Welcome Sheriff's Office To Provide Police Coverage
After weeks of discussion and citizen input, the Commissioners of Oxford paused further work on whether or not part time residents who don't fit the definition of "domiciled" in the town can vote in town elections.
Please Follow us on Gab, Minds, Telegram, Rumble, Truth Social, Gettr, Twitter, Youtube
The meeting on December 9th began with Commissioner Dave Donovan commenting on the issue of creating a municipal voting log for part time residents who are not technically "domiciled" in the town. After noting that views on the issue are "very strong," Donovan stated that he initially brought the idea forward after last year's election when he canvassed the town and heard citizen opinion on the topic. The conversation about eligibility was initiated as a way to begin considering options and, in his opinion, it "started a forest fire" instead.
Donovan stated that it was his opinion that the issue "can't be resolved between now and the next election" and that it is detracting from time Commissioners need to pay attention to bigger issues including financial status of the town, budgeting, flood mitigation, the Strand, and Oxford policing. He felt the town needed to put the issue on hold.
Commission President Greer agreed with his comments and Commissioner Bell said he agreed but he'd like to consider Donovan's ideas more before deciding on whether or not to continue action on the issue. No resolution or ordnance which addresses the issue has been proposed by the Commissioners. The Commissioners agreed that conversations on the topic need to continue if and when a large number of citizens are interested.
As expected, some liked the idea of waiting while others didn't. Resident Mac Sommerlatte, who lives on the Strand, shared his passionate displeasure with the decision by comparing it to the denial of the vote to women prior to 1920 and Blacks prior to 1870*. He asked the Commissioners if they had considered the real purpose of the discussion which was everyone's right to vote. Then, after debating with Commissioner Dave Donovan, Sommerlatte asked how citizens could get the issue put back on the agenda. He is in favor of allowing part time residents to vote.
Part time town residents can, according to state and federal law, vote for state, county and federal elections only where they are officially registered with an election board. Towns like Oxford can decide their own voter eligibility rules and often do. Some towns in Maryland allow 16-year-olds to vote. Others let non-citizen residents and those not registered to vote in county, state or federal elections sign a municipal log to allow them to vote only in the particular town.
Former appointed Commissioner Susan Delean Botkin spoke and reminded people that if they want this on the agenda, they need to collect signatures from 20% of the population of the town. This happened in 2023 when citizens collected enough signatures to force a referendum on how commissioners could be replaced if they left office early. This was in reaction to when Botkin, who had run for Commissioner against Katrina Greer and lost by a sizable margin, was appointed to the Commission immediately after the election when Brian Wells resigned. She was sworn in a week prior to Greer, who won the election. Many in town saw this as an attempted nullification of the election results.
The referendum was to change the process to require a special election when a Commissioner leaves office early. It passed by a huge margin and is currently the rule.
Delean Botkin was part of a group against allowing part time residents to vote.
For now, changes to voter eligibility in Oxford are on hold.
OTHER ISSUES:
Sheriff's Office Coverage
After the firing of former Chief Chris Phillips for cause in November, the town was down to one policeman, Sgt. Brandon Bobbick. Oxford contacted Talbot County Sheriff Joe Gamble to create a contract for coverage of the town until the end of June, 2026. This will allow police coverage while the Commissioners determine what the next phase of policing in Oxford will look like.
On Tuesday, Sheriff Gamble and Major Steve Elliott visited the town meeting to explain the agreement. Here is their report:
Sheriff Gamble stated that the Talbot County Sheriff's Office is honored to assist Oxford in policing the town. Deputy J.R. Dobson will be the attendant Deputy in charge of scheduling police coverage in Oxford. Sgt. Bobbick has agreed to stay on with the town's force. The town will only be charged for time deputies/officers are patrolling, not while they are doing paperwork/reports.
Post Office Repairs:
Town Manager Holly Wahl shared that the Oxford Post Office, which had been closed due to a fire since June 23, 2025, will be repaired and opened by February.
Short Term Rentals:
During the Town Manager's report, Wahl disclosed that there are currently seven short term rentals that are not licensed in the town. The owners have been notified and if needed, further action will be taken.
Pay Star Payment System:
The Pay Star Payment System for water/sewer bills has been approved.
Link to Town Meeting Agenda and Accompanying letters and documents:
The Commissioners also announced a vacancy on the Planning Commission. Citizens can apply at the town office or on the Town website.
The next town meeting is December 16, 2025 at 6 p.m.
*While Blacks got the right to vote in 1870, they were disenfranchised in many parts of the country until the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
