Monessen seeks someone to run Civic Center

Previous manager Julian Naphier died recently.

The City of Monessen will soon begin the search for somebody to take the reins at the Civic Center after the sudden passing of Julian Naphier earlier this month.

Councilman Tony Orzechowski said the Civic Center “is in a mess right now.”

Orzechowski made the comment amid a discussion at Thursday’s council meeting about the possibility of Nehemiah of Monessen Community Development Corporation holding a program funded through grant money to reduce drug and alcohol use among youth in the city.

“I think we need to get our own house in order, on the directions, securing the place, putting rules and regulations if that may need be or anything else before we start letting other people start to come in and use the Civic Center,” Orzechowski said. “I know it’s a civic thing. I know it’s something to be utilized, and it’s shameful that it’s not utilized in the city.”

While Mayor Ron Mozer doesn’t believe the situation at the Civic Center to be as urgent as Orzechowski, he acknowledged it’s a matter that needs to be addressed.

“I don’t think it’s quite as dire as you think. We do have some issues we need to get a handle on. We need a new manager to manage that facility,” Mozer said. “There is a lot to be done there.”

City Administrator Mike Korposh has been making multiple visits per day to the facility to ensure it’s functioning appropriately.

Orzechowski wasn’t sure if the building had any security measure, but Mozer assured him that it has a video monitoring system.

Councilwoman Karen Cosner said she sent over a sample job description for the Civic Center position.

“I feel strongly that we need MONESSEN •A5

“I have said before I needed help, and I’ve never had anybody raise their hand and say, ‘Please, let me help.’”

KAREN COSNER

MONESSEN COUNCILWOMAN a qualified person in that position who can move that center forward, because it’s like a jam,” Cosner said to Mozer and Korposh.

Cosner believes the right person for the job should have prior experience running similar facilities.

“I think it’s important; we need a place for these kids to go,” she said.

Residents in the audience interrupted Cosner multiple times, shouting that the Civic Center needs more than one person to run it.

“That’d be very nice if people in this room and the community would step up and say let me be on the (board),” Cosner said. “I have said before I needed help, and I’ve never had anybody raise their hand and say, ‘Please, let me help.’” Orzechowski also mentioned the defunct recreation board as another hurdle for the Civic Center.

After the meeting, Mozer said he’s seen many rec boards dissolve in the city since he moved there about 15 years ago.

“I want to be different than that. I do not want to just toss everybody out with the bathwater,” he said. “But this time, it dissolved before my very eyes. Julian passed away. The people that were there lost interest. … They just didn’t have the time to put to it. We need to get going again. Somebody’s got to take control.”

The city will soon advertise for an open position at the Civic Center.