Oxford, Michigan

Interested in getting more involved with your community? 

As a resident of the Village of Oxford, you are part of a tight-knit community, and you are encouraged to be a part of the decision-making processes! The Village maintains a variety of opportunities to serve in the areas that matter most to you.

If you are interested in serving, the first step is completing the Boards & Commission Application, and submit to the Village offices at 22 W. Burdick, Oxford, MI 48371.

Please note that completion of this application does not guarantee an appointment. Additionally, per the Village Charter, all elected and appointed officials must not be in debt to the Village at the beginning of their term, and shall be removed from their position should they become indebted to the Village for an extended period of time at any point during their tenure. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Village Manager at 248-628-2543 or via e-mail at manager@thevillageofoxford.org.  

Once your application has been received, it will be reviewed by the Village President and Council. You may be contacted after completing the application if more information is needed. Appointments to Boards and Commissions will only occur when there is a vacancy to be filled and is the recommendation of the Village President with the approval of the Council. Once appointed attendance at all regularly scheduled meetings is expected.  If there are no vacancies at the time your application is received, it will be filed for future opportunities. 
 

Village Council (VC)

All legislative or policy forming powers of the Village shall be vested in, exercised, and determined by the Oxford Village Council. The Council is made up of five (5) members. The term of office of each Councilperson shall commence on and date from the Monday next following the date of the regular Village election at which they are elected.

The Village Council elects one member to serve as the Village President, and one member to serve as the Village President Pro Tem. The Village President shall be recognized as the executive head of the Village and shall preside over Council meetings. The President has an equal voice and vote in the proceedings of the Council, and has no veto power. The President Pro Tem is responsible for performing the duties of the President, when the Village President is temporarily unable to perform the duties of his/her office, and in case of vacancy in the office of President, until such vacancy is filled by the Council. The President Pro Tem also presides over the meetings of the Council at the call of the President.

In order to be eligible for election to the Village Council, a candidate must be at least 21 years of age, as well as a registered voter, and have be a resident of the Village for at least six (6) months immediately prior to the date of election. The Oxford Village Council meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month. Meetings begin at 7:00 p.m., and are held in the Council Chambers at Oxford Village Hall (22 W. Burdick). 

Those interested in running for a council seat should contact the Village offices to obtain the Affidavit of Identity and a non-partisan nominating petition.

Planning Commission (PC)

The Oxford Planning Commission is charged with recommending to the Village council the boundaries of the various zoning districts and zoning ordinances to be enforced therein, as any proposed amendments to the zoning ordinances. The Planning Commission also collects data and keeps itself informed as to the best practices generally in effect in the matter municipal planning and zoning to the end that it may be qualified to act on measures affecting the present and future movement of traffic, the segregation of residential and business districts and the convenience and safety of persons and property in any way dependent on city planning and zoning. Members of the Planning Commission are expected to perform due diligence regarding all applications, which includes making site visits and inspecting properties to understand how the decisions made will effect individual property as well as neighboring properties.

Such commission is created in accordance with the provisions of Act No. 285 of the Public Acts of Michigan of 1931 (MCL 125.31 et seq.), as amended, and shall have all the duties and powers, and shall perform all of the functions, provided by such Act as amended.

The Village Planning Commission consists of seven (7) members, with at least one member but no more than two members of the Oxford Village Council selected by the council as ex officio members, of the six other persons who shall be residents with the exception of one who may be a nonresident and appointed by the president, subject to the approval by a majority vote of the members elect of the council, based on the recommendation from the planning commission. A voting appointed member shall not be an employee of the village except that one of the appointed members shall be an ex officio member of the zoning board of appeals and up to two of the appointed members may be a member of the Oxford Downtown Development Authority. The terms of ex officio members shall correspond to their respective official tenures.

The term of each appointed member shall be three (3) years or until their successor takes office, except that the respective terms of the two of the members first appointed shall be for one year and two for two years. The Oxford Planning Commission meets twice monthly, on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Oxford Village Hall (22 W. Burdick). 

If you are interested in serving on the Planning Commission please complete a Boards & Commission Application, and submit that form to the Village offices at 22 W. Burdick, Oxford, MI 48371 or contact the Village offices for additional information. You may also submit a completed application to manager@thevillageofoxford.org.

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA)

The Village of Oxford Zoning Board of Appeals hears appeals, evaluates requests for interpretations and approves or denies dimensional and use variances for properties within the Village. Variances are deviations from the zoning ordinance, which are in place to regulate the use of land within the Village. Board members are appointed by the Village Council, and serve terms of three (3) years, or until their successor takes office. Board members are also compensated for their time to preside over cases. Members of the Zoning Board of Appeals are expected to perform due diligence regarding all zoning board of appeals applications, which includes making site visits and inspecting properties to understand how the variance, if granted, will effect the property as well as neighboring properties.

The Village of Oxford Zoning Board of Appeals meets on an as-needed basis, with meetings scheduled for the first Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Oxford Village Hall.

If you are interested in serving on the Village of Oxford Zoning Board of Appeals please complete a Boards & Commission Application, and submit that form to the Village offices at 22 W. Burdick, Oxford, MI 48371 or contact the Village offices for additional information.  You may also submit a completed application to manager@thevillageofoxford.org.

Downtown Development Authority (DDA) 

The Oxford Downtown Development Authority is designed to be a catalyst in the development of the Village's downtown district. To that end, the Oxford DDA is dedicated to the promotion, development, and historic preservation of downtown Oxford.

The DDA works on a variety of projects, both large and small, in an effort to promulgate the development of the downtown district and support the businesses and stakeholders within the area. Some projects include large infrastructure projects including constructing parking downtown, as well as installing transformative streetscapes, and community place-making and business-supporting investments. 

The Oxford DDA maintains a 9 member board of directors that are responsible for the oversight of the organization and its mission, as well as 4 sub-committees that are designed to address the individual areas of focus for the Oxford DDA. These sub-committees include Economic Restructuring, Promotion, Design, and Organization. Members of the Oxford DDA Board are expected to participate on sub-committees as well. DDA Board members serve 4 year terms. 

The Oxford DDA meets every third Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Oxford Village Hall (22 W. Burdick). If you are interested in serving on the DDA please complete a Boards & Commission Application, and submit that form to the DDA offices at 20 W. Burdick, Oxford, MI 48371 or contact the Village offices for additional information. You may also submit a completed application to DDA@thevillageofoxford.org.

Beautification Commission (BC)

The Oxford Beautification Commission conceives, formulates, promulgates, and develops plans for the beautification of Oxford. Meets on an as-needed basis, or quarterly. Commissioners are appointed by the Oxford Village Council, and serve three (3) year terms. 

If you are interested in serving on the Oxford Beautification Commission, please complete a Boards & Commission Application, and submit that form to the Village offices at 22 W. Burdick, Oxford, MI 48371 or contact the Village offices for additional information. You may also submit a completed application to manager@thevillageofoxford.org.