After a contentious exchange with Rush Township supervisors during a meeting Thursday, Hometown resident Joe Shamonsky collapsed on the floor in front of his seat and was transported to a hospital by Tamaqua ambulance personnel.

If he hadn't left by ambulance, he would have left by police escort. As he has in past meetings, Shamonsky had argued with the supervisors over the location of a shed on supervisor Jeannine Motroni's property. Shamonsky contends that Motroni added a shed without first obtaining the proper permit, and he presented information to support his claim during the meeting.Shamonsky distributed the information to the supervisors and the residents attending the meeting. The papers included an aerial photograph of Motroni's property, and statements from her past and current neighbors saying there wasn't a shed on that spot on her property. He also said a fence on her property is higher than 6 feet, which is the height limit according to township ordinance. As he concluded his statements, Shamonsky asked the supervisors what they planned to do with the information.Chairman Shawn Gilbert asked Shamonsky if he was finished presenting the information. Shamonsky replied he was, but that "if I was 30 years younger I wouldn't be finished."Gilbert asked him if that was a threat, and Shamonsky said it wasn't. As Shamonsky reached his seat, he called either Gilbert or the supervisors collectively a name, using a curse word.At that point, Gilbert directed police Sgt. Dwayne Frederick to remove Shamonsky from the meeting. As Frederick began to move from the back wall of the meeting room, Shamonsky partially rose from his seat and collapsed on the floor in front of it, saying he was having sharp pains in his chest.An ambulance was called at 7:30 p.m., and Shamonsky was loaded onto a stretcher for transport at 7:50. The supervisors then reconvened the meeting.