Dueling appointments from Shorraw, council

By EMILY BENNETT DILULLO

ebennett@yourmvi.com

Monessen Mayor Matt Shorraw is engaged in another clash with council over the redevelopment authority board.

Before council voted Thursday to reappoint former Monessen mayor Lou Mavrakis to the board, Shorraw made his own appointment, privately swearing in Paul Buchko to fill the open position and to “replace” Mavrakis. The letter of appointment was notarized by another former mayor, Mary Jo Smith.

Solicitor Joseph Dalfonso said Shorraw sent City Administrator Judith Taylor an email about the appointment around 4:30 p.m. Thursday,   90 minutes before the start of the meeting. Taylor claims she did not see the message until after the meeting was complete and the appointments were made. 

Acting Mayor Anthony Orzechowski said things would have played out exactly the same way had council been informed of Shorraw’s appointment before the meeting. 

“We would have moved forward and we wouldn’t have done anything different,” Orzechowski said. “My argument to him would have been shut up and sit down or come to a meeting.”

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