BUTLER TWP — Township commissioners approved a Peoples Natural Gas' easement request in Preston Park at Monday's board meeting.

Despite Commissioner Sam Zurzolo's absence, the commissioners approved the easement request in a 3-1 decision. Commissioner Fred Vero voted no.

“It's close to the road, and it's close to the walking path,” Vero said during the vote. “At this point, I'm a no.”

The gas company will build in a 400-square-foot area near South Eberhart Road to install a regulator station, which is a transfer point controlling the pressure and volume of natural gas as it moves through distribution systems and into homes.

During the discussion of the item, township Manager Edward Kirkwood said the commissioners met with Ronald Dillon, a Peoples' representative, to look at another possible location.

“The purpose of that meeting was to determine if that location could work out,” Kirkwood said. “Unfortunately, it could not.”

Kirkwood said a different site would have been too problematic for the company in terms of cost and the location's relationship with roads.

Vero said he would not interfere with the board's decision.

“They voted tonight, and they voted in favor of it. It will proceed,” Vero said.

The board also advanced multiple measures for its collaboration with Butler City in its public works and fire departments.

In addition to formally approving the intergovernmental cooperation agreement, the board also approved the ordinance that would allow the public works departments for both municipalities to work together.

Kirkwood said he wanted to clarify from their last discussion that the departments would still be operated much the same, but the duties could be divided between the two.

“Our people will be working our equipment, and their people will be working their equipment,” he said.

The cooperation between public works departments would be efficient and save money, according to the commissioners.

The commissioners echoed that reasoning in their introduction of another cooperative measure that would share one full-time fire chief over the four departments that cover the city and township.

The chief would oversee Butler City Fire Department, Butler Township Volunteer Fire District Station 3, Mercer Road Volunteer Fire Department and South Butler Volunteer Fire Department.

Kirkwood said the agreement for collaboration of the fire chief gives the township greater coverage for a 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday time frame.

He said the change is necessary to keep up with the times, which he described as shifting from blue-collar work hours to white-collar workdays.

“We're just trying to take care of the residents during that time frame,” he said.

Kirkwood said there is also a financial benefit in the agreement, a pay-for- use arrangement.

“If the joint chief doesn't come out here, it doesn't cost us a penny,” Kirkwood said. “Just like calling a cab, you pay for whatever you use.”

The ordinance regarding the joint fire chief will be advertised for a final vote at July's meeting.