OXFORD – A proposed nine-month moratorium on shale gas drilling within the confines of the village limits will be allowed to expire Sunday. The proposed moratorium, which has given rise to a large degree of attention, was tabled on Dec.11, during a village board of trustees meeting attended by approximately 80 people. Based on the board of trustees’ prior history voting on the drafted moratorium, it was believed by many they would vote during the December meeting to enact it. But, after the Central New York Landowners Coalition (CNYLC) threatened litigation should the municipality enact the moratorium, the board decided to instead table it for further review.

In the intervening period, the board determined it was in the best interest of the municipality and the village of Oxford, to let the tabled moratorium expire without action. Alternatively, the municipality has chosen to pursue other avenues in dealing with the issue of gas exploration strictly within the village boundaries. The first option, which has already been put into action, is a confirmatory/clarification amendment to the village’s existing zoning ordinance. That change seeks to confirm that anything not expressly permitted in the existing zoning ordinance, is in fact prohibited – effectively zoning out gas exploration within the village limits. After being reviewed by the village trustees and planning board, the clarification amendment has been passed onto the county planning board for its own review.

The other avenue being considered by the municipality is a pending agreement proposition from Norse Energy. The board was last updated on the progress of the drafting of Norse Energy’s agreement proposition, via a letter, on Jan. 2. In the letter, which was addressed to the village’s lawyer, Roger Monaco, from attorney Robert Wedlake, the board was informed that while Norse Energy officials are responsive to the idea of drafting an agreement with the village at the bequest of the CNYLC, they have been tied up with Norse Energy’s recent filing for bankruptcy and, as of yet, have not had the time to properly consider it.

“We are still waiting on Norse Energy to provide us with a proposal, which is still an option to us, but until they have the time to think about it and what they can do for us, we are going to continue down the amendment path,” said Village Mayor Terry Stark.