Jul 19, 2016 2 min read

MONESSEN – The councilwoman in charge of finances in the financially strapped city of Monessen abruptly resigned from office Monday.

Monessen Mayor Lou Mavrakis said he was shocked to be informed at 3:30 p.m. by the city clerk that Lucille D’Alfonso had turned in her immediate resignation that day.

He said D’Alfonso’s letter of resignation was “short and sweet.”

D’Alfonso stated in the letter that she made the decision to resign “after much deliberation,” the mayor said.

She began serving on council in 2010 after former councilman John Harhai resigned and was then appointed city administrator, Mavrakis said.

Her resignation came two months after an audit of city spending revealed it ended 2015 with a $787,625 deficit. City departments remain under spending freeze as Monessen struggles to meet its expenses. The city’s general fund in late June stood at $129,364 at a time when payroll still needed to be met and other bills were piling up.

Meanwhile, Monessen faces a debt Mavrakis has estimated at $13.5 million that must be paid over the next three decades.

City Council has 30 days from Monday to fill the vacant seat.

Mavrakis said it’s unlikely that the four remaining members of council will agree on a candidate to appoint to the vacant seat, that the decision most likely will be determined by a Westmoreland County judge.

D’Alfonso could not be reached Tuesday.