LACROFT — It appears that Mike Bahen is Liverpool Township fire chief again albeit in an acting fashion.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Bahen and fellow township trustee Dennis Giambroni elected to terminate township Fire Chief Dave Ward at the conclusion of the meeting, following a five-minute executive session for personnel.

Giambroni, who chairs the board, read from a prepared statement, citing Ward’s numerous policy violations for the decision. “Unfortunately, there have been ongoing concerns regarding Ward’s adherence to (township employee polices, which had been updated last meeting.) Despite previous discussions and opportunities for improvement, the situation has not been resolved in alignment with (township standards).”

Bahen had been Ward’s predecessor as fire chief before his retirement. The two-page disciplinary action letter for Ward cited two specific incidents in the last month, which triggered the suspension that eventually led to his termination.

Giambroni explained the decision was a difficult one, but in line with trustees’ commitment to maintaining a workplace, where everyone can thrive.

In count one, Ward allegedly got into a shouting match with one of his firefighters at the scene of a call at 17th and Main Street, because the firefighter didn’t answer him on the radio due to him being busy fighting a fire. Ward then repeatedly directed profanity at the firefighter, who apparently didn’t have his radio in his possession.

The firefighter in question was his assistant fire chief, according to the township disciplinary action.

Trustees levied a second policy violation against Ward, who allegedly threw two of his firefighters off a scene. (No reason was given for the firefighters’ removal by trustees or documentation.)

Giambroni had told Ward to straighten out this situation; however, Ward denied any wrongdoing and never made contact with either individual as he had been directed despite being under threat of trustees being “forced to make a move.”

As a result of his lack of action, Ward was not only dismissed from the department but also lost his rank of chief.

Ward has the option to request a pre-disciplinary conference within 10 days. The trustees next meet in regular session at 3 p.m. Friday, August 12 at the township meeting.

Giambroni commented, “The trustees of Liverpool Township feel that Chief Ward is not doing an adequate job, and things have been let go under his command,” citing proper maintenance has fell into disrepair and most of the other township firefighters and other surrounding stations don’t want to work with him. “Chief Ward’s conduct on fire scenes is not the way our township should be portrayed.”

Trustees acknowledged Ward’s contributions, serving as assistant fire chief to Bahen from Nov. 2014 to Feb. 1, 2016, before he was promoted to chief with Bahen’s retirement.

Keith Burke, the third trustee, was absent for medical reasons from Tuesday’s meeting; however, he is expected to be in attendance when trustees meet at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the township building to formally reaffirm their termination of Ward and Bahen’s temporary appointment as fire chief.

In her report, fiscal officer Shirley Flati asked for trustees to pay bills totaling $28,528.44 and said that she received the revised record retention schedule from the Ohio History Connection. She also mentioned making those revisions as discussed last meeting to the personnel policy and procedures manual, which trustees approved Tuesday, and still needing the 2025 inventory list from the fire department.

Police Chief Jared Kinemond informed trustees that a two-year renewal of the school resource officer pact with East Liverpool City Schools had been forwarded to Flati, and he hopes to have a part-time officer assigned to the Columbiana County Drug Task Force several days a week.

Delays still are holding up the receipt of two new trucks for the road department with no deadline for delivery in sight. Trustees are considering having another company to handle the body builds; however, if they do, additional charges of $11,618 will apply due to prices of pieces continuing to increase.

In other action, trustees voted to:

– Purchase five surplus security cameras to replace failing ones.

– Start the process to buy two computer laptops for the police department, which they hope to get some money reimbursed by grant funds.

– Advertise in the paper for a full-time road employee with a CDL.

– Forward financing options along with bids to replace boilers in the LaCroft and Dixonville fire stations over the next two year along with bids garnered by Bahen. If they can only do one station in year one, Bahen suggests they do LaCroft because it is more in need and Dixonville in year two.