BUTLER TWP — Frustration ran high at Wednesday’s meeting of the Butler Area Sewer Authority.

Board members needed to approve a standard architectural contract with EADS Group of Pittsburgh.

The board hired that company two weeks ago to complete preliminary plans for a redesign of the authority’s building on Litman Road.

But when the subject came up, board member Mike English said the authority should not be spending $2 million, the estimated cost of the entire building project, the same argument he used when he voted against the hiring of EADS. Board member Van Peterson agreed that it was too much money, and he also voted against the hiring on May 10.

However, board chairman Jerry Patterson, board member George Shockey and authority solicitor, Mike Hnath, all explained to English that the board could cancel the contract at any time, at any stage in the design and construction process.

English then said the authority needed an additional adviser. He said a second engineering firm should be hired because he doesn’t like Chester Engineers, the authority’s current engineering firm.

English then took his argument back a year ago when the board approved building seven stormwater retention tanks to comply with an order of the state Department of Environmental Protection.

He continues to disagree with the type of tank that was picked.

When led back to EADS and the building project, English said, “I could draw the drawings. I won’t, but I could. We have to hire someone for that.”

Shockey and Patterson again explained that to receive a building permit from Butler Township, building plans must be drawn by a licensed architectural/engineering firm.

Shockey raised his voice, and English took offense, asking him to not yell.

“I’m yelling because you talk around the tree all the time and you don’t know anything about this process,” Shockey told English. “I work in the construction industry. This is my business, and I know what you have to do to get a permit.”

In the end, the board informally moved to continue with other topics before English was done talking, but eventually did approve the architectural contract.