BUTLER TWP — The township commissioners are considering appealing a decision made July 22 by the township zoning hearing board regarding a barn.

At that meeting, zoning board members granted a variance to Nicholas Fusco, owner of 26 acres at 116 Oakridge Drive and Mama Rosa's Restaurant, to build a 5,000-square-foot barn on the property.

Fusco said he wants to build a house and a barn to store farm equipment and to begin tomato farming next summer, perhaps moving to tomato processing later.

"The guy who owned the land before me planned on building 50 homes on the site, but his deal fell through. He gave me the plans when I bought the property, but I want to live there and farm it," he said.

However, neighbor Anthony Grenci of 161 Dutchtown Road told the commissioners Monday night that the zoning board overstepped its authority with the Fusco variance.

He said there are many things wrong with the zoning board's discussion on July 22 including, he said, determining that all land is agricultural because grass and trees grow on it, and that on agricultural land, barns must be built before homes.

The commissioners, who had not been aware of either the zoning board's decision or Grenci's opposition to it, determined in executive session township solicitor Leo Stepanian Jr. would investigate the issue. Then the commissioners could decide if they wanted to appeal on behalf of the township.

Joe Hasychak, the commissioners' president, told Grenci he has 30 days from July 22 to appeal in Butler County Court.

In other action, the commissioners:

• Announced that the township building's microphone and recording equipment's remote control is broken, rendering the entire system inoperable.

Ed Kirkwood, township manager, said the company the township bought the equipment from, Gray Sound of Pittsburgh, is out of business. Because the system was installed only to work by remote control, there are no backup controls for the system. A technician is scouring the country for replacement parts.

If none can be found by Monday, the township will begin searching for a replacement system.

• Reappointed township Commissioner Sam Zurzolo and Mitzie Marrico to four-year terms on the township's planning commission. Commissioner Donna Druga voted against Zurzolo's reappointment because she doesn't think commissioners should be on other township boards.