By Jan Greenhawk April 26, 2024
The Town of Oxford started Tuesday evening, April 23rd with a half a million-dollar deficit. By the end of the evening, due to the expert bookkeeping by new Clerk/Treasurer Vicki North Sharp, the deficit was reduced to approximately $126,000. The reduction will not be without some pain.
Sharp, who was recently hired when citizens of the town demanded that the recommendations of seven years of audits be followed and more than one staffer had control of the town’s finances, reviewed cuts in different budget areas for the upcoming year:
- leaving the fourth police officer hiring to later in next year
- not purchasing public works equipment till next year
- taking out paving projects
In her words, the budget has been “scrubbed.” Water and Sewer rates may go up again this year by 3% in order to provide income. Other expenses like workman’s comp for the fire department were reduced, sidewalk repair was reduced from $10,000 to $5000, administrative costs under water management will be reduced, as will cost of chemicals for that purpose. Some expenses like internet and phone will go up due to a change in service. Interest debt will go down.
Grant money would be pushed ahead to next year and budgets for grants would be broken into line items of expenses.
Sharp stated that as the year progresses, the town would get to a balanced budget.
The attention shifted to a topic that has been on the minds of Oxford residents for years, flooding and how to address it in town. The debate centers around how best to use ARPA funds (American Rescue Plan) before they must be returned. There are four areas of town that have been the focus of a Stormwater Management Plan as early as 2016. The plan just recently resurfaced from the town’s archives when citizens demanded to see it.
The Commissioners and the Town Manager highlighted four areas to be addressed: Pier Street, Mill Street, Caroline Street and Banks Street. Pier Street and Mill Street would cost $250,000 and $225,000 respectively. Three of the areas, Pier Street, Mill Street and Banks Street have severely impacted homes. Caroline Street is more of a nuisance flooding area and many consider it to be less of a priority than the other three.
Some citizens suggested the projects be done simultaneously. They would be designed and contracted to GMB Engineering. Most agree that the projects need to be done expeditiously.
The discussion then centered on whether or not requests for proposal could be sent out to solicit different contractors to complete the builds and make sure the town gets the most for their money. Several residents insisted that Oxford “spend the money and get it done.”
The big news of the night centered around a grant from FEMA to the tune of 2.6 million. The grant will go toward homeowners who wish to raise their homes to avoid flood waters. 90% of the cost would be paid by the federal government and the other 10% by the homeowner. Homeowners will get money through FEMA and MEMA and the accounting will go through them. As of now, the money is not there. Town Manager Lewis assured the Commissioners “but we know this is going to happen.” So far, 14 homeowners have expressed interest.
The second grant of $1 million secured by Senators Van Hollen and Cardin and Congressman Harris for Oxford allows the town to be the center for sea level rise studies and supposedly, the living shorelines. Oxford would be a test case for approaches to use or discard and could help other communities determine best designs, practices, etc.
Oxford will get its own tidal gauge. Currently Oxford refers to one in Cambridge.
This may explain why such drastic measures were used to “save” the Strand Beach. Town residents have said for a long time that the project on the Strand has more to do with being a test case for other towns than stopping erosion and flooding as town officials claim. The FEMA grant would bring the Oxford NOAA station more support staff to research solutions for sea rise; 2 scientists, 2 liaison specialists (one for Oxford, one for the rest of the Eastern Shore.) Town Manager Lewis said this would make Oxford “ground zero” for NOAA.
Questions to Ask Yourselves:
What are the strings attached to the FEMA money? What conditions/requirements will apply to each home raised? If people raise their homes, where do they live during the months when their home is being raised? Who pays for that? Will homeowner’s insurance still cover their homes? What about liability insurance? In what order will houses be raised, by need? By standing with the town? Will the amount the federal government gives homeowners for raising their homes be taxed like so many other government “giveaways” are? Once a homeowner’s house has been raised, how will the feet of water in their yards be dealt with?
Second, if money was available to study sea rise in Oxford, why wasn’t it applied to preventing/lessening flooding in the town? We know there are four (possibly more) areas that need flood mitigation, why didn’t the town ask our Senators and Congressman to address that issue with a grant instead of doing more studies. Wouldn’t more people be helped in that way? People are clamoring for the town to do something. Getting another study done and being a “test case” for other communities is not doing something. We have had a study since 2016. This is more of the same “sit around and admire the problem while people make big salaries” approach that the Federal government loves so much.
And we haven’t addressed the water pipes which contain lead going to people’s homes.
And, finally, a comment. Our town manager has celebrated that our town is “ground zero” for NOAA and in the federal budget for “the first time.” Does she realize that is NOT a good thing? The phrase “ground zero” is a negative description applied to sites of terrible destruction. Who will want to buy homes and come live in “ground zero?” Also, when you are singled out in the Federal Budget, that is also NOT a good thing. It means you are in deep trouble. Ask towns that have been flattened by tornados and hurricanes.
I wonder who will be hired for the two liaison positions under the NOAA grant. One is designated as a liaison for Oxford. Any guesses?
Author Jan Greenhawk is a former teacher and school administrator for over thirty years. She has two grown children and lives with her husband in Maryland. She also spent over twenty-five years coaching/judging gymnastics and coaching women’s softball.
This article was originally featured at the Easton Gazette.
