Oxford Township Committee adopts salary ordinance, parking and garbage-payment changes; approves farmland lease bids and tax-certificate redemptions

Oxford Township’s governing Committee met Oct. 15, 2025, at the municipal building and unanimously adopted several ordinances and resolutions affecting pay, parking, solid-waste billing and township land use.

The Committee adopted Ordinance 2025-15, a salary ordinance that sets pay ranges for elected stipends, department heads, clerks and hourly staff, retroactive to Aug. 11, 2025. The governing body followed with Resolution 2025-113 applying a 3% increase to part-time and non-bargaining-unit positions (the resolution specifies exclusions for seasonal roles and the Township Administrator). Mayor Gerald Norton apologized to municipal officers and employees for an earlier oversight in raises. The salary schedule lists specific ranges for the mayor ($4,000–$6,500), township clerk ($30,000–$80,000) and public-works foreman ($50,000–$90,000), among other positions.

The Committee also advanced and adopted two ordinances affecting residents. Ordinance 2025-17, introduced on first reading, changes the township’s garbage-fee payment schedule to quarterly billing due March, June, September and December; final adoption is scheduled for the Nov. 12 meeting. On second reading the Committee adopted Ordinance 2025-14 to add time-limited no-parking on both sides of Kent Street from 7:30–9:30 a.m. and 2:00–4:00 p.m., Monday–Friday; signs have been ordered.

The Committee approved several fiscal and land actions. Resolutions 2025-111 and 2025-112 authorize redemption of tax sale certificates: Certificate #24-00026 (Block 33 Lot 4) will be redeemed for $136,036.83 (certificate plus $27,300 premium) and Certificate #24-00001 (Block 1.01 Lot 45) for $4,107.66 (certificate plus $1,400 premium); both direct the Tax Collector to cancel the liens. Separately, Resolution 2025-114 authorizes advertising for sealed bids to lease two township-owned unimproved farmland parcels (Block 26 Lot 85 — approximately 45 acres; Block 26 Lot 86 — approximately 78 acres). The resolution sets parcel-specific lease terms (Parcel 1: Jan. 1, 2026–Feb. 25, 2028; Parcel 2: Jan. 1, 2026–Dec. 31, 2030), requires proof of insurance naming the township as additional insured, and schedules bids to be opened Dec. 3, 2025.

The Committee also authorized the mayor to execute a second amendment to the redevelopment agreement with SHRI Properties for Block 31 Lot 21.01; the amendment has been forwarded to the Land Use Board for review.

New- and old-business actions included authorization for the Oxford EMS Squad to perform a canal cleanup in Highlander Hills with township-provided dumpsters (the EMS will accept a donation), and acceptance of a $7,000 bid for a nonconforming lot (Block 3 Lot 34), with the township attorney authorized to proceed toward closing. Administrator Matt Hall said he will investigate purchasing a street-sweeper attachment via the Clean Communities account and will update the township web pages with Senior Freeze information for residents.

During department reports the township engineer said Wall Street project quality-assurance work will be submitted to the New Jersey Department of Transportation; the planner reported a Land Use Board application and escrow funds for a DPW building. Lt. Pappalardo of the Washington Police Department had no report but was asked to pass congratulations to Captain Smith on his promotion.

Public commenter Peggy Hissim asked about the farmland bid and said that during the CSA shutdown the animal-control officer was not permitted to remove dogs; the transcript records that the health department shut CSA operations for high animal counts, and the Committee asked the administrator to follow up.

Votes at a glance - October 15, 2025: Approval of Oct. 1, 2025 regular and executive minutes — Motion passed (mover: Georgette Miller; seconder: Linda Koufodontes; Ayes: 3). - Ordinance 2025-17 (change garbage-fee payment schedule) — Introduced/approved for first reading; final hearing Nov. 12, 2025 (mover: Georgette Miller; seconder: Linda Koufodontes; Ayes: 3). - Ordinance 2025-14 (Kent Street no-parking hours) — Adopted on second reading (mover: Georgette Miller; seconder: Linda Koufodontes; Ayes: 3). - Ordinance 2025-15 (salary ranges) — Adopted (mover: Georgette Miller; seconder: Linda Koufodontes; Ayes: 3). - Resolution 2025-111 — Redeem Tax Sale Certificate #24-00026; authorize $136,036.83 payment — Adopted (Ayes: 3). - Resolution 2025-112 — Redeem Tax Sale Certificate #24-00001; authorize $4,107.66 payment — Adopted (Ayes: 3). - Resolution 2025-113 — Apply 3% increase to part-time/non-bargaining positions (retroactive Aug. 11, 2025) — Adopted (Ayes: 3). - Resolution 2025-114 — Authorize sealed-bid leases for Block 26 Lots 85 and 86; bids due Dec. 3, 2025 — Adopted (Ayes: 3). - Resolution 2025-115 — Authorize execution of second amendment to redevelopment agreement with SHRI Properties — Adopted (Ayes: 3). - EMS cleanup authorization (Highlander Hills canal) — Adopted (mover: Georgette Miller; seconder: Mayor Norton; Ayes: 3). - Acceptance of $7,000 bid for nonconforming lot (Block 3 Lot 34) — Adopted (mover: Mayor Norton; Ayes: 3). - Motion to pay bills as presented — Adopted (mover: Georgette Miller; seconder: Linda Koufodontes; Ayes: 3).

What’s next Final adoption of Ordinance 2025-17 will be considered at the Nov. 12, 2025 Committee meeting. Administrator Matt Hall will report back on the Clean Communities funding inquiry, ACO/CSA follow-up and web updates for senior tax-relief information. The Land Use Board will review the redevelopment-amendment materials for Block 31 Lot 21.01.

Sources: Oxford Township Committee meeting minutes and motions recorded Oct. 15, 2025.