OXFORD — Fire Chief Scott Hunter said disagreement over safety standards has led to a rift with Town Manager Michael Chammings.

In an interview, Hunter said his multiple attempts to enforce safety standards has put him at odds with Chammings.

“He’s made no bones about it that I’ve enforced the code; he doesn’t like it,” Hunter said.

The comments stem from recent dealings with businesses which were shown preferential treatment, he said.

In March, developers constructing a 90-room Hampton Inn across from the Oxford Casino were told they would have to enlarge a planned 2,500-pound elevator to accommodate emergency personel’s stretchers.

At 82 inches, the stretchers are larger than the 76 inch-minimum required by state law to receive a safety permit. Constructing a larger elevator likely would be more expensive, Hunter said.

In later email, Chammings discussed the issue with Hunter, saying it did not appear the town could compel developers to abide by local conditions that exceeded state standards. Regardless, he said, the town would not issue a permit until the Office of the State Fire Marshal signed off on the plans.

In a followup email, Town Attorney Geoffrey Hole appeared to agree with that view, responding that the fire chief does not have the authority to mandate larger elevator sizes.

But Hunter said developers should abide by the local conditions.

“Codes are in a place for a reason, whether you’re building a $100, or $100 million project,” Hunter said. “They need to be held accountable. What if someone’s life is in question?”

In another incident in February, firefighters told town officials the Oxford Plains Speedway needed to address various safety concerns at the track.

Weeks later, the hourly rate paid to the Rescue Department for vehicles provided to OPS was slashed by more than half in return for implementing track-safety reforms.

The issue came to a head last week, when a statement written by Hunter encouraging voters to reject a proposal to change the fire chief’s position from part-time and elected to full-time and appointed was removed from the annual Town Report by town officials.

In it, Hunter, who also works full-time for the Auburn Fire Department, wrote, “By you electing your fire chief, you retain the power to not only put in who you want but also remove them as need be.

“This is something you as a taxpayer cannot do if it becomes appointed.”

Hunter characterized communication between himself and Chammings as poor, saying he had no advanced notice the town was looking to change the position until he happened to attend a selectmen’s meeting.

In an interview, Chammings explained that political statements are barred from the report.

“The Town Report is not an editorial,” he said.

Chammings denied maneuvering to oust Hunter for a more compliant fire chief, or placing business interests above those of residents. Rather, the decision to change the position reflected its natural evolution in a growing town.

“How anybody can say that when we’re going about things safely is beyond me,” Chammings said.

He pointed to numerous safety violations found at North End Fire Station in 2012, saying taken with ongoing multi-million dollar construction projects — the town is in the process of building a state-of-art wastewater treatment facility — and expected future growth, the move was necessary.

“You need the person best qualified. You can’t vote in the most popular person. If you wanted to vote in a dentist you could, but it wouldn’t be the best person for the job.”

Voters will weigh in on the ballot question tomorrow during elections for municipal seats at the public safety building at 701 Main St.