Responses submitted in two Sunshine Act suits

By TAYLOR BROWN

tbrown@yourmvi.com

Six months after lawsuits were filed against Monessen Mayor Matt Shorraw and others for alleged Sunshine Act violations, the defense has filed responses in two cases.

Former Mayor Lou Mavrakis is accusing Shorraw and Councilmen Gil Coles and Don Gregor of violating the Sunshine Act during a Jan. 6 reorganization meeting.

Monessen resident Ron Mozer filed his own suit accusing Shorraw of similar violations. Mozer’s suit names Gregor and Coles as interested parties.

Responses were filed this week in both cases by Connellsville Attorney Matt Jaynes, who represents Shorraw, Coles and Gregor.

Mavrakis and Mozer are representing themselves in the suits.

The legal actions claim Shorraw ignored the prepared and publicly available agenda in favor of his own version that no one else seemed to have access to.

After public comment ended during the Jan. 6 meeting, Shorraw made motions to terminate the services of Dodaro, Matta and Cambest, fire solicitor Joseph Dalfonso, retain a new solicitor, terminate city Administrator Judith Taylor, retain new city Administrator John Harhai, restrict access to security camera videos, rescind Brooke Farmer’s appointment to the Mon Valley Sewage Authority and advertise a vacancy on the sewage authority. 

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