Shorraw is asked to explain bankruptcy accusation

By KRISTIE LINDEN

klinden@yourmvi.com

In response to Monessen Mayor Matt Shorraw’s claims that someone may have intentionally tried to bankrupt the city, the three council members who ran the government while he was absent would like him to clarify what — and who — he is talking about.

Current council members Lois Thomas and Tony Orzechowski and former Councilman Dave Feehan were the only three who attended council meetings throughout 2019, which seems to be the focus of Shorraw’s claims of alleged financial mismanagement.

Shorraw didn’t attend council meetings for more than a year and a half, and Councilman Gil Coles didn’t attend meetings for just shy of two years. Both men returned to meetings Jan. 6 when Councilman Don Gregor was sworn into office.  

At Tuesday’s meeting, Shorraw said, “I hope I’m wrong when I say this, but looking at the figures it seems there were individuals who were intentionally trying to bankrupt the city, perhaps for their own interests.”

Shorraw was describing the differences between 2019’s accounts and 2020’s accounts at the time.

Orzechowski said he has no clue who Shorraw is talking about.

“The only thing I really have to say on the subject is simply this — we showed up,” Orzechowski said. “We were understaffed, the three of us, and it’s not like we were at city hall every day. We did the best we could to keep the city running and keep payroll running with what we had.”

Thomas said Shorraw was alluding to all kinds of corruption and she has no idea who he means. She can’t imagine he’s pointing fingers at anyone on the current administration because Shorraw is a part of that group.

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