Oxford Village offers a number of services to its residents and it appears that childcare could soon be one of them.

Last week, officials continued discussing the idea of using the village’s community room as a space to make free, supervised childcare available to the public during council meetings. The hope is this will potentially increase parents’ participation and interest in local government.

“I think government works for the people, not the other way around,” said Councilwoman Kate Logan, who brought this idea to council months ago. “If they’re not here, then I don’t feel like they’re getting their money’s worth.”

Logan was looking to employ childcare staff from either a local, privately-run early childhood education provider or the Oxford Early Learning Center (OELC), which is operated by the public school district.

The private provider is no longer an option, according to Logan, because it “insisted” its staff be paid in cash. She told her fellow council members doing that “obviously is problematic” because it’s a “pretty bad practice” for a local government to deal in cash.

Logan went on to say that she had a “very good conversation” with OELC. She’s hoping that if this gets cleared by the OELC director, a “memorandum of understanding” between the village and OELC can be drafted and approved. Two of its staff members would then be added to the municipality’s payroll so they can be issued checks on a bimonthly basis, she explained.

“That way everything could be documented as it should (be),” Logan said.

Logan estimated the village will be paying two individuals an hourly rate of $12 to $14 each to spend an average of two hours supervising kids.

Council members have discussed voluntarily donating a portion of the pay they receive for serving on the board to fund this program.

“This is not something the taxpayers are going to pay for,” said Councilwoman Maureen Helmuth. “The village is not paying babysitters for all of you.”

Per the village charter, council members are paid $15 for every council meeting they attend. The charter also states that a councilperson’s total pay cannot exceed $500 per year, with the exception of the village president, who is paid an additional $200 annually.

Helmuth noted she doesn’t have a problem “chipping in (her) own personal council wages,” but she doesn’t want to speak for anyone else.

Logan indicated she would have no problem with including childcare as part of the 2020-21 village budget.

“I’m going to be completely honest, my intention is to use taxpayers’ dollars next year if . . . it is a successful program,” she said. “I wouldn’t feel bad justifying that at all. I don’t think we’d need to.”

Logan added she’s willing to look at funding any program that makes council more accessible to residents.

“I encourage the public to come up with any ideas (as to) what they’d like to see happen with that,” she said.

Resident Evelyn Piotrowski, who lives on Lakes Edge Dr., questioned if providing childcare is “really the business of local government.”

She pointed out that council meetings can be viewed by residents on Oxford Community Television and online “almost at any time” and “at (their) discretion.”

Logan countered that “there’s something different about . . . being here in the room” for meetings and being able to make comments and ask questions as things are happening.

“I’m going to continue to pursue all programs that incentivize (residents) to be here and to be part of this process,” she said.

Frost likes the ideas of families coming to the village hall together.

“How incredible is it for a young family to come and participate in their local government while their children are in the room next door?” he said.

Frost believes having children see their parents, friends’ parents and neighbors involved and interested in local government will encourage them to follow suit.

“That plants the seed to ensure that those children run for student council someday and perhaps, (end up) sitting in these same seats,” he said.