What is Monessen’s ‘new direction’?
By EMILY BENNETT DILULLO
ebennett@yourmvi.com
After a tumultuous reorganization meeting Monday, some members of Monessen city council and new city employees are working to restructure the city, while others say they are working to recover it.
Mayor Matt Shorraw returned to council Monday after nearly 20 months of absence to dismiss council’s agenda with one he had written himself. The meeting saw a change in majority as councilmen Gil Coles and Don Gregor voted with Shorraw to pass motions to fire two city employees, alter meeting times and restrict citizens’ input at work sessions.
Former city administrator Judith Taylor was voted out of her job and was replaced by John Harhai, and former solicitor Joseph Dalfonso was replaced by Tim Witt.
When Councilman Anthony Orzechowski raised a question on the motion to terminate Dalfonso, Shorraw replied the city was “going in a new direction.”
During the meeting, Orzechowski alleged Witt had served in some capacity as a personal lawyer to Shorraw and referenced a 2018 phone call when Witt communicated with Dalfonso concerning a legal matter. This claim was denied by the mayor.
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