Shorraw, Monessen respond to MVI suit

By KRISTIE LINDEN

klinden@yourmvi.com

After about five and a half months, lawyers representing Mayor Matt Shorraw and the City of Monessen have filed their first response to the lawsuit filed by the Mon Valley Independent alleging Sunshine Act violations.

The MVI alleges Shorraw and the city violated the Sunshine Act when a private agenda, which seemed to be available only to Shorraw, was used during the Jan. 6 reorganization meeting and the public was not given a reasonable opportunity to comment on the actions taken that night. 

Tim Witt and Matt Jaynes, who are defending the city and Shorraw in the lawsuit filed by the MVI, started the response to the suit by explaining that Third Class City Code doesn’t require council to prepare or follow any agenda for its meetings. 

It also states the Sunshine Act doesn’t require agendas to be distributed to the public or to be exhaustive. 

But the attorneys agree the Sunshine Act does require governing bodies to provide a reasonable opportunity for residents to comment on matters of concern that “may be before the board” before council takes official action on those items.

According to the MVI’s lawsuit, the reorganization meeting followed city council’s usual practice, which was for residents to enter council chambers and pick up an agenda with a list of motions council was expected to act on that night. 

To read the rest of this story, please see a copy of Wednesday’s Mon Valley Independent, call 724-314-0035 to subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at https://e.monvalleyindependent.com.