OXFORD – Oxford City Council met Tuesday, Nov. 1, to discuss finances, renovations, and more — including Saturday’s special day aimed at feeding the hungry.
The meeting opened with a proclamation declaring Saturday, Nov. 12 “Oxford Empty Bowls Day.”
Empty Bowls is “an international grassroots hunger relief effort” held in 20 countries. Oxford has raised more than $68,000 in “support of the Family Resource Centers and the Oxford Community Choice Pantry’s efforts to combat hunger locally”
Oxford Empty Bowls began in 2002.
The community will come together on Saturday to buy a bowl of soup to raise money for the charity.
In other business:
•Jessica Greene, director of the Oxford Visitor’s Bureau, reported Oxford was recently declared the “Best Hometown” and shared the magazine in which that article was originally published. She said she has boxes of the magazines in the Visitor’s Bureau available for anyone who would like copies.
She also thanked council members for their assistance every year in the Summer Concert series.
•Council approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to enter into a new agreement with Oxford Township to provide fire protection and emergency medical services. A current agreement expires Dec. 31. The proposed new contract is for three years and “will increase the agreement amount paid by the township for operations, plus an additional amount to compensate the city for operation, maintenance, and replacement of emergency vehicles.”
The new contract is for $90,000 per year, with an additional compensation amount of $80,000 per year.
Council held the first reading of:
• An ordinance for a conditional use permit to allow for site modifications to Beta Theta Pi’s fraternity house located on High Street. Currently the house is broken into two properties, but the plan is to add a connection and expand the parking lot.
•An ordinance vacating an easement on the Beta Theta Pi property. This vacation is necessary for the maintenance on the parking lot.
The next Oxford City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 7:30 p.m. at Oxford Courthouse.
