OXFORD – The fate of the older building at the Oxford Veteran’s Home on Highway 220 in the town of Oxford is still under discussion locally and between state officials.

On June 30, Village Mayor Terry Stark asked members of the Chenango County Health and Human Services Committee whether the county supported an alternative use for the 1970s era 200-bed facility and what those possible uses would be.

And prompted by a letter from Stark, New York State Senator Thomas Libous wrote to Department of Health Commissioner Richard Daines on June 12 asking for a meeting to discuss the following options: demolition as recommended by a consultant’s study last fall, continued use by the state, or deeding the building over to a local government entity such as the Chenango County Industrial Development Agency (IDA).

“The community believes there is a beneficial economic and/or social use for the existing building that could create jobs and foster more human interaction between the Oxford village/town residents and the veteran residents of the home. We believe this will lead to a better quality of life for both the veterans and the community,” wrote Stark in his correspondence to Libous.