OXFORD – Controversy has arisen following a Town of Oxford Board of Trustees meeting held last month concerning the possible improper filing with the county of a 2007 Town of Oxford Zoning Law permitting high-volume hydraulic fracturing for natural gas within the town limits.

During the March board meeting – and after repeated questioning by anti-fracking activists – it was revealed that, in 2007, the person in charge of filing the new zoning law’s paperwork with the county planning board had forgotten to do so. Nevertheless, it was maintained that the 2007 zoning law is still valid as it had been reviewed and approved by state officials before the town board of trustees unanimously voted it into law.

“If there were indeed procedural errors it might be considered to repeal the 2007 zoning law,” said Oxford Supervisor Lawrence Wilcox. “If we are going keep this law, we need to make certain it has been properly adopted. It may prove to be a moot point though because of the statute of limitation.”