LIBERTY — Residents expressed concerns to trustees about seeing or hearing about postings on social media that the fire department has had to close a fire station because of a lack of staffing.

Township trustees at their meeting Monday said there have been days the Belmont Avenue fire station did not have anyone there on some shifts, but the Logan Avenue fire station was always open and had staff from the Belmont fire station there.

About 20 residents attended the meeting, saying they were concerned about what they saw on social media and what they heard in the community.

Resident Bill Lovitz said he has heard rumors of numerous times the Belmont Avenue station was closed because of a lack of staffing.

“I am very angry. This is upsetting to residents when they see this on social media. They become afraid,” Lovitz said, noting many of his neighbors are elderly.

Lovitz said some residents were thinking there were no firefighters at all.

“I wish someone would have told us that when the Belmont station is closed, the Logan station would be open and cover calls,” Lovitz said.

Fire Chief Doug Theobald said there were some situations where people were off and there was not enough staff available to keep the Belmont Avenue station open.

“Firefighters by contract are permitted to take time off,” Theobald said.

Theobald said Liberty does have backup from the Girard Fire Department.

Trustee Devon Stanley said each shift tries to have three to five firefighters, with three at one station and two at the other.

He said contractually, the minimum staffing is three firefighters and with only three, only one station can be open.

“We strive to have at least five firefighters on. If someone calls off and we can’t find anyone else to fill in, we are short staffed and we will rotate someone from the Belmont station to the Logan station. This has only been done a few times,” Stanley said.

Stanley said the township aims to have the Belmont Avenue station open to be able to assist the Vienna Fire Department when they need help because of staffing shortages there caused by financial woes and subsequent layoffs.

Officials said many firefighters they have hired in recent years have quit and gone to other fire departments or other careers.

Stanley said the township tries to be competitive in pay so people stay.

“There are many communities having a hard time keeping firefighters. We are trying to figure out what to do to keep them,” he said.

Trustees met in executive session regarding the concerns about stations being closed. Stanley said Theobald is looking into the matter of who has been posting items and will get back to trustees.

Stanley said trustees ended the executive session and are considering possible discipline of two employees.

Theobald said the department does not have a water tank truck and noted the fire hydrants that were not working are being addressed.