OXFORD — Selectmen on March 18 unanimously approved a plan for a topographic survey of the 22-acre business park on Park Road, including the gravel road and designing a public utility system.

Brent Bridges, an engineer with Woodard & Curran, estimated it would cost $26,000.

Town Manager Butch Asselin said there is about $118,000 in the town development account and tax increment financing money could be used for park improvements.

Woodard & Curran was tasked with developing plans for improvements to construct a new waste drying system, after the town was no longer able to transport sludge from its wastewater treatment plant in Welchville village to a fertilizer facility in Auburn because of forever chemicals, also known as PFAs.

Bridges updated the board on plans, including surveys and outlining the specs necessary to run sewer and waterlines to site 3 in the business park.

He advised considering a plan to provide utility services to the entire park, which would help attract businesses.

The cost to build the system and pave the road would run between $400,000 and $430,000, according to Bridges. He said there are grants that Oxford could apply for to help with the expense if certain conditions were met, like a letter of intent from a business willing to locate there and bring jobs to the town.

Asselin said TIF funds could be used for that as well.

Selectmen unanimously approved moving forward with the site planning for $26,000 and developing plans for further improvement.

In other business, selectmen discussed the future of the Ad Hoc Facilities Committee, after committee members voiced frustration at the recent town meeting that their recommendations were not being followed.

Selectmen voiced support for the committee but acknowledged that before the committee meets to address future needs, such as the eventual replacement of the highway department garage, the board should outline better guidelines and priorities. The board agreed to hold workshops on facility needs, with the priority of moving out of the town office on Pleasant Street as soon as possible.

Glenn Gordon, an outreach coordinator with Oxford County Mental Health Services also addressed the board about a yearlong program to fight the opioid crisis. It launched at the end of 2020 in Rumford and Mexico, more recently with Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, and now with the Oxford Police Department.

Law enforcement officials have materials they share with those struggling with substance abuse and refer them to Gordon, who works with anyone who reaches out to him to find resources to develop a treatment plan. Selectmen thanked him for his efforts and pledged their support to the program.

At the start of the meeting, selectmen presented Asselin with a plaque thanking him for his work as town manager. Asselin retires at the end of the month. His successor, Adam Garland, officially started Monday.