The Oxford Township Board of Trustees met on Aug. 10 for their regular monthly meeting. Supervisor Jack Curtis, Treasurer Joe Ferrari, Clerk Curtis Wright, trustees Rod Charles and Catherine Colvin were in attendance; trustees Jonathon Nold and Margaret Payne were absent.

After public comments, the board got down to work.

Map amendment

Treasurer Ferrari moved and Trustee Colvin supported the second reading of Zoning Ordinance 67A.029 – Zoning Map Amendments. The motion passed.

Workshop meeting set

The township board approved a special budget workshop meeting tonight (Aug. 24). Also at that special meeting will be a Truth and Lending hearing. At the regular Sep 14 meeting the township board will adopt its 2023 budget. The meetings start at 6:30 p.m.

2023 holidays discussed

The board approved closing the township hall on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. A discussion about observing Juneteenth – June 19 – followed. Supervisor Curtis said the federal holiday could be addressed locally in a number of ways. The holiday is observed with a day off for township employees, or the township could give employees eight hours to take off as a floating holiday when they want to. A motion by Ferrari to have the township start observing the Juneteenth holiday was shot down by a three to two vote. A motion by Curtis to add the floating holiday was also voted down. A new motion to add an additional eight personal hours for employees to use when they want, for a total of 48 hours of personal hours passed by a three to two vote with Ferrari and Charles voting no. The township observes 12 holidays a year: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Good Friday (the Friday before Easter), Memorial Day, July 4^th, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Funds approved

The township board approved $6,742 to be spent replacing an air conditioning condenser coil in the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Substation. Kapala Heating and Cooling will do the work.

Hydrant painting

According to Supervisor Curtis the township has about 800 fire hydrants, of which 100 have been painted. “We used to have trustees from the Oakland County jail to paint. We can’t use them any more. We have about 700 more to paint and have no idea what the cost is to paint them.” The board voted to have Curtis and Fire Chief Pete Sholtz look for a contractor and to make recommendations to the board at “a future meeting.”

Appointed

Trustee Colvin and Supervisor Curtis were appointed to the township’s compensation evaluation committee

Retiring

Supervisor Curtis announced that long time township attorney Gary Rentrop will retire.