I would not rototill if you are not first removing all the plants. Doing so (unless you have large spaces between plants) will cut or disturb the roots, bring weed seeds to the surface, and displace your soil food web. Rototilling will loosen up the soil (which if it is sandy probably doesn't need loosening) but adds nothing to it.

If you are not removing the plants, I would wait a few more weeks until things start to go dormant, then cut back your plants (only to make it easier to work around them, really - don't bother cutting them right to the ground because plant stalks help to trap leaves and snow over the winter).
Then spread a thick layer of good compost and chopped leaves between the plants and let it sit there until spring. I also leave the stuff I cut off the plants there, unless the stalks are very woody or there are seeds I don't want germinating.

By the time things start to grow in the spring, the compost will have started to improve things for you. You can use a cultivator to work it in a little if you want, but you'll probably find that it's "gone". For me, the squirrels do that job - they start to root around as soon as I put anything new down. Earthworms, rain and the microherd will do that job, too.

By just adding compost to the top of your soil it will slowly improve. Keep adding more compost throughout the season.

Chris_ont,

thanks so much for the advice. I'm relieved not to have to till the soil as it would be a lot of work. I thought it would need to be aerated or something, but I guess the composting will do that job eventually.

thanks again for the help.

Just keep piling on the compost and the organic mulch and worms will do the rest. Mowed up leaves and lawn clippings do a wonderful job of loosening your soil.
Linda C