Vienna Township Trustees have announced the layoffs of multiple township employees including multiple police officers and firefighters.

During a special meeting Thursday night regarding the township's ongoing financial situation and cuts to the fire department, it was announced that two police officers and three firefighters have been laid off.

Additionally, trustees have requested that township Fiscal Officer Linda McCullough be removed. At one point during Thursday night's meeting, a police officer escorted McCullough out of the meeting and to her car.

This development follows the State Auditor's Office investigating the township's finance. During the township's last audit, it was found that McCullough and all three township trustees had overpaid themselves.

Their wages have since been garnished in order for that excess pay to be paid back to the state. 

Last week, 21 News received multiple calls regarding township employees not receiving their paychecks on time. While initially said to be a bank error, trustees later discovered that the township's account was overdrawn.

Furthermore, trustees discovered that over $1 million had been transferred from the township money market account to the checking account over the last year, and that many required payments had not been made over the last several months and there are several hundred thousand dollars in outstanding bills.

According to a press release, it appears that money from restricted funds may have been used to pay expenses of other funds and payments have been made in excess of amounts appropriated by trustees.

According to the release, until trustees have an accurate understanding of the township's financial situation, they have no choice but to cut expenses, but are hoping to rehire some of these employees in the near future.

In the meantime, McCullough has been requested to be removed for failure to perform her fiscal duties and for assistance to address this financial situation.

Trustees have requested assistance from the Auditor's Local Government Services division to reconcile the township books and records and from the Auditor's Special Investigations Unit to investigate whether or not any money has been spent contrary to law.

The news left a room full of some 75 residents and employees fuming and irate. "If you're not watching a million dollars, you all gotta go!" exclaimed one. Another shouted "we trusted you!" 

"I cannot believe you've put us in this position, to live in this town and have to have less police officers and less firemen, when we passed levies when we feel you've needed them," she continued.

21 News anchor/reporter Chris Cerenelli pressed trustees as to how long it might take for the auditor's office and the township to reconcile the books. 

"Call them," replied trustee Phil Pegg.