Frustration continues to build among residents and employees in Vienna Township following the stunning revelation of over $1 million going unaccounted for. 

This has led to several police and fire layoffs along with cash advances from the state needed to help pay township employees. Dozens made their way to Monday's trustees meeting looking for answers but left feeling even more defeated. 

"Can you understand why we're so frustrated? We're scared. We live here. Where's our money?" shouted one woman from the crowd Monday.

Monday's Vienna Township trustee Robert Root announced they can not speak to ongoing financial issues while the township undergoes a state audit investigation.

"With that being said that's all we have to say right now," Root said to the crowd as he shrugged. "I can't say more. I'd love to say more but I'm not allowed, so."

"I think they probably could have answered some taxpayer's questions," said Eric Ginn, Vienna Fire Medic and Fire Captain. "A lot of people had questions and to cut it short like that, I think that's pretty cowardly."

Trustees not speaking to the ongoing investigation into $1 million being transferred from the township money market account to the checking account over the last year, leading to many township employees not receiving a paycheck and several hundred thousand dollars in outstanding bills.

Recent layoffs in the police and fire departments are leaving the public concerned about emergency response times. The fire and police chiefs volunteered to not get a paycheck for the foreseeable, along with the 3 township trustees.

"I wanted that money to go to my people," said Fire Chief Richard Brannon to 21 News. "I wanted to make sure my people were paid for what they were doing. I have a genuine concern for the community because I don't know what's going to happen in the next month. I don't know how we're going to staff. I don't know if more layoffs could happen."

The bewildered and irritated crowd wanted to know if trustees had thought of a financial recovery plan. The Fire Department suggested bringing the laid-off employees back to work part-time.

"Next Tuesday, the station is going to be closed 24 hours," Ginn said to the trustees during the meeting to cite an example. "Next Wednesday morning, the station is going to be closed for 12 hours."

But suggestions from the department seemingly fell on deaf ears.

"Why can't we rally around what EMT workers and firefighters we have?" shouted one woman in the crowd. "They are trying to approach our people, who are you unfortunately, with a plan to keep our fire station open, and nobody wants to hear it."

"I hope more layoffs don't happen because if I lose the last three that I have, I don't know what's going to happen," Brannon said to 21 News. "We could go back to a volunteer staff and that's not a good thing."

All fingers are being pointed at fiscal officer Linda McCullough. She was not present at the meeting. Her term is up this year as she was not reelected.

Tight-lipped trustees kept repeating to the crowd once the audit is complete, they would know more. Trustee Root declined an interview with 21 News.

Chief Brannon planned to retire at the end of the month but announced during the meeting he is now staying with the department to ensure his staff is taken care of.

Trustees said they plan to meet with the State Auditors Office on Tuesday.