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BUTLER TWP. &#8212; More than a month after the project was disclosed, the township supervisors Tuesday night were on the receiving end of some public backlash about the proposed construction of a new municipal building.More than 25 residents attended the supervisors&#8217; regular monthly meeting to complain about the location of the structure, its anticipated cost and the impact on taxes it might have.In addition, several citizens took aim at the supervisors on the issue of providing health care insurance for Supervisor Charles Altmiller. Sue Rossi, who in the past has been critical of township government, questioned the ethics of Altimiller&#8217;s benefits, threatening to file a legal complaint with the state Department of Ethics.Rossi said that the health care plan, contracted through the Hazleton Chamber of Commerce and written by Geisinger Health Care, is costing the taxpayers $20,000 per year, which she described as exorbitant.Altmiller didn&#8217;t respond to the heath insurance matter but he did attempt to clarify that the supervisors have not made a final decision on the proposed new building.&#8220;We&#8217;re still looking at the best way to go,&#8221; he said.His comments were in reference to a plan submitted in December that calls for the construction of a new municipal services building in CAN DO&#8217;s office park off state Route 309. Discussed in the plan is that the police department would occupy a major portion of the structure.Generally, protests centered around the real need for a new facility and that existing property owned by the township could be utilized at less cost.Afterward, Supervisor Brian Kisenwether pointed out that with the CAN DO tract, &#8220;a million dollars in existing utilities, such as water, sewage and electricity will come with a purchase price of $100,000.&#8221;&#8220;I believe we&#8217;re getting a bargain and saving costs in comparison to building on other sites,&#8221; Kisenwether said.Supervisor Frank Polidora responded to critics that the township, because of increasing real estate development, is growing in population.&#8220;The CAN DO site is convenient to a population shift toward Route 309 and Interstate 80 while at the same time meeting the needs of everyone,&#8221; he said.In other matters:&#8226; The supervisors declined a request to endorse the transfer of a liquor license from Hunlock Creek to the Underground Bar and Grill at 6 West Butler Drive.&#8226; With Kisenwether abstaining, the supervisors voted to approve renovation and stormwater management plans at Kisenwether Self Storage.&#8226; Approval was given for the expenditure of $16,000 by the police department for the purchase of fingerprint equipment.&#8226; The supervisors also approved borrowing by Valley Region Fire and Rescue.<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Tom HuntingtonFor Times Leader</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach the Times Leader newsroom at 570-829-7242 or on Twitter @TLnews.</shirttailMeta></div>

Butler Township supervisors hear complaints about proposed municipal building