Oxford Borough Council eagerly approved a letter of support for the Oxford Arts Alliance’s walking tour project at the meeting on May 1.

The outdoor gallery project was spearheaded by Dave Eldreth, a well known local artist and Arts Alliance board member.

This town beautification project is centered around the display of local artists’ work on   buildings in the Borough of Oxford. The project is a unique opportunity for artists and not seen before town gallery which will focus on the display of oversize high-resolution images of original art on the buildings of Oxford.

If you’re an Oxford resident and local artist, and would like more information or would like to make a donation to this program go to www.oxfordart.org for more information.

In other business, council gave preliminary approval to William Fasick, a Boy Scout and member of Troop 13, to install a 911 memorial in the Oxford Memorial Park. Fasick will work with the Borough Public Works Department to install a memorial to honor those who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. The project will be on the agenda for the May 15 council meeting for further discussion.  

Borough council announced that the 30-day public comment period regarding the borough’s Pollutant Reduction Plan extends from May 1 to 31. Residents can review the plan at Borough Hall between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or at the borough’s website. Comments on the plan should be made in writing and addressed to the borough manager. Public comment can also be made in person at the next council meeting on May 15.

The update of the Borough’s Subdivision and Land Development and Zoning Ordinances is moving forward. The project, handled by Bergman and FHI Studio, will prepare new land development and zoning regulations and a zoning map.

McMahon Associates is currently working on a Community Survey for the Active Transportation Plan. The draft of the plan is expected to go before council by the end of August.

The Strategic Management Plan group has completed preliminary baseline assessment of the borough’s finances. They have scheduled individual interviews with department heads.

Borough council has once again approved free parking in the parking garage for the Primary Election Day on Tuesday, May 16.

Council approved sending a letter to the Office of the Budget on behalf of Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. (OMI) to request a six-month extension to submit the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant post-award application and business plan in support of the Historic Oxford Theater Project.

OMI executive director Brian Dix told council, “We probably won’t need the whole six months but that is what we are asking for.”

Dix said they have sought a new cost estimate for the project. At this point they are assembling a committee of 20 people. OMI will be looking to hire a director for the theatre project.

Borough manager Pauline Garcia-Allen presented the first quarterly budge financial review and discussion to council. Garcia-Allen said, “This is a high level review of the budget. We have done a lot to cut costs with this budget due to the housing market. I am happy to report that we have a good overall collection rate in real estate, and we are on track for earned income tax. Parking fines are higher than usual due to better enforcement. This year we are trending higher on equipment that needs repaired and hope that will level off. Since we are cleaning up a lot of our ordinances, there will be an increase to our legal budget this year. Of course, with fuel prices going down, that is a plus. We are doing a deeper dive in parking and parking permits to assess whether changes need to be made.”

Borough council also announced that applications are being accepted for a new junior council member for the 2023-2024 school year. For more information, visit oxfordboro.org or contact the borough manager.

The next borough council meeting will be held on May 15 at the Borough Hall.