Oxford BOS approves permits, warrants; receives resignation of police officer

Board of Selectmen Meeting, 4/24/12;

Annual Town Meeting, May 2
Town Election, May 15 

Janet Stoica 
Patriot Correspondent

Tuesday night’s regular Board meeting commenced with Henry LaMountain in the chair position due to Jen Caissie’s illness. Otherwise, all Board members were present including Dennis Lamarche, Michael Voas, and John Saad. Also present were Karen Crandell, Selectmen’s Clerk, and Joseph Zeneski, Town Manager. A public hearing was held regarding a flammable storage license for the Citgo gas station located at 484 Main Street. The storage had been added to the station’s original license approved by the Town in Sept. 2009. The license was to keep 127 gallons of propane in 36 above-ground tanks. Selectman Lamarche noted that Fire Chief Bemis was in favor of the storage guidelines, and the 4-member Board then voted approval with 2 abstentions. Selectmen then reviewed a Class II auto license change request from Your Auto Expert LLC to Bonnette’s Automotive. The owner of Your Auto, Robert Appleton, sought to reduce his 19-car license to 4 and merge same with Robert McFadden’s business, Bonnette Automotive. Mr. Appleton advised the Board that because he was now a sole proprietor, he wanted to reduce his overhead as he had become a “personal car shopper service” and did not require a car lot. The Board approved the request with 2 abstentions from Messrs. Voas and Lamountain.

Honey Farms, Inc. new manager, Michael Siddall, was approved as the new handler of the location’s wine and malt liquor store license on Sutton Avenue with all four selectmen voting for approval but with an advisement to Mr. Siddall from Mr. Lamountain about the Oxford Police Department sting operations. Policy 501 was briefly reviewed which is the Rules & Regulations regarding Eligibility for Benefits and the Board opted to table further discussion until Ms. Caissie was present at their next meeting on Wednesday, May 2, at 6 pm.

Mr. Zeneski then presented his customary report wherein the following items were unanimously approved: 1/10/12 meeting minutes, May 2 Annual Town Meeting Warrant, May 15 Town Election polling hours, May 15 Election Warrant, VFW’s outdoor business permit for a flea market on 5/12/12 as well as its one-day all-alcohol pouring license for that same day, American Legion’s Horseshoe League’s special pouring license for Saturdays beginning on May 5 and ending on Oct. 27, 2012, allowing the American Legion Post #58 to host this year’s Memorial Day Parade on May 28, annual and single-day fee adjustments for Yard Sales and Outdoor Business Permits (with discounts still available for Town citizens over the age of 65, and waiving the $50 application fee for out-of-town Constables if they are employees of the Town of Oxford). Selectman Saad noted that it had come to his attention that 25 percent of each constable’s service fees were to be paid to the Town and requested that Town Manager Zeneski provide an internal audit report from the Town Treasurer’s office listing which appointed constables had been submitting the percentage to the Town. Mr. Zeneski indicated that he would obtain the necessary audit before the next meeting.

The Board received the resignation of Police Officer Jason Burdett and voted to send a letter of appreciation to Officer Burdett for his service to the Town. Following this vote, it was documented that the second-half of the 2012 real estate tax bills had been mailed on April 18, were due on Friday, May 18, and that anyone wishing to file an abatement must do so by May 18; the Oxford Republican town committee had sent an invitation to the Board to participate in their annual get-together to be held at the Senior Center on May 3 at 6:30 p.m.; and an additional invitation had been received to attend the Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Nicholas Tavares of Boy Scout Troop 161 on Saturday, May 26, at 1 p.m. The ceremony will be held at the United Methodist Church 465 Main Street, Oxford. A reminder was also given about the annual town meeting to be held on Wednesday, May 2, at 7 p.m. at the high school.

Selectmen requests included a discussion about the general disrepair of the Carbuncle Pond bath house/concession stand and need for a new structure as well as upcoming installation of signage involving Oxford’s historical district. Selectman Saad then reviewed the need for additional part-time assistance for Selectmen’s Clerk, Karen Crandell. He questioned Mr. Zeneski as to why the appropriation request for part-time help had been omitted from the town warrant, and Mr. Zeneski was to look into the matter. Selectman Saad highly praised Ms. Crandell’s strong job performance and restated the need for assistance in the selectmen’s office. Lastly, Selectman Lamountain spoke about the communityc center’s sanitary facilities and the first-floor’s substandard building conditions as compared to the other floors of the community center. Executive session was then called, and the public meeting was concluded.