Monessen’s former city controller demands removal explanation

By KRISTIE LINDEN
klinden@yourmvi.com
Monessen council voted last week to bring in a new city controller, and the former controller has a theory on why she was removed.
Maria Scuteri was appointed city controller in December to fulfill the remainder of Wayne Vlasic’s term. Vlasic left the seat to assume his new role as Monessen’s magisterial district judge.
Council voted Feb. 11 to declare the positions of city treasurer and controller vacant because Scuteri and elected Treasurer Gerald Saksun did not submit the necessary affidavits of residency and bonds prior to taking their oaths of office.
Councilman Anthony Orzechowski argued against making the motion at all and urged council to get the two bonded.
Council immediately voted to appoint Saksun to fulfill the remainder of his own term as treasurer.
When Orzechowski made a motion to reappoint Scuteri, Mayor Matt Shorraw and councilmen Gil Coles and Don Gregor voted against it.
In February, Shorraw said a motion to advertise the position would be on the March agenda. Instead, there was a motion to appoint Kevin Parker.
“When I spoke at the last meeting, I asked to be notified of what your decision was,” Scuteri said. “No one notified me of anything. I brought papers showing I am, in fact, bonded. Not with the city … but I am bonded. I’ve been bonded since Dec. 7.”
Scuteri asked to see the Third Class City Code section where it states a city controller must be bonded before they are sworn in.
“I just want to see it,” she said.
Scuteri said she furnished all the documents she was asked for and again asked “for someone to let me know what’s going on and, again, no one let me know.”
Solicitor Tim Witt said the information is in Section 10906, which states in part, “Council may require from each elected or appointed officer and agent of the city a lawful bond with corporate surety for the faithful performance of his or her duties. Requirement — An officer or agent required by law or ordinance to give bond may not be sworn into office or enter upon the duties of office until the bond has been approved by the proper authority.”
“I think all citizens want to know what is it? What is the problem with my being sworn in?” Scuteri asked. “I want to see the paperwork on Mr. Saksun. I want to know what it is about my serving as city controller that has you guys so balled up you can’t wait to get me out of here and not even have the common courtesy of communicating directly with me. It’s sad.”
Scuteri said residents approach her to say she shouldn’t back down.
“Is there a discrimination thing going on here? Is it because I’m a woman? Is the city going to help me understand or am I going to file the paperwork (for a Right to Know request),” Scuteri said.
Scuteri thinks if she had everything in order Shorraw, Gregor and Coles would have found another way to remove her.

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