OXFORD — During their meeting Jan. 4, Oxford selectmen approved key dates leading up to annual town meeting, which they scheduled for June 1, the first Saturday of the month.

Town Manager Adam Garland reported that initial work on the municipal budget would begin this week, with him meeting with department heads to review current year performance and plan for the 2024-25 fiscal year that starts July 1.

Oxford’s budget will be finalized in February, with a joint presentation for both the select board and budget committee March 7.

In other business, selectmen unanimously voted to hold a referendum vote on the same day as the presidential primary elections March 5. The warrant asks voters to approve shifting Oxford Fire Department employees enrolled in Maine Public Employees Retirement Plan from an administrative to public safety account.

The town’s fire chief position retirement plan has been included in the administrative account; no other employees participate currently. Garland advised that should firefighters and EMTs employed by Oxford enroll in the plan, the proper place to track funds is in public safety, where all police department employees’ retirement is managed.

A public hearing took place immediately before the selectmen’s meeting regarding two marijuana cultivation facilities, new applicant Faced CC, LLC and renewal for Two Thirty-Seven Farms, LLC.

Once the meeting began the board tabled Faded CC’s application due to its incomplete application. Two Thirty-Seven Farm’s renewal was unanimously approved.

Several property tax abatements were approved as well: for Gregory Weymouth in the amount of $288.48; the estate of Theola Raasumaa for $4,532; for Edward Adams, Jr. for $1,587.52; and to Regency of Maine, LLC for the amounts of $266.26 and $57.20.

Selectmen also discussed how to proceed with pending property tax foreclosures. Town Clerk Wendy Friberg reported that some property owners on the foreclosure list had made their outstanding payments.

Selectmen voted to waive mobile homes residing on rental lots from foreclosure.

They also agreed to waive foreclosing on one property on Coldwater Brook Road while Code Officer Kingston Brown proceeds with inspections concerning its violation of the town’s junk yard ordinance and determines if there are any hazardous material clean-ups that the owner will be accountable for.

Garland announced that a workshop will take place at 5 p.m. Jan. 18 at the Public Safety Building at 701 Main Street as selectmen tour the police department. Following the workshop, the selectmen’s meeting will be held at 6 p.m. the town office on Pottle Road.

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