Oxford Township welcomed two new trustees to its board and bid farewell to two seasoned veterans last week.

All seven board members were sworn-in Friday afternoon at the township hall by 52-3 District Judge Nancy Carniak.

“Whether you’re elected or appointed, sometimes these jobs are thankless, as I well know,” Carniak said. “Sometimes the only gratification you get is just knowing that you’re doing the right thing for the community. So, I want to thank everyone for their service in advance.”

New to the township board are trustees Margaret Payne and Elgin Nichols.

Payne worked for the Oxford Fire Department in an administrative role from 1995 to 2015. Nichols served on the Oxford Village Council from 2012-14 and currently works as the technical supervisor for Oxford Community Television.

They replaced longtime trustees Sue Bellairs and Melvin “Buck” Cryderman.

Bellairs, who served four terms since 1996, decided to not seek re-election, while Cryderman, who spent eight years on the board, was narrowly defeated in the August Republican primary election.

At their last meeting on Nov. 9, the two received plenty of thanks, praise and well wishes from their fellow officials.

Supervisor Bill Dunn, who’s known Bellairs since 1999, likened their relationship to that of siblings.

“We didn’t always get along,” he said. “But I can tell you that I love and respect her. She is one woman that does not flip-flop. When she makes her mind up, she sticks with it. And most of the time, she’s right.”

Dunn noted Bellairs and her community watchdog partner Helen Barwig were “beat up pretty bad” during the Oxford Police controversies that spanned the late 1990s through the early 2000s. Despite all the slings and arrows lobbed at them, he said they “stood there and took it.”

“And you know what? They were exactly right,” Dunn said.

As for Cryderman, Dunn said when they first met each other, they “didn’t see eye-to-eye,” but over the years, they’ve “grown to respect each other.”

Trustee Jack Curtis said Bellairs “taught me a lot” about the job and how to do it.

Treasurer Joe Ferrari echoed Curtis’ sentiments. “You’ve made me a better trustee,’ he told Bellairs.

Bellairs taught Ferrari to judge issues based on facts, not the people involved, and to concentrate on what’s being said, not who’s saying it. “I don’t care who’s at the podium – is there any merit to what they’re saying?” Ferrari said.

As for Cryderman, the treasurer said, “I’ve always admired you because you always take on the assignments that others don’t want.”

“We appreciate your service,” Ferrari told Cryderman. “You’ve been a great trustee and a good person to work with.”

Looking back at her time on the board, Bellairs said, “It’s been fun,” but now, it’s time to pass the torch “to the new people.”

“I think that every resident that can should (serve) four years (on the township board) and learn about how government works from the inside,” she said. “It’s interesting. It’s not like you think it’s going to be. It’s different. And it’s a good experience.”