OXFORD — The allegedly inappropriate behavior of Recreation Committee Member Gary Smith has enraged some Oxford residents.

A group of parents attended the June 21 selectboard meeting to complain to the board that Smith had acted inappropriately at a June 20 Oxford White Sox baseball game.

Smith did not attend the meeting.

Norm Turgeon, who said he had not attended the game, told the board that a member of the Recreation Committee had gone on a tirade during the game and fired the coach.

Turgeon told the board that Smith’s actions reflected poorly on the town.

“There have been several complaints this year,” he said. “The guy’s out of control.”

A parent of a team member, who claimed to be at the game, told the board that, while she had not heard the entire exchange between Smith and the coach, Smith’s behavior was inappropriate.

“I heard him, by the dugout, tell the coach that the team was ‘worthless,’ with the kids right there,” she said.

She claimed the incident took place in front of parents and children, as well as the opposing team.

According to the parent, a similar outburst by Smith influenced the outcome of last year’s championship game.

The Oxford White Sox is a majors team in the Andy Valley Cal Ripkin League.

Randy Mills, the White Sox coach, says that he has received and accepted an apology from Smith.

“I’m ready to move forward,” says Mills.

In Mill’s opinion, the team had a successful season and he was ready to leave the matter where it stood.

Smith declined to comment on the matter.

Joe Rideout, former president of the Oxford Baseball/Softball Association told the selectmen that Smith’s actions were “embarrassing” to the town’s residents.

In a telephone interview, Rideout said Smith’s behavior during games had damaged Oxford’s reputation.

He says he’s heard other teams refer to the town’s Pismo Beach ballfield as “the anything happens field” and the “field of nightmares.”

He says that he would like the board to ask for Smith to step down or keep him “on a very tight leash.”

Rideout was not at the June 20 game, but said he attended last year’s championship game where, he said, Smith’s behavior was extremely inappropriate.

Rideout and Turgeon both say they have applied to become members of the Recreation Committee.

Town Manager Michael Chammings told the residents that he understood they were upset, but holding a discussion on the matter without Smith’s involvement concerned him.

“I really don’t like to discuss something unless someone is actually there to hear that and to answer that and defend themselves,” Chammings explained.

Recreation Committee Chair Pam Lovely told the board that she had heard of the problem, but would not speak to the matter.

“I was not there, and I will not speak for either side,” she said.

“I have heard both sides and I would really feel better if Gary was here.”

The board agreed to attend the July 12 Recreation Committee meeting with Smith and the residents to discuss the matter further.

For his part the coach,  Mills,  would rather see the incident put to rest. From his perspective, the situation is resolved, but if parents or board members want to continue the discussion, it is their decision.

“Whatever action that the town wants to take, it’s up to them,” Mills said.

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