Monessen plows ahead with tractor purchases

By KRISTIE LINDEN

klinden@yourmvi.com

Monessen council wasn’t going to let a global pandemic impose on business as usual Tuesday night. 

Mayor Matt Shorraw announced last week the city would hold its monthly meeting closed to the public, but would provide a way for residents to comment or ask questions on agenda items, and then would post a video of the meeting after the fact.

Attending in person were Shorraw, councilmen Don Gregor and Gil Coles, Administrator John Harhai, Treasurer Gerald Saksun, Solicitor Tim Witt and new city Controller Kevin Parker. They sat a few feet apart at the normal front tables in council chambers, wearing masks.

Council members Tony Orzechowski and Lois Thomas chose to participate remotely by phone. They expressed dismay to find out that they’d once again been left out of the decision-making process when it comes to city business — but this time it came with a twist.

Orzechowski and Thomas were excluded from discussions regarding the purchase of equipment for their own departments. Orzechowski was given four motions to read under his parks department report that he had not been notified of or consulted about.

The motions were to purchase three new tractors and accompanying equipment at a total of $154,522 for the parks and recreation department. The equipment would also be used by the streets department, which Thomas oversees.

“I’m not making a motion for any of this equipment,” Orzechowski said. “I knew nothing about it and it’s my department. Lois knew nothing about it. Who went out and did all this without consulting us?”

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