OXFORD — Selectmen gave final approval to the warrant for Oxford’s annual town meeting, which will be held June 7 at Town Office on Pottle Street.

In addition to articles for line items on the town’s $6.6 million annual budget, residents will also vote on a $3 million bond to rebuild and repair at least eight roads, whether to accept transfer of the Fore Street Cemetery from the association that has owned and managed it since 1872, and whether Oxford should do away with in-person annual town meetings in favor of closed ballot voting.

The road bond calls for paving, culvert replacement and other repairs to Rabbit Valley Road, Number Six Road, East Oxford Road, Kohut Road, Sam Rowe Hill Road, Cross Road, Jenny Lane, Hebron Road, and others as needed and as funds allow.

Last summer Oxford received a $1.6 million Recovery & Resiliency Grant as part of federal assistance following catastrophic storms between December of 2023 and last spring.

Trustees of the Fore Street Cemetery would transfer the property and all other assets over to Oxford to manage and maintain. The town’s highway department has mowed and tended to the site for more than a decade.

Oxford’s form of government has become a perennial topic in recent years. Some on the Select Board have been adamant about maintaining open annual meetings, with citizens committed to attending making the town’s decisions. Others believe that making it easier for residents, with less spare time, to vote will increase participation.

Last year about 80 residents attended the meeting. In 2023 it was about half that number. According to Maine state voter data, Oxford had 3,027 registered voters as of Feb. 6.

During last year’s state elections in June, 274 voters participated in a straw poll on annual town meeting, with 154 favoring closed ballot while 120 preferred open vote.

In other business during the May 15 meeting, selectmen awarded its waste hauling contract to Almighty Waste of Auburn.

Town Manager Adam Garland reported that a request for proposals for the Rabbit Valley Road reconstruction project has been posted on the town’s website, with a deadline for contractors to submit falling on May 29. Oxford’s contracted engineer, Rob Prue of Pine Tree Engineering, is managing the process and will act as project manager for the work.

Town Clerk Kathleen Dillingham told selectmen she is updating voter records ahead of this year’s state elections in June. Property tax liens will be issued by the end of May. She is also working to inventory the town’s cemetery records.

Sign up for our weekly community newsletter, Oxford Hills Now.