The Borough of Oxford is always seeking ways to partner with Lincoln University, and now they may join together to apply for a grant to support EV (electric vehicle) charger installation efforts.

Oxford Borough Manager Pauline Garcia-Allen said, “Our chargers have been broken for quite some time. We have a set fee that we pay for the charger every month, so we are currently losing money. We learned there is a grant opportunity through PennDOT to secure chargers. People are having problems with chargers across the nation.”

Part of President Joe Biden’s infrastructure bill opens applications for $1.3 billion in funding to continue expanding the national electric vehicle charging network across the country.

Garcia-Allen said, “Lincoln approached us about the federal grant. Lincoln is working with a third-party group interested in installing them on their campus. There is definitely an advantage to partnering with an HBCU (Historically Black College University).”

Garcia-Allen said that it would be beneficial for the borough to have EV charger stations, and they have until the end of August to complete the application with Lincoln University for the funding.

Council members expressed interest in pursuing the grant.

In other news at the council meeting, Oxford Police Chief Sam Iacono presented his report to the borough.

“The new vehicle is marked and outfitted,” Iacono said. “There is also a sticker on the vehicle showing that our police department received their accreditation. We had six criminal arrests this month, and one burglary. All were domestic related.”

On a different topic, Iacono said, “We are also encouraging pet owners to chip their pets. It is very costly for the SPCA to come to the borough to pick up an animal.”

Borough Solicitor Stacey Fuller told council that she had met with the Sycamore Crossing developer. There continues to be issues with the dedication. Fuller is also working on an ordinance that affects the Moran Farm. She expects the ordinance to be adopted in August.

Fuller will also be working with the police department to review and update their police manual.

Garcia-Allen said the open house for the subdivision and land development ordinance was well-attended.

“The open house was followed by a work session. We are not done yet. We will be coming back to council,” she said.

The Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) requires water systems to prepare and maintain an inventory of service line materials. Initial inventories are required to be submitted to state primacy agencies by October 16, 2024. The borough is currently moving forward on the inventory.

Garcia-Allen also talked about the budget for 2025. She said that borough officials continue to review and update the spending plan to include the police collective bargaining details, and other items that might be changing.

The borough is hoping to have a junior council person serve as a non-voting volunteer member of council.  

Oxford Borough Council tabled a motion for an ordinance to accept dedication of public improvements located on public roads, including stormwater management facilities, waterlines, and streetlights located in Phase 1 of the Sycamore Crossing development. The topic will be taken up again at a future meeting.

Borough Council signed off on the ratification of the Community of Love Lutheran Church Agreement for the bio-retention wetland stormwater BMP Project. This item was approved on condition of the solicitor’s approval.

Council also authorized the notice of intent to award a contract for the Hodgson and 8th Street repaving project to Delaware Environmental Construction Services, the only bidder, in the amount of $228,124.30, contingent upon the contractor’s execution of the contract and supply of the required Bonds and Insurance.

Borough council also authorized submitting for Act 247 review an ordinance amending Chapter 27, zoning, of the Borough of Oxford Code regarding maximum building height in the PD-1 and R-1 Zoning Districts for lot clustering. The maximum height of buildings is being increased from 25 feet to 35 feet.

Borough council also authorized the consideration of the reallocation of up to $6,020 of the $83,010 Center for Watershed Protection (CWP) contact for MS4 Program Services to engage CWP to complete the process to update the borough’s stormwater ordinance.

Council also approved the Special Event Permit Application for the Oxford Area High School Homecoming Parade on Sept. 27. The event will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., conditioned upon payment of $93 for this event, which is the 50 percent deposit for one-third of the cost to provide police services.

Borough council approved the Gannett Fleming proposal to provide engineering and construction and installation oversight services for the Water Meter Replacement Project in an amount not to exceed $12,000, as well as a Pennoni proposal to complete the required PennDOT site survey, design, and permit coordination for the ADA Ramp replacement at Market and Sixth Street to repair damage that was made by a semi-truck on March 3, in an amount not to exceed $10,550. It was noted that the trucking company would pay for this work.

Council also gave its approval for the HARB Certificate of Appropriateness for 501 Market Street and for 9 S. Third Street.

Borough council also announced its acceptance of the 60-day extension, which will run through and include the date Aug. 30, for review of Enox Land LP’s preliminary land development plan of the Moran Farms Property.

Borough council also approved the Caselle and Dallas Data Systems, Inc. contracts for utility billing, accounting, and budgeting software services.

Council continues to discuss how to pay for curbing for borough-initiated road and streetscape projects. This will continue to be discussed.