Monessen Council approves liability insurance, keeps city running; mayor a no-show
At the 11th hour, Monessen Council approved insurance coverage that ensures the city will continue to operate and to provide emergency services for residents.
Mayor Matt Shorraw did not attend Friday’s emergency meeting held at City Hall, but council had a quorum when Councilman Gil Coles, who had not attended a meeting since February, attended.
“The city’s not going to shut down. The insurance motions got passed, so we’ll go about business as usual,” said Councilman David Feehan, who called Shorraw’s decision not to attend the meeting “embarrassing.”
Monessen planned to cease operations, including fire and police services, Sunday if it did not purchase liability insurance.
Coles, along with Feehan and Councilman Anthony Orzechowski, voted unanimously on three items: to approve renewal of the insurance coverage on the fire department vehicles and portable equipment at a cost of $12,865; to renew the liability and property insurance coverage in the amount of $67,293; and to approve the renewal of workers compensation insurance coverage at an estimated annual premium amount of $234,821.
Coles left the meeting immediately following the votes, forcing council to continue the public comment portion of the meeting until the next regularly scheduled council meeting.
According to Feehan, council members received an email from Shorraw indicating an emergency meeting would be held at 7 p.m. Friday.
“I assumed he was coming,” said Feehan.
Shorraw has said he was not going to attend council meetings until Westmoreland County Court appointed a person to a seat on the board created when former councilman Ron Chiaravalle died May 28.
“It’s just a shame that what’s happening is happening,” said Orzechowski.
The deadline for council to replace Chiaravalle has passed.
On Thursday, Shorraw and Coles, who has not given a reason for his absences from council meetings, submitted one petition to the court nominating former state Rep. Ted Harhai, for the vacant seat on council, according to court records.
On the same day, the city also filed a petition listing 11 names of qualified residents.
The court has not yet scheduled a hearing to consider the applications.