OXFORD — Vice Chairman Ernest “Ed” Knightly has resigned from the Board of Selectmen, saying his metal recycling business and chores at the town Transfer Station do not allow him the time required for governing duties.

He was elected in June 17.

The lifelong Oxford resident has operated Ed-O’s Metal Pickup and House Cleanouts since 2012, providing residential recycling services and house cleanouts. Before that, he operated a convenience store, also called Ed-O’s, for several years. Certified as a mental health rehabilitation technician, he also worked as house manager at a local residential care facility for 15 years.

Knightly also works at the Transfer Station, an on-call, part-time position that has become fairly demanding since former Supervisor Warren Bennett retired earlier this year. The position has been vacant since July.

Serving as selectman while pitching in at the Transfer Station has not been easy recently, especially without a manger to oversee its operations, he said.

“The Transfer Station goes at a fast pace at times and the town has tried to crack down on people sneaking trash in with non-recyclables and using non-compliant bags,” Knightly said. Between the increased demands of helping at the shorthanded Transfer Station and the challenges of town government something had to give, he said.

“Town government is very different on the inside,” he acknowledged. “Residents don’t really see everything that goes on and what’s involved with running it. But they get upset. It’s hard to get things done.”

In order to better manage his responsibilities, he decided to step down.

“I need to focus on my own business for now,” Knightly said. “It’s been difficult to balance that, helping at the Transfer Station, and serving on the Select Board.”

While his time as a selectman was relatively short, his service to the town goes back to his childhood, starting when his father Fred Knightly served as fire chief.

“My father was Chief for 32 years and I grew up in the Fire Department,” Knightly said. “I became a junior fireman when I was 16, served as a volunteer fireman for 24 years, and as a rescue driver.”

For several years Knightly organized Oxford’s Fire and Auxiliary Field Days. Held beside the post office, the festival was a three-day event and included carnival rides, kids’ games, dancing and music, and a parade. After he stepped down from that volunteer post, no one wanted to take the responsibility on and the festival was discontinued.

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