Mayor defends fire chief over 9-1-1 dispatch criticism; council votes to go into closed session

The Burton mayor publicly pushed back against comments the mayor said had unfairly blamed the city’s fire chief for changes to 9-1-1 dispatching, and the council voted to move into a closed session under the Open Meetings Act.

During committee reports, a representative updated the council that the 9-1-1 consortium is relocating and currently operates from two locations with a mobile unit; the consortium holds a 20-year lease and reportedly has a right of first refusal if the property owner receives an offer. The mayor told council members he did not want to see the fire chief held responsible for decisions made by the 9-1-1 consortium.

"I would appreciate it if you and your colleagues would not put the fire chief's name in their mouth and accuse him of making changes that had nothing to do with him at all," the mayor said, asserting the chief "has no authority with 9-1-1 to make any type of changes." A council member replied, "I don't remember the chief's name coming up. But if I do, I apologize," acknowledging prior discussion that some attendees recalled occurring at an earlier meeting.

Shortly after the exchange the council considered and approved a motion by Councilman Heffner, supported by Councilman Wines, to go into closed session under section 8(c) of the Open Meetings Act for contract negotiations/strategy. The clerk conducted a roll-call vote; the motion carried.

No formal changes to 9-1-1 policy were recorded in the public portion of the meeting. The council returned from closed session and continued the agenda.