environmental Finance Center.

Council also approved Gessler pay application #3 in the amount of $234,472.85 and pay application #4 in the amount of $112,174.85. This is the final application for their work.

Council approved a motion for the HARB Recommendation for 541 Broad Street. 

Borough Council approved a letter of support for the University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center’s application to U.S. EPA’s Environmental Finance Center Grant Program, Category 2 “Regional Water Infrastructure EFCs with BIL Funding.”

Council approved a motion to move forward with the hiring process for a part-time patrol officer candidate for the police department.

Council approved a motion to start the Civil Service Test process, to take place in the summer and fall to compile a full-time police officer eligibility list.

Carey Bresler, the director of the Oxford Library, presented her annual report to the council, saying, “I thank the borough for supporting us.

She invited the public to check the library's website to see the number of programs the library provides to the community.

“We are the co-sponsor of Movies-in-the-Park, we provide summer reading programs for children and adults. This year we have 40 people registered for our annual Fishing Tournament. We also provide passes for Longwood Gardens, Brandywine River Museum and more,” she added.

Police Chief Sam Iacono presented his report to council saying, “For the month of May we had 602 call for service, 50 traffic citations, four criminal arrests, and three drug arrests from one of our new hires.” 

Mayor Phil Harris told council he was pleased with the Oxford Memorial Day walk and ceremony. 

Borough Solicitor Stacey Fuller told council that the Moran Development Zoning Amendment will be coming before the Borough Planning Commission and will get their Act 247 Review and also go before the Oxford Regional Planning Commission.

Borough Manager Pauline Garcia-Allen informed council that Streetscape 4 is nearing completion. She also said she has been having talks with the Zoning Officer in East Nottingham Township and working together on the Moran Farm Development.

The next council meeting will be held on July 11 at 7 p.m.