Tempers flared and voices were raised toward the end of last week’s Oxford Village Council meeting as officials clashed over the Oakland County dispatch center and Oxford Fire Department’s handling of a June 23 house fire at 77 S. Glaspie St.

It wasn’t listed on the agenda, but the issue was raised by Councilwoman Maureen Helmuth during the council comments portion that precedes adjournment.

When asked if she had any remarks, Helmuth replied, “Oh, I have a big comment.”

“I’m very disappointed that we requested the fire chief to be at the meeting tonight and he did not show,” she said. “I’m very disappointed in the fact that it took our fire department more than 10 minutes to get to (a house) six blocks away. I’m very disappointed that this doesn’t seem to bother the (fire chief) who stated that was acceptable.

“I don’t believe it’s acceptable. I don’t want it to take 10 minutes for them to get to my house. I’m disappointed that the (county) dispatch center toned (the Orion Fire Department) first (then) they corrected themselves and toned Oxford, adding seconds to the run.”

Helmuth also brought up a July 11 emergency medical call during which the Orion Fire Department was, again, accidentally dispatched instead of Oxford firefighters.

“I think we need to find a way (for the county) to tone the right department,” Helmuth said. “This is twice in two weeks and I don’t think that’s acceptable.”

Human error on the part of the county dispatch center caused a 44-second delay in alerting Oxford to the house fire at 77 S. Glaspie St. The county radio operator mistakenly pushed the wrong button and dispatched (or toned out) Orion’s fire department to the scene instead of Oxford. He quickly corrected his error (see timeline in box left).

In a previous story, Fire Chief Pete Scholz, stated this 44-second delay did “absolutely not” hinder his department or affect the outcome of the call. The old balloon-frame house was declared a total loss and condemned by the village.

Human error struck again with the July 11 medical call.

Mel Maier, the sheriff’s chief of communications, said the county dispatch center received a call regarding a 70-year-old female having convulsions/seizures.

“The call-taker misheard the township and sent it up to Orion,” he said.

Again, the mistake was caught and Oxford was dispatched, however, there was a 97-second delay between the time Orion was toned and the time Oxford was dispatched, according to Maier.

Oxford Township Supervisor Bill Dunn, who attended the village meeting as a resident, took umbrage with Helmuth’s comments.

“You’re embarrassing,” he told the councilwoman. “You know how many times they’ve screwed up in the village (and) it’s never been brought to the public.”

“Oh yeah, the township’s perfect,” Helmuth retorted.

“I didn’t say we’re perfect,” Dunn replied. “You have no class.”

Village Police Chief Mike Neymanowski then joined the discussion.

“I have utter respect for Chief Scholz, but I think we need to look at things – why it takes 3 minutes to dispatch a structure fire,” he said. (Please see sidebar story, “2 minutes, 23 seconds.”)

“It was looked at,” Dunn replied.

“Nobody said nothing to me. Pete didn’t get back (to me),” Neymanowski responded. “I don’t want to be making a big thing. Let’s correct it. That’s all.”

Dunn told the chief if the village wants to make every mistake public, “I will go back through the records and really stir things up.”

The supervisor was referring to back when the village police dispatch center handled all of Oxford’s fire and emergency medical calls prior to that service being transferred to the county dispatch center in April 2014.

At that point, Dunn and Neymanowski began yelling at each other from opposite sides of the room.

Banging her gavel, village President Sue Bossardet said, “All right, enough. Enough, both of you. Enough.”

Once order was restored, Councilman Erik Dolan, who’s a public safety officer for the City of Oak Park, made some comments “as the only individual in this room that wears a firefighting outfit.”

“I can tell you that 8 minutes in the middle of the evening is frankly, a rather expedient response whether it’s six blocks (away) or whether it’s two miles (away),” he said.

Eight minutes is how long it took Oxford firefighters to arrive at the 77 S. Glaspie St. fire once county dispatched them.

“I think we need to keep perspective (in) this situation and separate the emotions (from) the topic, which is really what’s being discussed here, and focus on the exact issues,” Dolan said.

Dolan then referenced the village council’s June 20 decision to begin the process of transferring police dispatch services to the county and eliminating the village dispatch center effective July 1, 2017 or sooner.

“Our organization’s going through a transition and I think it needs to be acknowledged and accepted,” he continued. “I think the goal for this village should be to (decrease) all response times and work as efficiently as possible with Oakland County to reduce any concerns that we have.

“In any transition, there are potential issues. These alleged issues have been addressed by the fire department. They’ve been addressed by Oakland County. They have been discussed with village council members. They’ve been analyzed and reviewed, and they have been evaluated for what they are. It’s time we move forward, instead of looking back.”

Dolan urged officials to work together.

“I would ask that everyone that is involved in this village try (to) actively participate in a proactive (way), instead of a destructive manner, instead of a critical manner,” he said. “The transition has (started). It’s done. It’s in effect. It is going forward. Let’s work on how to make it better.”

Following Dolan’s remarks both Neymanowski and Dunn made comments.

“Just the facts, that’s all I want. Getting into an argument with Mr. Dunn is juvenile and I don’t want to go that way,” Neymanowski said. “I just want the truth to get out there. That’s all, Mr. Dolan . . . I accept what’s done is done. We’re going to switch (dispatch services) and I’m not going to argue that anymore.”

The chief promised to work to expedite and improve things pertaining to the dispatch issue because in the end, he wants “what’s best for our citizens.”

“That’s all I’m looking at,” Neymanowski said.

“I agree with the chief. I apologize for my attitude,” Dunn said. “But historically, when things have screwed up, whether it’s the sheriff’s department or the (village) dispatch, you can ask the chief, I’ve taken (the issue) into his office (and) tried to resolve it (in) a way where we (don’t) let it happen again.

“It didn’t matter whose side screwed up. But again, (it was) done in private. You don’t air it out in public. That’s the only thing that bothers me . . . We want this thing run as efficiently as we possibly can and I can guarantee you, any time there’s a screw-up, I’m on the phone and I’m getting parties together to see how we can remedy it.”

To their comments, Dolan added, “I think it’s high time that these two (municipalities) bury the hatchet. I understand that there’s history. Everyone understands there’s history. But (there comes a time when) that has to be laid aside. And I would like to think that we’re at that point.”