Norwich — The City Council Public Safety Committee will hold a special meeting Wednesday to discuss and possibly vote again on whether to recommend that the city go out to bid for an in-depth study of the entire city fire services after the agenda for a remote meeting held last week contained erroneous public access information.

The committee heard some public comments last week from representatives of the city’s five volunteer fire departments and from the public, all of it opposing the study. The committee voted 2-1 to recommend the full council go ahead with the study. Alderman William Nash voted against the move, later saying he favors the study but wanted to delay the issue until July.

Speakers urged the council to at least delay the discussion and vote until after the COVID-19 emergency to allow in-person meetings and broader public comment access. They also said the city should not be spending money on a study during the emergency.

During the meeting, the three aldermen attending remotely received texts on their personal cellphones complaining that the teleconference phone number required a password not provided. Nash had his own access issues, with a poor connection and part of his comments were cut off.

The committee chairman, Alderman Joseph DeLucia, said Tuesday he decided to schedule a special meeting after consulting with the city corporation counsel and City Manager John Salomone to give people more of a chance at public comment. The special meeting, again with remote access, will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday with public comment followed by a possible vote on whether to recommend the fire service study. Public access call-in information is posted on the meeting agenda, posted under the Public Safety Committee on the city website, norwichct.org.

The public can join the meeting by calling 1 (646) 876-9923. Participants must enter the meeting ID: 938-9665-2741, followed by the # key. If prompted for a participant ID, press the # key. To raise a hand to speak during public comment, press *9, and to mute/unmute the phone, press *6.

DeLucia and committee member Alderman Mark Bettencourt said last week they favored forwarding the recommendation now, because the resolution merely called for seeking requests for proposals from outside firms for the study. No fire departments would have to work on the study until requested responses are received and the city signs a contract with a firm.

If the bid responses prove too costly, the City Council could reject the plan at that time, they said.

c.bessette@theday.com