LIBERTY — Two residents of a Belmont Avenue living complex expressed concerns over safety and lack of support at Tuesday’s regular trustees meeting.

Marjorie Cosola, a tenant and representative of residents living at Liberty Senior Lofts, a 43-unit independent living facility whose first resident moved in April 17, explained to trustees that the building’s fire alarm went off Sept. 20. It was only then that residents discovered there was no evacuation plan, and that the building’s fire inspector had retired and its trustees decided to eliminate that position, she said.

Cosola said the building’s manager also resigned and no one has been hired to replace them. There’s also a maintenance man, but he only comes two days per week.

“There is no housekeeping to keep halls, stairwells and public areas clean. And with winter weather approaching, we are concerned for our safety, and slip and fall prevention,” Cosola said. “We believe there should be guardrails along the ends of the driveway, over the ditches, over the culverts under the driveway.”

Cosola noted numerous other concerns, such as gunfire in the woods too close to the building, a mold issue and siding falling off, as well as overflowing gutters.

Cosola pleaded with trustees to help them get in contact with Pivotal Housing Partners, the company managing their community as well as 7,000 other units across 15 states, as their voicemails and emails have not been answered.

Township Administrator Martha Weirick told Cosola that all of the fire department’s captains are inspectors, so any of them should be able to help.

Cosola said because the building manager resigned, they didn’t know if there was a preexisting agreement between them and the retired inspector.

“It took them almost three hours to get the alarms turned off, we didn’t know where to stand and we didn’t know where to go. Not everybody left – it was quite a crazy time,” Cosola said.

She added that they’ve gone as far as designating “floor captains,” so only one person per floor will call out fires instead of everyone yelling and they can ensure any handicapped people on the second or third floors are out of the building.

Barbara Levy, another tenant, expressed concern that there were tenants brought into the building that should not be there.

“This is independent living, it’s not a nursing home or anything like that. People are taking care of each other in the building. But my concern is, this man without legs is not going to be able to get out of the building,” Levy said.

Levy echoed the concerns about gunplay in the woods, saying she has heard automatic rifles late at night and “way too close” to the building.

Trustee Arnie Clebone said the news was “very disturbing” and he was “very upset” and plans to get contacts to see what they can do about their issues.

Pivotal Housing Partners, which has housing units in 27 Ohio cities according to its website, could not be reached for comment.