Monessen hires new director of recreation

By KRISTIE LINDEN

klinden@yourmvi.com

After some debate, Monessen City Council agreed to hire a part-time director of recreation this month.

Julian Naphier will take the job at an hourly rate of $10.

“To keep the rentals moving for the civic center, we need someone to manage it once again,” Mayor Matt Shorraw said. “The position should pay for itself if the rentals continue like they have. I know right now it’s a little hot in there because there’s not really any air flowing in there in the summer.”

The recreation board will split Naphier’s hourly wage with the city.  

Councilwoman Lois Thomas asked why the position wasn’t opened up to the public. Shorraw said it didn’t need to be because it was discussed publicly and no one expressed interest.

“I just think it’s a good idea to advertise because what if someone looks at that and says, ‘I would have liked to have done that?’” Thomas said. “I would have liked to put it out there.”

Shorraw said at this point there are a lot of rentals happening and no one to fulfill them.

“The public is getting upset because the board members work during the day, volunteer during the day and there are so many last-minute requests. People expect to get into the Civic Center in two hours’ notice and it’s not possible,” Shorraw said. “We’ve been talking about it for three months now.”

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