OXFORD — Town Manager Butch Asselin told the Board of Selectmen on Thursday night that town spending for 2017-18 looks to be on target.

“It appears that we should come in on budget or slightly below,” Asselin told the board and several dozen residents and local officials.

Asselin said the Town Office will close at noon June 29 so the staff can close the financial books for the fiscal year, which ends June 30.  

To date, the books indicate many departments, such as administration, highway, fire, police, rescue, recycling and sewer, are at or below budget.

Others, including public safety, recreation, General Assistance and the Transfer Station, are above budget at this time, he said.

The final numbers will not be known until after the books are closed next month.

In other business, the board continued its conversation about how to get more people to the annual town meeting, scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 9, at Oxford Elementary School.

Typically, about 50 voters show up for the meeting. Selectmen hope to get more people involved in determining the annual budget for the next fiscal year and setting the foundation for the tax rate.

The board was told that it would be expensive to do a mass mailing, but state Rep. Kathleen Dillingham, R-Oxford, suggested mailing bulk rate or even sending postcards.

Retiring Recreation Department Director Connie Staples, who was lauded for her years of service, said she could put information in an upcoming newsletter that is mailed to more than 400 residents. Others suggested using lighted signs that businesses have, especially on Route 26

Jack Sours, vice president and general manager of the Oxford Casino, talked briefly about the alcohol-awareness training that all 500 members of the casino staff receive annually, the additional training servers receive and how casino security handles intoxicated guests.

The Route 26 gambling house was granted a waiver for a public hearing on its annual liquor license because it had no violations and has held the license for the past five years.

Fire Chief Gary Sacco presented a plaque to firefighter Jay Goforth, who is retiring after more than 30 years.

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Retiring Oxford Recreation Department Director Connie Staples is presented a plaque by Board of Selectmen Chairman Pete Laverdiere at Thursday night’s board meeting. Kathleen Dillingham will succeed Staples. (Leslie H. Dixon/Advertiser Democrat)