The Butler Redevelopment Authority's Kaufman Drive reconstruction project has been temporarily halted for a state inspection of known underground contamination.

The $103,000 project to reconstruct Kaufman Drive from Lincoln Avenue to 80 Kaufman Drive was halted for a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection inspection to determine if the project is causing additional contamination from arsenic, which was left years ago by the Franklin Glass Plant.

The reconstruction work by Folino Construction of Oakmont is scheduled to resume Oct. 24, Veronica Walker, acting authority executive director, said during Thursday's authority meeting.

She said the arsenic underlies the area and was encapsulated and covered with soil to protect the environment.

In unrelated business, the authority board authorized Walker to submit two grant applications to the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) program.

One application will seek $500,000 for housing rehabilitation and the second application for an undetermined amount would be used for renovating a six-unit, three-story apartment building at 330 Virginia Ave.

The apartment renovation would be expensive, Walker said. The work includes a new roof and windows, and repointing the brick exterior.

Walker also said authority personnel will move an old movie projector from the second floor of the vacant Penn Theater to the authority office where it will be appraised and probably sold.

She said the projector is in danger of being damaged because the building doesn't have heat and will continue to deteriorate.

A prospective buyer's offer of $1 for the theater was rejected, Walker said. The person was taken on a tour of the building last month.

Thursday's meeting was recessed following an executive session held to discuss contract issues and will be reconvened at 2 p.m. Oct. 15.