There will be no tax increase for Oxford Borough residents as borough council unanimously approved the adoption of the 2023 budget and established the tax rate for next year. The tax rate will remain at 12 mills for another year.

Council member Peggy Ann Russell, the chair of the Finance Committee, thanked borough manager Pauline Garcia-Allen, borough treasurer and assistant borough manager Arlene Harrison, and all who worked with them on the budget.

Garcia-Allen said, “We will continue to spend tax dollars wisely and study how we can communicate that effectively with our taxpayers.”

The budget will be posted online at the borough’s website at oxfordboro.org.

Council also officially accepted the resignation of Mary-Laura Buchner-Hulse. They will be receiving letters from those residents interested in filling the position. Those letters can be sent to Pauline Garcia-Allen, Borough Manager, at P.O. Box 380, Oxford, PA 19363. Council approved the motion to accept the resignation and to authorize advertising the vacancy. Council has 30 days to fill the vacancy, and the plan is to discuss the vacancy at the first meeting in January. 

In other business, council held a hearing and motion to adopt an ordinance approving the adoption of the Business Improvement District Final Plan, approving the Business Improvement District boundaries, and designating Oxford Mainstreet, Incorporated as the management association to implement and administer the provisions of the Business Improvement District Final Plan.

Council then approved a motion to approve the agreement between the Borough and Oxford Mainstreet. Inc. for administration of the Business Improvement District.

Council also approved the following at the same meeting:

• A hearing and motion to adopt an ordinance accepting dedication of the additional public right-of-way by Amos. G. Blank, Rebecca R. Blank, and Daniel L. Blank.
• A motion to approve the developer agreement, financial security agreement and stormwater agreement in relation to final plan approval of the Damico Land Development Plan, conditioned upon receipt of signed agreements and financial security documentation from Damico & Sons General Contracting, LLC.
• A motion to adopt a resolution to apply for a grant through the Pennsylvania Small Water and Sewer Program.
• A resolution to apply for a grant through the Pennsylvania H2O Program.
• An agreement with Union Fire Company No. 1 for fire protection and services in 2023.
• An agreement with the Union Fire Company No. 1 Ambulance Division for ambulance transportation and emergency service in 2023.
• A Civic Plus proposal to redevelop and improve the borough’s website. 

Police Chief Sam Iacono reported to council that the annual Christmas event during the First Friday celebration in December was successful. He also told council that Officer Shakira Greer handled the distribution of toys for children on Christmas Eve. 

Iacono also thanked Garcia-Allen, State Rep. John Lawrence, and State Sen. Carolyn Comitta for securing the grant for Live Scan equipment. The Oxford Borough Police Department was awarded a $77,271 grant through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) Local Law Enforcement Support Grant Program (LLE). The LLE funding will support the cost of officer training and enable the department to add Live Scan fingerprinting capabilities at the police station.

Mayor Phil Harris also thanked Officer Greer for all of her work on the toy drive.

“She does the shopping, wrapping, and delivery,” Harris said. “We also thank Chris Grove from the Oxford Chamber for her help in securing toys.”

The Mayor also reported that the Oxford Police Department also helped with the Wreaths Across America.

The borough’s solicitor Stacey Fuller told council she continues to work on the Moran Farm and the conditional use hearing for the project.

Junior council member Annabelle Bresler told council that a blood drive was recently held. There was also a community holiday event held for children. The Holiday Concert was also held. Students will return to school on Jan. 3, Bresler said.

The next borough council meeting will be held on Jan. 9, 2023.