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Our View: Time for nurses, hospital to end this fight

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WB street march celebrates feast day for Our Lady of Guadalupe

<p>DRUMS &#8212; Butler Township supervisors held the line on property taxes in a $5.2 million budget for 2019 that was approved this week.</p><p>Meanwhile, supervisors are challenging an unemployment claim made by former township manager and ex-Luzerne County Commissioner Maryanne Petrilla.</p><p>Supervisors acted unanimously to endorse next year&#8217;s spending plan that totals $5,232,671.</p><p>Chairman Brian Kisenwether said the board kept real estate taxes steady at about 0.95 mills, with 0.81 mills earmarked for the general fund and 0.14 mills for fire protection.</p><p>A mill is $1 in tax for every $1,000 of assessed property value.</p><p>Another big revenue producer is a 1 percent earned income tax, half of which is shared with the Hazleton Area School District. The levy still nets Butler an estimated $1,490,000 annually.</p><p>Also this week, supervisors voted unanimously to appeal an unemployment compensation claim by Petrilla.</p><p>&#8220;We are trying to save the township money,&#8221; Supervisor Charles Altmiller said after the meeting about challenging the claim.</p><p>When asked if Petrilla left under bad circumstances, Altmiller responded: &#8220;She quit.&#8221;</p><p>Petrilla resigned in September after her second stint in the manager&#8217;s position.</p><p>Jennifer Pecora, who had been working as the township&#8217;s budget and finance manager, was hired last month to replace Petrilla.</p><p>In other business, supervisors:</p><p>&#8226; Approved the $7,900 purchase of snowplow blades.</p><p>&#8226; Approved the transfer of $484,628 from the wastewater reserve fund to the construction fund.</p><p>&#8226; Approved the transfer of $512,713 to the wastewater operating fund.</p><p>&#8226; Discontinued street light service to the Upper Lehigh section of the township.</p><p>&#8226; Approved the hiring of Hilliar Lamoreux and Theron Shelhamer as part-time seasonal employees at $16 per hour.</p><p>&#8226; Approved the appointment of Dr. Victor Greco, Brian Kisenwether, Gary Martini and Jennifer Pecora to the oversight committee of the Valley Regional Fire Department.</p><p>&#8226; Tabled quotes from Johnson Controls for replacement controls at the Butler Township Community Center.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Tom Huntington</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div>

No tax hike in Butler Twp.; supervisors challenge unemployment bid by ex-manager Petrilla