Oxford’s highway crew down to two workers

Thursday’s board of selectmen meeting in Oxford drew more than 20 residents, most of whom were concerned with the town’s recent property revaluation. Nicole Carter/Advertiser Democrat

OXFORD — Many of the 20 residents attending Oxford’s board of selectmen’s meeting Thursday night were there to talk about their recent property revaluations, but at least one was there to voice his concern about the town’s depleted public works department.

Three employees have resigned in recent weeks, leaving one commercially-licensed employee and one maintenance employee. Foreman Jim Bennett is the only current town employee licensed to drive a truck with equipment trailer on the road.

Nate Meserve asked selectmen if Oxford will consider offering retention incentives, if exit interviews are being done with departing employees and what steps will be taken in the event that a qualified crew is not in place before winter snows set in.

“What can we do to entice people; what is there to offer?” Meserve asked. “It’s going to be a long winter and two people aren’t going to cut it.”

When Town Manager Adam Garland remarked that wages are a big challenge, Meserve countered that Oxford pays its public works employees higher than some neighboring communities, and there may be other factors in the turnover.

All agreed that with hourly employees in the highway department being union members with a contract containing wage and hiring practice stipulations, even short-term solutions are limited.

Resident Bill Penfold offered that other town residents with equipment, commercial drivers licenses and insurance may be able to fill in gaps.

Board Vice-Chair Scott Hunter said one option is to use a side letter to bump salary allowances until the next union contract renewal. The current starting pay for highway department employees is $18.50 an hour, with the rate exceeding $20.00 for new, more qualified employees.

PROPERTY REVALUATIONS

During the public comment period, other residents express concerns about the recent property revaluation that was completed last month. Many in attendance said that after issuing complaints to the appraisal company, KRT Appraisal of Haverhill, Massachusetts, they received second letters with assessments thousands of dollars lower. When they called KRT for an explanation for the decrease, representatives were not able to to provide any.

Town Manager Adam Garland assured everyone in attendance that regardless of KRT’s assessments, property taxes will not exceed what voters approved in the current budget for tax revenue, nor will the mill rate be set during executive session, as at least one person was afraid might happen. It will be approved and announced at the next selectmen’s meeting.

Some urged the board to reject the entire project, extend the current rates through the tax year that begins on Oct. 1, and start over.

“As board members, we’re experiencing the same complaints that we’re hearing,” said Selectperson Sharon Jackson. “We (as) the selectmen, and the town manager, and legal, will deal with it. KRT has to follow everything they were supposed to do in our contract.”

Also during public comments, resident Patricia Thomas thanked Code Officer Kingston Brown for making personal visits to homes that have been out of compliance with Oxford’s property maintenance ordinance. She said that in almost every case improvements are already obvious. Recognizing that it may be difficult for some people to handle the work involved on their own, Thomas said her family is taking it on themselves to assist one elderly neighbor.