OXFORD — Selectmen opened their meeting Thursday night by recognizing retiring Police Chief Michael Ward for his service to the town on his last day on the job.

Selectmen dedicated the 2022 Oxford Town Report to Ward.

They named Capt. Rickie Jack interim police chief.

A 35-year veteran of law enforcement, Ward was promoted to chief in 2018 after his boss, Jon Tibbetts, retired.

Selectmen, Town Manager Adam Garland and other staff took turns thanking Ward for his leadership and friendship.

“I just just want to say, I’ve been here a little over a year,” Garland said. “Chief was one of the pivotal people to make me feel welcome, he gave me a lot of tours around town … he’s made me feel welcomed on more than one occasion and helped me get to know folks in town. So, I appreciate that very much.”

“I’d like to thank Mike for his years of service here,” board Vice Chairwoman Sharon Jackson. “He has always been excellent as a chief. Congratulations.”

Selectmen Scott Hunter and Dana Dillingham commended Ward for improvements to the Police Department.

Recreation Director Patty Hesse remarked on how much she has appreciated his calm attitude and kindness no matter what the situation was.

Echoing that, Fire and Rescue Chief Paul Hewey said Ward has been key to the successes of their shared work protecting the community.

During public comment, Steve Johnson, owner of medicinal grow supplier Cannabis Farmers Union, asked selectmen to look to communities such as Bethel and Windham when determining license fees for marijuana businesses in town. He shared guidance from the state was written in response to communities charging higher prices for cannabis growers and sellers compared to other regulated enterprises such as fireworks and liquor sales.

In another public comment, resident Chuck Howe thanked town officials for finding a potential new town office that will not require new construction. He also expressed concern that the $258,000 contracted to an architectural firm to design a new building had been wasted when selectmen changed gears and moved to purchase office space at 127 Pottle Road. Oxford’s bid for the property was accepted by Stephens Memorial Hospital in Norway.

Garland said the contract with architectural firm Harriman of Auburn was negotiated with incremental payments to be made as their work was completed. The board had approved the contract in January, but by March Garland had begun negotiating with the hospital on the Pottle Road site.

Selectmen authorized Garland to begin the process of financing the property through Androscoggin Bank over 10 years, pending approval by voters at town meeting Saturday. The $750,000 purchase would be financed and all renovations to outfit the building would be paid for through a town office reserve fund that contains about $294,000, if voters approve.

In other business, the board voted to use a $3,000 donation from the Seventh-day Adventist Church for Oxford Police Department’s DARE program.

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