Monessen closes pension case

By EMILY BENNETT DILULLO
ebennett@yourmvi.com
Monessen City council publicly announced the state auditor general has officially closed its case regarding the police and firefighter’s pension fund.
Council announced the withdrawal of the order to show cause for withholding state aid for pension plans at last night’s council meeting.
Acting Mayor Anthony Orzechowksi read the announcement before directing comments toward Mayor Matt Shorraw, who, while absent from the meeting, released a statement early Thursday morning via social media addressing the report.
Earlier this week, Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale determined the Monessen police and firefighter pension plans were in complete compliance with recommendations for the department’s audit report for the period of Jan. 1, 2015, to Dec. 31, 2016.
Councilman Dave Feehan and Solicitor Joseph Dalfonso made additional comments related to the report. Shorraw has not attended a council meeting for nearly 17 months.
“(Shorraw) stated the auditor general has limited power, so it will go to the right authorities now and get taken care of,” Orzechowski said. “What’s getting taken care of? Not only is this a joke, it’s another continuous black eye for the City of Monessen. It’s a black eye for what the mayor is supposed to do, and that’s to go out there and promote his city and promote the people of the city’s businesses and help grow the city.”

See the video from tonight’s meeting on our website at www.monvalleyindependent.com.

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