Monessen is months late for 2019 audit

By KRISTIE LINDEN

klinden@yourmvi.com

The City of Monessen is months behind on getting its 2019 audit finished and there are conflicting stories about what may have caused the delay.

When Councilman Tony Orzechowski asked in a meeting why the audit, typically due in March or early spring, wasn’t finished, Mayor Matt Shorraw said, “The auditors never showed up, so we need to hire an auditing firm.” 

Orzechowski said he spoke with “Mr. Cypher” at the auditing firm Cypher and Cypher in Canonsburg and was told that he contacted the city in February and March several times and no one in the city ever returned his call.

“And then they were told council fired them,” Orzechowski said, relaying his conversation with Cypher.

City Administrator John Harhai asked Orzechowski if Cypher said who hired him.

Orzechowski said Cypher and Cypher, known throughout the Valley and used by several school districts and municipalities, had a three-year contract with the city for auditing services for 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Harhai said the firm doesn’t have a contract.

At the Feb. 11 meeting of council, a motion to put out a Request For Proposals from auditing companies was passed unanimously. Council never publicly discussed receiving any proposals and hasn’t approved any proposals in the months since. 

Councilman Don Gregor asked Orzechowski if Cypher and Cypher “had a contract with the city, why didn’t they come in?”

Orzechowski said Cypher explained to him that he called to set something up and didn’t get a return call, so he followed up and still didn’t get a call back.

Harhai said that wasn’t true, claiming he sent the first stages of information necessary to begin the audit by email to Cypher and Cypher in March, but he never heard back from them.

Cypher and Cypher declined to comment, saying it’s the firm’s policy to not speak with the media.

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