Double appointment in Monessen
By Kaylie Moore
kmoore@yourmvi.com
Monessen council ended 2018 in tumultuous fashion Thursday, with a double authority appointment, hazardous materials storage and a hefty tax increase causing controversy.
Councilmen Dave Feehan and Anthony Orzechowski and Councilwoman Lois Thomas were tasked with navigating a heavily-laden agenda, while Mayor Matt Shorraw and Councilman Gil Coles remained absent.
The meeting was Shorraw’s 21st consecutive absence, while Coles has only attended one meeting since February.
Double appointment
In yet another Monessen first, Orzechowski seemingly reappointed Donald Byron to his seat on the city’s redevelopment authority board.
However, Shorraw notified council last week via a notarized letter that he appointed and issued an oath of office to Monessen Hilltop Volunteer Fire Department Chief Delmar Hepple — already filling the soon-to-be-vacant seat.
Orzechowski said he was “not going to need a motion on this,” because Third Class City Code “clearly states” the deputy mayor “will assume all authority and responsibility” in the mayor’s absence.
“Being that the mayor has not shown up for meeting number 21, I’d say he’s absent from his authority and distinguishing himself as the mayor,” Orzechowski said. “So I’m in charge of making that appointment and I so do make that appointment.”
Look for the video of Thursday’s meeting on the Mon Valley Independent website at www.monvalleyindependent.com.
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