OXFORD — After finding the best deal on a new police cruiser right around the corner in South Paris last month, Oxford jumped at the chance to pick up a second at the same price. During last week’s Select Board meeting, selectmen authorized Town Manager to purchase another 2025 Dodge Durango for $37,746.

In February, the board approved replacement of a cruiser totaled in an accident last year. The police department was able to salvage the cage and other equipment from the six-year-old totaled cruiser, which will fit into the vehicle currently driven by Police Chief Rickie Jack. Jack will be assigned the new one, a 2025 Dodge Durango.

Among the bids for a new cruiser, which were from dealers from Augusta to Long Island, was a fully outfitted 2024 Durango for $69,300.

As part of Oxford’s rotating capital investment plan, the town was prepared to purchase another one later this year.

With the $69,300 bid being an indicator of what the town could expect to pay when it replaces an older cruiser in the upcoming fiscal year, selectmen opted to go for a package deal. The town will purchase the vehicle equipment separately for around $18,000, saving taxpayers $13,300.

Both new SUVs will be delivered to the town in June. The equipment will be installed before the vehicles are put into the police department fleet.

Camp fees

After tabling Rec Director Kayla Laird’s proposal to raise in-town summer camp tuition from $75 to $100 last month, selectmen voted March 6 to hold 2025 fees to last year’s.

Laird had requested the increase to fund wage increases for returning seasonal camp counselors. Her proposal originally called to $16/hour to first-year counselors, $17 an hour to second-year counselors and $18 an hour to those who have worked for the program since it began in 2023.

Selectmen opposed increasing the cost to residents without addressing non-resident fees but requested further financial data before voting on it.

They also questioned a plan that would give seasonal employees wage increases incomparable to permanent, full-time staff.

After reviewing two years of the summer camp’s financial performance, the board approved hourly wages of $15.00, $15.50 and $16.00 an hour according to counselor tenure and holding tuition to 2024 rates.

Other business

In other business selectmen renewed the adult use cannabis retail license for Oxford Provisions, LLC dba Alternative Essence and the adult use cannabis manufacturing license for Thompson Lake Cannabis, LLC.

Honey Badger Bar & Grill’s restaurant liquor license was also renewed.

A request from the Oxford Trail Riders ATV Club to open 70 secondary roads to ATV access was tabled for the second time. The organization first presented their request at the Feb. 20 business meeting, with the goal of establishing trailhead connections between Oxford and Otisfield.

The board determined the matter warrants a workshop for further review. The workshop will be held following March 20’s regular business and joint budget committee meetings.

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