The Oxford Board of Aldermen approved an updated contract with the Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society to provide animal control services on Tuesday that would be in effect until the end of September 2018 as long as the OHLS abides by the new contract.

The contract will be delivered to the OLHS Board of Directors who will consider the contract during their next regular meeting on Jan. 9.

The city had contracted with OLHS annually for many years to provide the city’s animal control services. However, in August 2017, the board voted to renew the contract for just three months and then re-evaluate the contract monthly after the board received complaints in regards to how the OLHS executive board was operating.

Alderman Janice Antonow, who sits on the OLHS board as a representative of the city, recommended last month that the aldermen approve the contract until the end of the fiscal year, which is Sept. 30, after seeing efforts by board members to make improvements.

Along with details of what the expectations are for OLHS and its services for the city, the contract includes several requirements directed at the Board of Directors and the manner in which meetings should be held that includes: the OLHS board will hold elections pursuant to statutory requirements for nonprofit organizations and their bylaws; hold regular meetings – at least every other month – which will be open to the public at a time that is reasonably accessible to the public and not in conflict with the Board of Aldermen’s meeting; give three days notice of board meetings by posting at the shelter, on the shelter’s website, including a copy of the agenda; keep minutes of all meetings and make them available to the public for review; conduct meetings following Robert’s Rules of Order; allow aldermen and Lafayette County supervisors to attend meetings as community liaisons, provide an oral and written report to the aldermen of its activities and animal control services; and seek approval from the OLHS Board of Directors for out-of-the ordinary expenditures of more than $500.

The contract states that if there is a breach of terms by either party, the other entity must give written notice of the breach and allow the other party 15 days to correct the breach in terms. If the matter is not corrected, the contract will terminate after 15 days.

The contract will be renewed annually unless notice of non-renewal is given by either party.

In other business Tuesday, the Board of Aldermen:

• Adopted a No Protest Resolution for the issuance of General Obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $11 million

• Approved an interlocal agreement with Lafayette County for a Comprehensive Traffic Plan

• Approved a request from C Spire on behalf of Abner’s on South Lamar to do utility work after-hours – from either 8 p.m. to midnight or 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. – and to be completed within a week’s time.

• Approved a traffic signal maintenance contract with Civil Link

• Granted permission to advertise for Request for Proposals for an insurance consultant