OXFORD — Interim Town Manager Becky Lippincott told the Board of Selectmen Thursday night that she hopes to bring in a motivational counselor to speak with Fire Department members, who requested it.

Fire Department members made the decision at a department meeting with the town manager in December, following the sudden resignation of former Fire Chief Wayne Jones, she said.

Jones submitted his letter of resignation Dec. 6 in a one-line memo to members, after he was handed a letter of no-confidence signed by members. Jones had served as chief since June 2015. Deputy Chief David Heidrich was appointed acting fire chief a day later.

“Lippincott said the move is being made to help “build up the morale“ of firefighters.

It is unclear how much it will cost the town to bring someone in, but legal costs to mitigate the longtime controversy has cost the town $8,959 in legal fees for the month of December alone, according to a warrant signed by the board Thursday night. The amount is specifically for services rendered by the town’s legal counsel Bernstein and Shur related to the Fire Department.

A five-person committee has been formed to hire a chief.

In other news, Lippincott said she will call the towns of Poland, Paris and Norway to see if they are interested in meeting to discuss ways to jointly “save money.”

Selectman Scott Hunter said the request is specifically aimed at saving costs in the Fire Department. Talks between Paris and Norway to regionalize fire services have stalled in the past.

Selectmen were also told that a move to get 10 feet of land from the Oxford Plains Speedway owner is moving forward. The additional land is needed for the sewer pumping station that was constructed on speedway land on Route 26 over the summer. The owner has “no problem” with the request, said Lippincott.

The town will also increase its charge for sewers in the north end of Oxford to offset an increase in Norway’s sewer rates. As an example, the bill for consuming 4,800 cubic feet will increase from $268.32 to $276.00 per quarter.

Part of Oxford’s commercial district in the north end is tied into Norway’s sewer system.

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