Monessen stands by Witt, Harhai hirings

By KRISTIE LINDEN

klinden@yourmvi.com

Despite a Westmoreland County judge’s ruling that actions taken during Monessen’s first meeting this year are null and void, the city’s solicitor believes council’s later actions cured that issue.  

Judge Chris Scherer granted former Mayor Lou Mavrakis’ request for a default judgment last week in a lawsuit he filed against Mayor Matt Shorraw and councilmen Don Gregor and Gil Coles alleging Sunshine Act violations.

The allegations center around the claim that a private agenda was used, which seemed to be available only to the mayor, and the public was not given a reasonable opportunity to comment on the actions taken. Those moves included firing then-Solicitor Joe Dalfonso and former Administrator Judith Taylor, in addition to hiring their replacements — Solicitor Tim Witt and Administrator John Harhai.

In his judgment, Scherer fined each man $500 and ruled that all actions taken during the Jan. 6 reorganization meeting are null and void.

Council ratified those actions at its meetings Jan. 29 and again March 10.       

At Tuesday’s council’s meeting, Shorraw said he, Coles and Gregor are evaluating their options in response to the judge’s ruling.

“In the interim, the city emphasizes that the actions taken at the subsequent meetings on Jan. 29 and March 10, was not challenged in this case and continues to remain valid,” Shorraw said. “These steps were taken to protect the city from protracted litigation and to provide security for the city. The administrator and solicitor continue to remain in their respective positions.”

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