A plan to centralize DUI court hearings in Butler County could drain township and borough budgets and hamper police services, some local officials say.

But county District Attorney Richard Goldinger said the plan would streamline the DUI hearing process and should not affect police coverage.

Municipal officials at a closed informational meeting Monday night in Jackson Township heard details of the plan and discussed potential impacts.

The proposed plan, which has not been finalized, would send all DUI hearings to a centralized court in Butler. These hearings currently are held in the district courts, where criminal complaints are filed.

While the plan has been discussed for years, officials are drafting a finalized version that could be enacted as soon as this summer.

Adams Township Manager Gary Peaco said the plan had been “floated” for about 10 years, but more discussions are expected “in the near future” before it is considered for adoption.

Peaco said he's concerned that it could affect police costs and coverage.

In Seven Fields, borough manager and police administrator Tom Smith said the Evans City Seven Fields Police Department is trying to hire its fifth full-time officer. The new plan could require a sixth, he said.

“If I have an officer up in central court in Butler, they're not here,” Smith said. “They're not serving the citizens of Evans City and Seven Fields.”

Smith said he felt blindsided after being notified of the plan last week. He said if there are problems with the current system, neither he nor regional Police Chief Jim McCombs were notified.

“Say, 'Hey, this is the reason this stuff is going on,'” Smith said. “No one was saying why.”

Several officials said more communication is needed as the process moves forward.

“I definitely think ... the municipalities need to be a part of the conversations,” said Lancaster Township manager Benjamin Kramer, adding that he was glad officials are discussing the proposal before the court enacts it.

While the plan's details are unclear, Kramer said he's concerned about the potential impact on budgets and police services.

Kramer said Monday's meeting informed area officials how the courts could be affected and gave them a chance to inform their municipalities.

On Tuesday, Goldinger said the centralization plan would streamline the DUI hearing process, which he believes gives too much leeway to repeat offenders and allows them to drag the process out.

“One thing myself and the judges complain about is (how) people who get repeat offenses can delay the process,” he said. “We have cases going on for six, nine months, even a year.”

Goldinger said those accused of DUI have too much control in scheduling assessments and other procedures, often leading to delays.

A centralized court would allow judges to control scheduling and move the process along.

Goldinger pushed back on concerns that the plan would be detrimental to police coverage, explaining that, as he understands it, it would not require local police to attend central court hearings.

He said hearings in which police were required to be present would take place in district courts, which is how the system currently works. “It wouldn't affect the police at all,” Goldinger said.

Several officials said they anticipate DUI hearing centralization to be the first step in centralizing all criminal courts.

Jackson Township police chief Terry Seilhamer said this would be a logical next step, one that could put a burden on police.

“Obviously, a concern for the police would be, is this the first step to centralizing all criminal offenses,” he said. “Will we have to send officers ... all up to Butler?”

Goldinger said that while that has been discussed, the current plan will only seek to centralize DUI hearings.

Seilhamer said he's unsure why a county as large as Butler would benefit from centralization.

Smith cited the potential burden placed on those who do not live near the city.

“We're awful spread out here as a community (and) as a county,” he said. “You have to look at transportation needs, how accessible is parking. As they say: location, location, location.”

Goldinger said officials hope to have the plan ready in the next few months and intend to have it enacted this summer.

“We want to do it as soon as we can,” he said.