OXFORD – The Town of Oxford supervisor and members of the Board of Trustees met for their monthly meeting Wednesday night and were joined by roughly ten residents.
At the start of the meeting, David Crane from Mang Insurance Agency, LLC provided a presentation regarding the town’s insurance policy and a summary of the municipalities coverage, set to renew at the end of August, he said.
The town’s insurance is provided through New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal (NYMIR). According to Crane, NYMIR was founded with the vision to stabilize the municipal insurance market by driving down rates and providing insurance and risk management recommendations to municipalities in New York State.
“NYMIR has a good track record,” said Crane. “There are 700 municipalities insured by NYMIR in New York. It is managed by a board of governors, elected and appointed officials from villages, towns and counties across the state.”
Crane noted the properties covered by the town’s insurance, including the town garage, bath house, swimming pool and town offices, and wanted to be sure all properties or structures were listed in the summary of information provided to the board members, so that all structures needing coverage were included.
The blanket property insurance the policy holds is $834,630. This amount - in the event of damage or loss - could be applied to all properties or any effected property.
A $1 million general liability limit is in place for the town - the coverage available in the event an injury takes place on town property. This is sometimes referred to as “slip and fall” coverage, and is available for the town if need be. Crane noted it is sometimes a targeted area for municipalities.
The town is also covered with public officials liability insurance, what Crane described as coverage in the event of a lawsuit brought against the town over land use, zoning issues, employment practices, harassment, discrimination, or decision-making issues.
The premium summary Crane described was a decrease from last year’s , and Supervisor Lawrence Wilcox noted he had heard of an expected decrease again for the following year, possibly 5.4 percent.
“I don’t hear about many people leaving NYMIR,” said Wilcox.
Crane said NYMIR insures approximately one third of the municipalities in NY and the group must remain competitive.
The Town of Oxford will receive $668 it had paid in interest back in compensation this year.
At the conclusion of Crane’s summary and presentation, Wilcox stated, “Thank you, and your company will be receiving a check,” securing the town’s insurance policy with NYMIR once again. It was said the Town of Oxford has been covered by NYMIR for approximately 10 or 12 years.
Crane and NYMIR also gifted the town board with a new American Flag, for which Wilcox and the board were grateful for.
The agenda led the board to the time alloted for public comment.
Wilcox said, “Does anyone have anything they’d like to address that’s not about natural gas?”
As no one stepped forward on that front, Wilcox went ahead and allotted 30 minutes for comments to the board by those in attendance.
Approximately five residents opted to address the board, yet Wilcox interjected more than once, reminding the residents the meeting was not a forum for banter back and forth with each other, but an opportunity to express concerns to the board.
One Oxford resident endorsed the board’s actions, stating the members of the board have great integrity and there is no need for “disgusting and twisted things that break our focus.” The man noted the town’s lower tax rates and said he was personally endorsing the board, and not interested in the “low life, mud-slinging fest.”
Another town resident, during his time to address the board, directed his words to a fellow resident in attendance in relation to railroads, businesses in the Northeast, and fracking - due to a recent letter to the editor published in yesterday’s edition of The Evening Sun. Discussions became heated as he stated, “You want a war, [expletive], you’re going to get one.”
All of those wishing to address the board were given an opportunity, and the meeting continued per the agenda items.
It was noted by Wilcox long-time attorney James Downey informed him he will be retiring, and the board will be on the lookout for a replacement.
“We don’t want to just pick someone off the street,” said Wilcox. “This is something we need to think about.”
The security camera system for the swimming pool proposed by Pat Moore in a previous town meeting was given the go-ahead, yet it will not be in use until next year’s swimming season, as this season is drawing to a close.
A number of different options of cameras are available - some offering varying recording options and viewing abilities.
Said Village of Oxford Police Chief Rich Nolan, “It would be a good idea, so that we could watch and monitor.”
It was discussed at the July board meeting that the pool has been broken into and used as a bathroom, and security measures could curb the issue.
According to Nolan there are many choices available, one with a 48-hour recording time that can be set up at the pool and then reviewed as needed. There are many possible systems with varying recording times and viewing features.
Since it will not be implemented until swimming season next year, there is time for a final decision to be made on the matter.
Wilcox discussed the progress of the village and town comprehensive plan, stating he had spent some time with Village of Oxford Mayor Terry Stark recently with regard to the various options available. Plans with a consultant were mentioned, and Wilcox added the said consultant may do community presentations regarding what the plan may entail in the future.
The next meeting of the Town of Oxford board will be held at 7:30 p.m., September 11 at the Village Hall in Oxford.