RUMFORD – Simmering frustration over issues concerning the Fire Department boiled over at Thursday night’s Board of Selectmen meeting.

During his department report, fire Chief Gary Wentzell, who was hired in August under a six-month contract, hinted at resigning after telling the board that problems he was hired to help resolve are insurmountable.

Selectman Mark Belanger voiced his ire regarding Wednesday’s Rumford Falls Times story by Bruce Farrin regarding the termination of the Fire Department’s emergency medical services duties.

In the story, Farrin quotes Wentzell as saying that certain town officials misled the public into believing that $75,000 of overtime was associated with first responder EMS duties.

Belanger said the article “misleads the public” regarding the town’s decision to halt a perceived duplication of services by paying $100,000 for EMS coverage to Med-Care Ambulance of Mexico and Rumford firefighters to do the same.

“This policy has been in place since June 1 and there’s been no negative effects in taxpayer services,” Belanger said. “Last year, the Finance Committee did its homework, and cut $85,000 out of the (fire department) budget . . . In my opinion, there’s no need for the Rumford Fire Department to go out on ambulance calls. They still can go out on accident calls.”

However, later in the meeting, Wentzell defended his comments in Farrin’s story during his department report and attacked Belanger’s comments.

“I feel that this community has been completely misled through the budget process and I feel that this has affected the Fire Department and issues regarding manning the fire station,” Wentzell said.

He said budget cuts left the station with only two firefighters on duty at times, which could mean that only three firefighters could respond to a structure fire, but, due to the manpower shortage, could only watch it burn.

“I have serious concerns about if I want to be involved with the direction this town is headed in,” Wentzell said.

He said he’d done the math regarding past budgets and failed to see where the Finance Committee came up with its numbers.

“Cutting our EMS to save $95,000 is completely false,” he said.

Wentzell then said that because of this “wrong” information, he didn’t want any part of this year’s budget process. Before he could continue, he was interrupted by Town Manager Len Greaney, who accused Wentzell of publicly stating information meant to be heard in executive session.

Greaney then chastised Wentzell for his comments in Farrin’s story.

Wentzell piped back, “So, you don’t want the public to know what’s going on?”

To which, Greaney replied, “No, we want the public to know.”

He again stressed the need to discuss the information behind closed doors, but Wentzell said he wouldn’t attend Thursday night’s scheduled executive session between himself, Greaney and the board.

That led to more back and forth discussions and accusations between town officials and Wentzell until the chief ended it.

“I’ve pretty much seen enough . . . I don’t want any part of you not sticking up for EMS calls, but I will stick up for the fact that the town was given incorrect information. That’s all I have to say,” Wentzell said, before trying to leave.

Boivin tried to reason with him to meet with them to work out issues.

“We’re as good as any department in the state. It’s a shame that we can’t get together and mend this, but there are too many issues. It’s not worth it. This is not working and I don’t see that it’s going to mend itself. However, we know what we’re doing when we get to a call,” Wentzell said and returned to his seat.

Later, after resident Ron Theriault wanted Wentzell’s comments regarding the Finance Committee and budget numbers removed from the minutes, citing them as inaccurate and the $100,000 figure as accurate, Wentzell agreed to meet with the board in executive session.