By Betsy Brewer Brantner
Contributing Writer

Oxford Borough officials recently discussed letters of intent received from neighboring municipalities regarding their interest in securing police protection from the Oxford Borough Police Department.

The borough has received letters from Upper Oxford, Penn and East Nottingham townships. These letters are the necessary next step to move forward with a feasibility study regarding the regionalization of the Oxford Police Department. The study is funded with a grant from Pennsylvania’s DCED.

If regionalization does occur, the police department would remain based in Oxford Borough.

Oxford Police Sgt. Chris Coverly spoke talked about Lower Oxford Township, and the decision by officials there to not even consider the impact of a regionalized police department.

“We would love to see Lower Oxford reconsider,” Coverly said. “If they want an opportunity to provide service to their community we are available. It is confusing if a police issue, medical event, robbery or auto accident happens now at the Oxford Commons.”

He explained, “Currently those incidents don’t get dispatched to us. They are dispatched to the State Police at the Avondale Barracks. We are only called if the State Police request our assistance. We can literally be sitting on Route 10 or in the Redner’s parking lot and we would not be dispatched unless the State Police request us to secure the scene until the State Police arrive.”

Coverly continued, “We have been tracking it. If someone finds a wallet, or if criminal activity occurs, which happens several times a week, someone will come to our station and we have to turn them away. We are an accredited police department and have a lot of training. Many of our officers live in surrounding townships with their families and they would like to see a police presence there too. They would like to be confident if their family needs help, they could get help quickly.”

The housing needs survey was also discussed. 

Oxford Borough Manager Pauline Garcia-Allen told council that the borough needs their residents to fill out the survey. This survey is part of the research being done by the borough's Housing Committee. The purpose of this survey is to help the Committee further understand the housing needs of the Oxford region (Borough of Oxford, East Nottingham, West Nottingham, Elk, Upper Oxford and Lower Oxford Townships) and learn about specific community needs. Responses will help to describe current housing supply, demand, and affordability in the region and begin to identify what types of housing may be needed now and in the future. The Housing Needs Assessment will identify potential targeted improvement strategies or actions. Responses will remain anonymous, and results will be presented in aggregate form only. 

The survey has 12 key questions plus a demographic section. It should take less than 15 minutes to respond. There will be an opportunity after the key questions to answer more specific questions providing additional input to the planning team.

The survey is available on the borough’s website. For help or more information, contact the borough office at 610-932-2500.

U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was also discussed at the Oxford Borough Council meeting.

Council member Robert Ketcham said, “I recently attended the meeting of the Oxford Library Board and a representative of the Chester County Library was there to discuss the process in place if either ICE or any other agency or person asked to see private records of those frequenting the library.”

Sarah Beyer-Doty, the interim library director said, “Joe Sherwood, a representative from the Chester County Library, attended our board meeting as he does with all libraries in Chester County. He stressed the process that libraries already have in place when anyone asks for private records, such as books borrowed, or internet searches. He reminded the board that information could not be given out without a court order from the requesting entity.”

Byer-Doty did confirm that no one, specifically ICE, had not come in requesting that information from Oxford Library.

Council member Peggy Russell did remind council that ICE had removed a person who was at a Kennett Square area business with a warrant.

“They didn’t just take the person with the warrant, they also took two other persons with him,” she said.

Garcia-Allen was asked what information the borough gives out about individuals.

“We don’t hand out any private information on individuals,” she replied. “We do have an ordinance that asks for names of people living at rental properties, but that is all.”

Oxford Borough Council also approved the following items:

• Resolution #1396 - 2025 declaring the month of May “No Mow May” in the borough. Interested parties should register by May 1. Only those who are interested in participating need to register. 
• Rio Supply Inc. pay application No. 2 in the amount of $154,439.89 for the grant-funded water meter replacement project.
• The water meter replacement project – replacing an additional 454 water meters at a total cost of $166,146.52, plus an additional $19 per wire run where needed. 
• Special Event permit application by the Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce for the October Movies in the Park event at Oxford Memorial Park on October 11, 2025.