OXFORD — Selectmen voted Thursday to schedule the annual town meeting for June 8, the Saturday before the state election.
Town Manager Michael Chammings said a resident requested to have the annual town meeting after the state election day, set for June 11. Oxford holds the meeting before the election, while most local towns hold it after and swear in newly-elected selectmen at the meeting.
Town Clerk Ellen Morrison said that holding the election before can lead to “a disgruntled selectman who did not get re-elected” not showing up. “There’s the possibility that they don’t show up to town meeting, and then we don’t have the board that’s actually worked on the budget.”
Chammings said he had that experience when working for another town.
Selectman Scott Owens agreed it was better to hold the meeting before the election. “It’s our budget that we’re presenting,” Owens said.
The board voted unanimously to hold the election on the Saturday before the state election. Nomination papers will be available March 18 and due by April 29.
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