City Hall relocates in Monessen City moves into former Community Bank annex
MONESSEN – Monessen relocated City Hall to a former bank annex building, a move that is expected to greatly reduce the cost of doing business.
The city, thanks to a donation from Community Bank, finished the move Friday to 557 Donner Ave., a building with spacious rooms that is easy to reach in the city’s downtown.
“We finally have the city moving in a forward direction,” Councilman Ron Chiaravalle said.
The city was spending nearly $10,000 a month in electric bills at the old City Hall at 1 Wendell Ramey Lane, a four-story concrete building that once served as a health center. Chiaravalle said the city will spend far less in utilities and insurance premiums at the new building, which has emergency lighting and offices with glass walls.
Taxpayers will find a counter to the right of the main entrance where they can pay their taxes and permit fees. A curved wooden railing saved from the original City Hall will be installed in council’s chambers, where an antique copper clock was salvaged and hung on a wall.
“Once we get things situated it’s going to be great,” Chiaravalle said.
He said the move is expected to cost the city about $50,000, including money that was spent to coat a side wall of the building that was exposed when a structure next to it was demolished. The city also installed new carpeting and needed to put a fresh coat of paint on the walls.
The building also has a conference room on its second floor.
The new building is expected to be open for business Monday. Council, in conjunction with the bank, will schedule an open house there in the next two weeks to celebrate the move, Chiaravalle said.