PARIS – Time limits for visits to an emergency call center were the subject of an Oxford County Commission meeting on Tuesday.

Three shift supervisors from the Oxford County Regional Communications Center met with county commissioners to voice opposition to a policy on visits to the dispatch center.

Jim Miclon, director of the center, said policies are in place to have visitors to the center be escorted. Police officers, who pick up paperwork such subpoenas and protection from abuse orders at the center, can enter an individual or department code at the door to enter.

Miclon said commissioners proposed limiting police visits to the center to 15 minutes after an “isolated incident” in August when a part-time officer was said to have spent too much time in the center.

Approximately 50 employees from the dispatch center and law enforcement agencies around the county signed a petition protesting the policy.

Shift supervisor Terri Littlehale said police often perform other tasks in the center, such as paperwork, and sometimes assist with taking calls. Miclon said the center is “the nucleus of the whole operation” and so officers will sometimes come into the center during incidents.

“It’s nice to get feedback from them,” said shift supervisor Bill Daniels. “That’s the only way we get it.”

The supervisors also said that they do not have time to monitor all visitors during busy times in the center.

“I don’t feel like it’s my responsibility to police a police officer,” said shift supervisor Cammie Richardson.

Littlehale said visits with officers can also help to work out problems that arise between them and dispatchers. Daniels said that the 15-minute limit can make officers feel unwelcome, and that more social visits can help improve relationships between officers and dispatchers.

“It’s nice to put a face, and know a little bit about the guy on the other end of the line,” he said.

The supervisors also said police visits have not inhibited operations or otherwise presented a problem. Miclon said in his three years as director of the center, he has only received one inquiry from a police chief about an officer who may have been spending too much time at the center, outside of his coverage area.

“I really kind of feel if it wasn’t broke, why fix it?” Richardson said.

Commissioner David Duguay said he was concerned with the possibility of officers loitering at the center and was in favor of time guidelines. He said it could be more flexible so dispatchers did not have to continually monitor visitors.

Littlehale disagreed with the proposal, saying it would be the responsibility of police chiefs to follow up on any concerns regarding the visits.

Miclon said the center could introduce a new check-in system involving the swiping of cards. He estimated that replacement of the existing system could cost $4,000 to $5,000.