Trick-or-treaters in the Village of Oxford will continue playing their annual game of ‘beat the clock? this Halloween.
On Tuesday night, council voted 4-1 to establish a trick-or-treating time limit of 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 31.
This decision represents a complete reversal of council’s 3-2 vote on Oct. 12 to have no beginning or ending time for trick-or-treating this year.
‘I’ve already stopped my son from going out trick-or-treating. He’s tried three times ? and I don’t blame him,? said Councilwoman Maureen Helmuth, who favored having a defined time. ‘This is a silly conversation. An hour-and-a-half is plenty of time.?
Helmuth noted that without a time limit, her son’s ‘going to be out there the minute we get home from church.?
‘He’s going to be at your door,? she said.
Council’s about-face on the issue was prompted by both calls from residents who wanted a time limit and the township board’s Oct. 13 vote to establish a 6 to 7:30 p.m. window for trick-or-treating.
‘I’m of the understanding that it appeared on the agenda again because the village offices are getting phone calls from our residents (who) don’t seem to be happy about the fact that we don’t have hours and to me, that’s a legitimate reason to put it back on the agenda,? said village President Teri Stiles.
Stiles noted it’s important for the village to be consistent with the township on this issue. But Councilman Tony Albensi, who favored having no time limit because he views it as government overstepping its bounds and usurping the role of parents, opposed revisiting the issue and reversing the previous decision.
‘My feelings are perfectly clear on this,? he said. ‘I was quite distressed, to be honest with you, that this appeared on our agenda again.?
Albensi said the idea that without a defined time, kids are going to be out on the streets trick-or-treating on Oct. 30 or at noon on Oct. 31 ‘is silly to me.?
and reversing the previous decision.
‘My feelings are perfectly clear on this,? he said. ‘I was quite distressed, to be honest with you, that this appeared on our agenda again.?
Albensi said the idea that without a defined time, kids are going to be on the streets trick-or-treating on Oct. 30 or at noon on Oct. 31 ‘is silly to me.?