By Betsy Brewer Brantner
Contributing Writer

Everyone, it seems, is talking about truck traffic and how it will affect their community. Officials and residents in Oxford Borough are no exception. As an urban center, the borough sees more trucks coming through town than the municipalities that surround it.

East Nottingham Township and West Nottingham Township are both faced with more truck traffic because of the impending sales of farms and the proposed commercial uses for those properties. In East Nottingham, it is the Herr Farm that could be sold, and in West Nottingham it is the Kimble Farm that could be sold.

Truck traffic was a topic of discussion for Oxford Borough Council at the August meeting. As an urban center, Oxford Borough often has amenities and activities which can bring in a higher population from the outside. Also, services such as banking, gas stations, libraries, restaurants, and more bring people and traffic through town. Truck traffic is increased when supplying deliveries to those amenities and simply as a main connection to other municipalities.

With that in mind, the Oxford Police Department has just recently had Officer Paul Frie successfully complete the Municipal Police Vehicle Size and Weight Enforcement Training Program offered by the Pennsylvania State Police Commercial Vehicle Safety Division. This will give Officer Frie the necessary knowledge to effectively enforce regulations and ensure road safety for all drivers.

As part of a collaborative effort with the Pennsylvania State Police and neighboring municipalities, the Oxford Police Department is working to address the growing presence of commercial vehicles on the roads.

Also discussed was the possibility of the PennDOT Turn Back Program which is a cooperative, voluntary initiative where Pennsylvania municipalities can assume ownership of state-owned roads that are considered “functionally local.” PennDOT provides financial support for rehabilitation and maintenance of these roads. Municipalities receive an annual payment for maintenance, and PennDOT may also provide funding for necessary road or bridge rehabilitation before the transfer. 

If this program is utilized, the borough could have greater control over their roads allowing them to designate the type and size of vehicle that could travel on specific streets.

Borough Council decided to continue to discuss the options.

Council carefully considered the approval of ENOX Land LLC final land-development plan for the Moran Farm Property. The solicitor for Enox identified changes made on the plans. After careful consideration the plan was granted an extension by council until September 8.

Council members thought that the changes and outstanding letters from certain agencies could be addressed in time for the next council meeting.

Police Chief Sam Iacono presented his report to council. He explained that a civil service list was developed for those who successfully passed the test.

“This list will be good for one year,” Iacono explained.

Iacono also reminded borough council that the department was short two full-time officers.

There were 651 calls to the police for the month of July, Iacono said.

Oxford Mayor Phil Harris discussed the opening of the neighborhood hospital of ChristianaCare West Grove campus.

Harris also continues to work with the new management at Whitehall Apartments. He reminded everyone to call 911 if they need assistance from the police.

Borough Manager Pauline Garcia-Allen updated borough council on the near completion of the installation of the new water meters.

“We have been working with the contractor, RIO, on some ongoing installation issues,” She said.

She also told council that the PennVest request for funding will be submitted by Sept. 30.

Garcia-Allen also said that the borough continues to move forward with the Niblock Alley project, working in collaboration with all the property owners.

In other business, borough council approved the following:

• A hearing to adopt an ordinance amending Chapter 5, Code Enforcement, Part 6, Administration and Enforcement, §5-612, Penalty for Violation of the Code of the Borough of Oxford. The hearing was held. There was no public comment.
• A hearing to adopt an ordinance amending the non-uniform employees’ money purchase pension plan document. 
• Acceptance of the Oxford Borough Civil Service Commission resolution certifying individual eligibility for consideration for the position of patrolman for the borough.
• Acceptance of an extension which will run through and include the date of October 26, 2025, for review of the 232 S. Fifth Street minor subdivision application.
• Acceptance of an extension which will run through and include the date of October 26, 2025, for review of the 220 N. Third Street minor subdivision application.
• DMV Parking proposal in the amount of $22,710.00 to install the concrete islands and related infrastructure for gating the parking garage.
• The Car Park LLC (Park on Call division) contract in the amount of $599 per month, with a one-time software fee of $600, for 24-hour 3rd Party Answer Intercom services for the Borough Parking Garage.
• A resolution adopting an Act 537 sewage facilities plan update.
• Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB) recommendation for Certificate of Appropriateness for 245 Maple Street for the remodeling of the porch.
• Historical Architectural Review Board recommendation for Certificate of Appropriateness for 405 Market Street for the addition of a sign for Taqueria Los Juarez.

Council member Peggy Ann Russell said that the date for the next Financial Committee meeting was changed to Thursday, Sept. 18 at the Borough Hall.

The next Housing Committee meeting will resume on Sept. 8 at 2 p.m. at the Borough Hall. Rachel Wentworth from Equal Housing will be a guest speaker.

Council member Robert Ketcham announced that he will be stepping down from his position at the Oxford Area Sewer Authority. Borough council encourages borough residents to volunteer to serve as a representative on the Oxford Area Sewer Authority or as a member of one of the borough committees.

The next Oxford Borough Council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Sept. 8 at the Borough Hall.