Councilwoman Sue Dale is stepping down from the Oxford City Council.

Oxford resident David Eady was appointed to serve the remainder of Dale's term on the council. She had served 18 months of a four-year term. Eady has served as chair of the planning commission.

"The city will benefit for years to come because of the work Sue has done," Mayor Jerry Roseberry said Monday at the council meeting.

Dale is the wife of the Rev. Brian Dale, pastor of Allen Memorial United Methodist Church, has been reassigned to another metro Atlanta church.

The council on Monday also appointed Dave Harvey as police chief. He will serve a probationary period through December. He has been with the Oxford department for three years, after prior service in Lithonia and DeKalb County.

Also Monday, the council held first reading on its budget for fiscal  year 2011/2012, and first reading on an ordinance to switch ifs fiscal year to start July 1. The city is currently on a fiscal year that begins Jan. 1.

The city has a working budget of $4,078, 130 and revenues of $3,969,717. The $108,413 difference will have to be recouped from money in the city's pooled fund.

The council also approved an increase in the rate it charges for water by 27.5 cents per 1,000 gallons to make for increased cost for water the city is incurring from Newton County. The change will be effective in August.
In other business on Monday, the council unanimously agreed to renew its five-year contract with the Oxford Historical Cemetery Foundation to maintain the city's historic cemetery.

The council also unanimously agreed to name marshals for its Fourth of July parade, Dr. Melvin Baker and his wife, Gussie Baker.

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