Butler Eagle file photo.

FORWARD TWP — The township board of supervisors addressed concerns Tuesday, April 11, 2023 over a recent donation to assist much-needed repairs to the Evans City Public Library’s roof.

According to township resident Susan Oliver-Stoush, some residents were not happy with the decision.

“I’m glad to see that the library was on tonight’s agenda, because I and many other taxpayers still have procedural questions that were not answered at last month’s meeting.”

The library was on the agenda because library board president Maria Barron and member Peter Gannon planned to thank the township and provide an update on the repairs.

Forward Township approved an up to $30,000 donation of American Rescue Plan Act funds in November to assist the library.

Oliver-Stoush said she did not understand how the board had “arrived at the $30,000 figure.”

“We were told at last month’s township meeting that the library had approached Evans City and did not receive any assistance (from the borough),” she said. “It’s my understanding that Evans City has a municipal office in the building.”

In addition to the Evans City municipal office, the library also houses the borough’s regional police force and historical society.

She also claimed that vice chairman Mark Wilson was a member of the Evans City Library board, and therefore had a “vested interest in the endeavor.”

“Now, as an intergovernmental lead for our board,” she continued, “why didn’t you want to take the lead to collaborate with the other communities that the library services and the three other building occupants?”

Barron said Wilson never was a member of the library board.

“I was on the financial advisory board to the library, but I was never on the board,” Wilson said. “So, yes, I was aware of the situation financially with the library. I am no longer on that financial board, I resigned at the end of the year so as to avoid any future concerns.”

Solicitor Tom May advised the board that he saw no conflict of interest concerning Wilson at the time and that the donation fell within the guidelines for ARPA fund use in assisting local nonprofits.

Barron said 30% of the library’s patrons are Forward Township residents.

“Not to mention that Forward Township has benefited from the (Evans City-Seven Fields Regional) police who have responded to issues in Forward Township, and the historical society also curates and houses historical items from Forward Township,” Barron said.

Gannon, a Forward Township resident, added that the $30,000 figure came from the minimum bid the library received on estimated repair costs.

Chairman Mel Musulin said he believed the township board had done its “due diligence.”

“That’s what we were elected to do, and it’s kind of tough,” Musulin said. “And it’s kind of tough to get beat up, because I’ve been getting beaten up in the communities by certain people about us giving money to the library.

“And one of those people gave me a hard time while I was at the post office — while their kids were going into the library.”

Musulin said the board made its decision with the best interests of its residents in mind.

“I really think that it was an excellent use of those American Rescue Act Funds, because it was something that desperately needed done,” Barron said. “And Forward Township really benefits from the library in multiple ways.”