OXFORD — Town Manager Adam Garland asked selectmen Thursday to consider how to spend $411,000 from the federal coronavirus relief bill.

So far, the town has received a little more than half of its allocated $411,000.

Garland suggested replacing lost revenue from 2020, which exceeded $400,000, and expanding broadband internet service to areas where internet and cellphone reception are poor.

“We’ve been working with Charter Communications on areas in town that are underserved or unserved,” by internet, Garland said. He said about 79 sites have been identified.

“The cost to bring broadband would be about $307,000,” he said. “Working with Charter, they have a cost-sharing agreement the town could enter into, which would reduce the town’s amount to about $140,000.”

Board Chairman Caldwell Jackson said he wants to consider using some of the money to repair Whittemore Road, which is on Oxford’s five-year road improvement plan.

Two years ago the cost to rehab the road was estimated at about $500,000, according to Highway Department Foreman Jim Bennett.

Vice Chairwoman Sharon Jackson said many residents have requested expanded broadband, which she favors. The town has more than $34,000 designated in an account from Spectrum revenues.

Selectman Dana Dillingham also supported improving broadband.

In other business, Garland said the Planning Board is down to two members, one short of the quorum necessary to conduct business. Only one property owner has volunteered to serve in the recent past, but since the person is not an Oxford resident selectmen had previously decided against that option.

“It brings the Planning Board to a stall,” Garland said.

“Anyone who is interested in joining, please let us know,” he said. “We’ve got it on Facebook, on the town website. We are looking for volunteers.”

Selectmen voted down a proposal to contract with a third-party business to bill for fire and rescue services at vehicle accidents. Selectmen Floyd Thayer, Sharon Jackson and Caldwell Jackson voted in opposition; Dillingham and Selectman Scott Hunter were in favor.

In his report, Bennett said the new gates at Thompson Lake dam are creating a lot of headaches, with leaves clogging the sluices and affecting water levels. He said a crew has had to clean the gates up to three times a day.

A couple of people, who Bennett believes are Thompson Lake Environmental Association members with property outside of Oxford, have repeatedly snuck through the chain-link fence gates onto the dam to check the lake level, he said.

Bennett said the violators ignore the posted and no trespassing signs in the area and have been warned that they would be charged with trespassing if it continues.

“Monday morning the water flow was reduced so bad that over the weekend we might have lost a half inch of water,” Bennett said. He said the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife allowed the west gate to be lifted but not the center gate, which does not yet have a fish screen installed.

“Two weeks ago it should have been at winter level, 32 inches. Today we’re at 26 inches,” Bennett said.

Bennett said the overall design was poorly done. There is concern that opening the west gate any further could suck fish in against the fish screen and die. Several dead eels and small-mouth bass have already been pulled out. He added that DIFW has been good to work with on the issues and he is following their recommendations but solutions are slow-going.

He also told the board that the Highway Department is ready for snow.

Hunter asked Bennett to reach out to neighboring town highway departments to discuss renewing the mutual support agreement in case plow truck operators have to quarantine because of COVID-19.

In his report, Garland said the Town Office will have to continue reduced hours through the end of next week because some staff are out because of coronavirus. Hours for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday will be 8 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m.

The office will be closed Thursday for Veterans Day.

« Previous

Buckfield’s property tax rate drops $3 from last year

Next »

Residents complain about dirt bikes on Wiley Road