What’s up with the missing mayor of Monessen?
MONESSEN – Business is slowing to a halt at Monessen City Hall as the newly elected mayor misses council meetings.
Some city bills are going unpaid after Mayor Matt Shorraw skipped a special meeting that was called Monday to take care of unfinished business, Monessen officials said.
“We’re proceeding on a day-to-day basis,” said Judith Taylor, the city clerk/administrator.
She said she has the authority to pay some bills, including the utilities, but others cannot be handled without council approval. One such unpaid account involves a $28,894 payment to the local library. A motion also was on Monday’s agenda to pay $9,913 in bills for May, and make a $122,283 transfer from the general fund to the payroll account, city records show.
Shorraw has not given a reason to city officials for why he didn’t attend the special meeting or the regular May 24 meeting, solicitor Steve Toprani said.
There wasn’t a quorum for the May 24 meeting because Shorraw wasn’t there and Councilman Ron Chiaravalle had taken ill and was hospitalized.
Chiaravalle died four days later, resulting in council needing to fill a vacant seat on the board. Councilman Gil Coles hasn’t attended a meeting since February, leaving Councilmen David Feehan and Anthony Orzechowski the only officials at the table during the past two attempts to hold a meeting.
Shorraw did not return messages Wednesday seeking comment about his absences.
He did post a statement on his personal Facebook page that indicated the special meeting was not needed because bills can be paid under the terms of contracts, ordinances and resolutions.
“On another front; I love Monessen,” Shorraw stated in the post.
“If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be going through these struggles, but I believe in our city. However, it cannot move forward until past wrongs are made right. I refuse to allow council to set the city even farther backwards.”
His post did not specify what the past wrongs were or how council was setting the city back.
Shorraw also stated he expected the vacant seat on council will be filled by a Westmoreland County judge.