OXFORD — Per-hour rates for Oxford Rescue vehicles provided to the Oxford Plains Speedway have been slashed by more than half, according to a contract signed between the town manager and speedway ownership Tuesday.

The new contract does not directly address concerns about track safety raised by members of the Oxford Fire Department last month, but the town’s police chief said he is satisfied OPS ownership is taking the issue of fire safety seriously. 

According to the terms of the contract, two rescue trucks and five emergency medical personnel from Oxford Rescue will be present during races at the Speedway and adjacent Oxford Plains Dragway.

The per-hour charge for each vehicle in 2014 is $21.50, less than half the $55-per-hour charge in 2013. OPS is also responsible for reimbursing the town for the EMS personnel’s hourly pay.

Oxford Police Chief Jon Tibbetts, who negotiated the new agreement with Speedway owners, said the per-hour ambulance rate was reduced to offset the cost of adding a fifth EMS member assigned to the Speedway grandstands. 

Oxford Fire Chief Scott Hunter said he was not involved directly in the contract negotiations, but insisted that a fifth EMS worker for the grandstands be included in the agreement.

The 2014 per-hour rate was far below standard rates charged for rescue vehicles, Hunter said.

“We were low at $55, compared to anyone else that was going there,” he said. The reduced rate may not be enough to cover the department’s cost for the time vehicles spent at the racetrack, Hunter said.

“It’s just odd this year, I’ll just say that,” he said. 

The contract also includes a provision that when a “piece of fire apparatus is needed for an event the town will charge a fee of $60 per hour,” a measure not included in last year’s agreement. 

That rate is also far below the standard $100 rate his department charges in other cases, Hunter said.

“I’m not trying to make money off these people,” he said. “It shouldn’t cost Oxford taxpayers any money to hold an event in this town, that’s my philosophy,” Hunter said. 

“The taxpayers shouldn’t have to subsidize the Oxford Plains Speedway being there, and I hope it doesn’t work out like that,” he said.

Tibbetts said fire equipment would probably be provided to OPS during large events such as Motor Mayhem and the Oxford 250 race. 

The Speedway has its own firetruck and the new provision is not meant to replace it, Tibbetts said.

Determining if other events require fire equipment will likely be left up to the Fire Department and Chief Hunter, but the agreement does not bestow the authority to require equipment for every race, Tibbetts said. 

“He’s got to have reason,” Tibbetts said. “It’s got to pass the straight-face test, it can’t just be because (Hunter) wants it there.”

Tibbetts said he is satisfied OPS is taking safety seriously and has agreed to have certified firefighters manning its firetruck and have proper firefighting clothing and equipment, some of the main concerns raised by the Fire Department.

“I think they are taking every step they need to make it a safe place,” Tibbetts said.

A call and email to Oxford Town Manager Chammings with questions about the new contract were not returned Tuesday afternoon.

Speedway Vice President Mike Mayberry, son of owner Tom Mayberry, said the company is focused on safety and will provide appropriate fire safety personnel and equipment at its races and will continue to improve its fire preparedness.

“We’re working with our firetruck and are looking for ways to improve upon what we do,” Mayberry said. “The services we provide through our fire equipment is fully up to standards.”

“All in all, none of the fire chief’s recommendations were taken by selectmen,” Mayberry said.

At a public hearing on the OPS mass gathering permit last month, Mayberry and Speedway Manager Dick Therein argued that most of the concerns outlined by the Fire Department had been cleared up since the track was purchased by the Mayberrys in 2012.

He referred further questions about the rate drop to Tibbetts and Chammings.

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