Jan 26, 2019 5 min read

Council members in Monessen said the city’s mayor needs to check his facts before he makes accusations, citing several inaccuracies they say Mayor Matt Shorraw has spread.

Earlier this month, Shorraw, who’s missed nearly two dozen consecutive meetings, was sent a letter by the deputy secretary of the state Department of Community and Economic Development offering to help him find a way to “return to serve in the position you were elected.”

In discussing the letter, Shorraw made a wide range of accusations against council members, and they used time during the Thursday city council meeting to respond. Neither Shorraw nor Councilman Gilbert Coles, who has been to one meeting since February 2018, were in attendance.

“This is something I like to call fact-checking with Matt, because Matt needs his facts checked,” said Councilman Anthony Orzechowski, who earlier this month was voted in as acting mayor.

Orzechowski addressed several allegations he said Shorraw has made, including:

• Council allegedly delayed the awarding of the pension fund contract: “This council was not part of the pension transfer,” said Orzechowski. “As far as delaying the awarding of the pension transfer as per the state auditor general’s recommendation, the city met twice with the police pension board representatives. While moving forward to have an independent third-party (representative) make an unbiased assessment, that individual had to bow out due to an unexpected conflict. Scheduling conflicts have held up the meeting to our next meeting, next Tuesday.”
• Alleged conflicts of interest with companies being awarded bids and lack of minority companies receiving contracts: Orzechowski said the city advertises all contracts that are required to be placed out for bid and then publicly awards contracts to the lowest and most responsible bidders. Orzechowski challenged Shorraw to explain how any firms or businesses are excluded from the bidding process.
• Non-uniformed city employees working without a contract and an alleged gender pay gap: According to Orzechowski, officials are continuing to negotiate toward a solution that benefits both the city bargaining unit and the taxpayers. “And as far as the pay gap, that makes no sense at all. I’d like to know what he’s referring to specifically. Again, we need facts and figures, not vague accusations,” he said.
• Full-time police officers not being hired to replace outgoing officers: The city can’t afford to hire full-time officers under the contract, Orzechowski said.
• Council’s alleged payments for demolition of properties not owned by the city: “Again, Matt, do some fact-finding,” said Orzechowski. “You will find out that the city has always paid for properties that were demolished, not the Redevelopment Authority. They never had any money to do that. On top of that, when we demolish a building, even if we pay for it and even if the Redevelopment Authority owned it, the city acquires that property after it has been demolished. It’s no longer in the Redevelopment Authority’s hands.”
• Appointing an acting mayor violated the state Constitution, and city officials changed alarm codes and locks so Shorraw can’t get into City Hall: Orzechowski said he was appointed because someone had to fill the role. “And I thought this job fell under the deputy mayor’s responsibilities when the mayor is M.I.A. According to third-class city code, it does. And since you missed 22 meetings and have not participated in any decisions involving the city, I think the citizens would want somebody to try to steer the ship,” he said.

Shorraw last week said he has no plans to resign as mayor. He is entering his second year of a four-year term.

Orzechowski contended that no locks have been changed at city hall and that Shorraw has not made an attempt to visit city offices to get the new alarm codes.

Councilman David Feehan also took exception to Shorraw’s claims that he was being harassed on social media.

“The last time I checked, when I post physical evidence of a blatant lie coming out of the mayor’s mouth, that’s not harassment; that’s me telling the truth,” said Feehan. “And I will continue to do that, whether or not that’s offending him or not. I’m just being transparent – because if you lie, I will call you out.”

In other business:

• Solicitor Joe Dalfonso said he is continuing to look into potential assessment appeals for commercial properties in the city.
• Council approved a request from Nickie Williams to host “Help Kids Beat Cancer!” The community event will be held Sept. 14.
• Councilwoman Lois Thomas thanked the street department for its prompt response on snow removal last week.