Oxford Police Chief Michael Daniels submitted his formal notice of departure to the Selectboard noting that his last day on the job would be February 14, 2026. Board Chair John Eul, Jr. stated that the Board wished Chief Daniels the best for his future. Daniels has accepted a new position as Police Chief in Canton.

Town Manager Jennifer Callahan selected Public Safety Consultants group to lead a recruitment process and the Board voted to accept the group’s services at their next meeting to move the process forward in the search for a new police chief.

The May Town Meeting date and time were set as Wednesday, May 6 at 7 p.m. to be held at Oxford High School, 100 Carbuncle Drive. The town warrant will be opened on March 17 and closed on March 31 as set by the town charter. 

The town manager’s report included a briefing from interim Fire Chief Ken Sellers about the restarting of the former Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).  Sellers explained that CERT volunteers assist with disaster preparation and basic emergency response. “It’s a national program that is registered under FEMA’s jurisdiction. Volunteers are taught fire safety, and light search and rescue disaster medical operations,” Sellers stated, adding that he hopes to jumpstart the program and to accept volunteer applications. With the recent cold weather and multiple snowstorms, for example, the Senior Center could be used as a warming location for residents who were in need. Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older and applications are available at the fire stations. Training is provided and once completed, volunteers would receive their helmets, vests, backpacks, water bottles, and, most importantly, their credentials. The volunteers would then be contacted as needed. 

Town Manager Callahan then reviewed the Senior Tax Work Off Program. She noted that there was a large pool of applicants and that the lottery was to be held on February 13 at 10 a.m. at the Town Hall. There were 48 applications for a total of 25 available slots. Callahan indicated that she was not aware of any other community that was as robust as Oxford’s and that the program has become very popular. The town budget includes funding to allow this type of program to be of assistance for those who qualify.  Additionally, Oxford will again be participating in the Community Rain Barrel Program which allows Oxford residents to purchase rain barrels in the color of their choice to reuse, repurpose, and recycle rainwater. The barrel price is $89, and orders must be placed by May 3.  Orders may be placed at www.tgarb.com by going to the Oxford page. She thanked the DPW staff and the Conservation Commission for making the program so successful. 

Callahan also reviewed Governor Healy’s new state budget for fiscal year 2027 which provides for a 3.2% increase in Chapter 70 school aid. She reminded the board that the budgetary numbers must now pass through additional branches of government and that these numbers were merely the first iteration.  She then assessed the town’s Master Plan and informed the Board that there was a preliminary management meeting with representatives regarding the major multi-year initiative to update Oxford’s existing Master Plan. “At the meeting we discussed current major infrastructure projects, upcoming planning initiatives, and key infrastructure achievements attained related to the current 2017 Master Plan. We also reviewed the many technical assistance plans that the town now has in place to complement the upcoming planning processes” she stated.  

One of the last items on the town manager’s agenda was a review of the Dept. of Public Works and Emergency Management wherein she praised the DPW workers for their diligence and hard work during the last heavy snowstorm the town experienced, calling the crews “snow fighters” and praised their phenomenal work clearing the roads and streets, widening roadways, and clearing intersections to keep the town open for business. She also praised the snowplowing sub-contractors who support the town’s snow and ice operations. “They did a great job working in tandem with our DPW people,” she said.