WOODSTOCK — Because of a county error in calculating the town’s share of Oxford County taxes, Woodstock selectmen, last week, voted to take funds from the town’s overlay account to cover a shortfall in what the town owes.

The original county assessment to Woodstock of $279,702 had to be increased by $13,512, according to Town Manager Vern Maxfield.

But taxes for the town had already been committed by the board and couldn’t be revised, he said. When the commitment was made $19,172 was set aside as overlay in the event of unforeseen expenses. The $13,512 will be taken from that.

Last year’s county assessment was  $235,369, Maxfield said.

In other business at last week’s meeting, Ed Rosenberg and Jane Chandler of the Woodstock Conservation Commission updated the board on progress on the “Trail for All” project at Buck’s Ledge, which is a trail designed to allow access to people with disabilities. It will be wheelchair accessible.

They said they had received four bids to build a half-mile loop around the upper parking lot and a quarter-mile extension from there to a scenic overlook. The commission is in discussion with one bidder to work out details, Chandler said. Selectmen will ultimately approve a bid.

The trail work is expected to start in May, which will allow more time to fundraise and apply for grants to support the project, said Chandler.

Selectmen also discussed concerns that have been expressed about the G&W Transfer Station policy of charging a $25 annual fee for users deemed “commercial haulers.”  “The intention was that the haulers would be bringing primarily household trash from residents, whose trash would have come to the G&W anyway,” Maxfield said. But complaints have been lodged about construction debris brought in under the $25 fee. That debris, said Maxfield, is supposed to be handled with a roll off container on the construction site, with the cost borne by the homeowner or contractor.

The G&W Board was expected to discuss the situation at its next meeting.

Maxfield also reported to the selectmen that the town received a notice from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that Woodstock has been awarded  $57,023 for damages caused by a storm in December of 2022.

At the end of the meeting Maxfield gave selectmen a letter announcing his plan to retire as town manager July 31 of next year. He will have served as manager for 37 years. The selectmen noted his service with appreciation. Maxfield said writing “The Letter,” as selectmen dubbed it, was “one of the hardest things I’ve ever written.”

The next selectmen’s meeting is Sept. 3 at 5 p.m. at the Town Office.