蘑菇视频

May 10, 2019 By Mark Soroka for The 5 min read

MONESSEN – Council members expressed indignation over a thank you letter Gov. Tom Wolf’s office sent to Mayor Matt Shorraw on April 24.

“There’s something that came across our desk and it’s a little disturbing, but it just goes to show you where some people’s heads are at with the game in this town,” said Acting Mayor and Councilman Tony Orzechowski, who read the letter during the council’s last workshop meeting.

The letter, which was addressed to “Office of the Mayor, 100 Third Street, #3, Monessen, Pa.” was delivered to city hall but it was opened because it appeared to be official business from the state, said City Administrator Judith Taylor.

In the letter, Wolf said that he counts on input from local leaders for projects such as the Restore Pennsylvania Infrastructure Improvement Plan.

“Listening to local leaders is the best way for me to understand the complex and challenging issues you each face every day as you strive to build stronger communities and create opportunities for your constituents,” Wolf wrote in what appeared to be a form letter. “Thank you once again for sharing your support of Restore Pennsylvania. I am always impressed and humbled by the dedication shown by local leaders like you. Together, I believe we can build a stronger Pennsylvania.”

Orzechowski felt Wolf’s letter was an affront to the council and the City of Monessen.

“Now, I got two things that hit me on top of the head,” said Orzechowski. “The first one is, I know this is a form letter, but I would think the governor would read something before he chooses to put his name on it officially. And I’m glad he is impressed and humbled by the dedication from our mayor who has been absent for over a year. That hit me as an insult for one reason: that this council has sent numerous letters to the governor, asking and begging for help in saying, we can’t continue like this with the workload and we want him (Shorraw) gone.”

Added Orzechowski, “The other thing that hit me very strangely was, when did 100 Third Street become city hall? So, my question to all of you is, does the mayor have a secret little office that he’s renting? And if you all remember, that Third Street building is the same building that Monessen Rising now owns. And if you’re not sure which one it is, it’s the one that has Mr. Gregor’s council signs plastered all over it. So, I still can put two and two together. Something is going on.”

Donald S. Gregor is one of five Democrats vying for a nomination to seek council seats in the May primary. Monessen Rising, located at the site of the former municipal building, is being developed as a cultural and arts center.

Councilman David Feehan said council has sent several letters to Wolf, asking him to remove Shorraw from office, but Wolf has said he is unable to take action on the request.

“Just a week before this letter was sent to Shorraw, we received a letter that stated the governor may remove an elected official upon the advice of the Senate, but the Senate must initiate the process,” said Feehan. “My point is, the governor responded to the impeachment letter a week prior to writing this letter, so he was well aware of the issues.”

Both Shorraw and Councilman Gil Coles were absent for Thursday’s meeting. Shorraw has not attended a meeting since May 10, 2018. Coles, who has missed regular meetings since February 8, 2018, briefly showed up at an emergency meeting on June 29, 2018 to vote on a renewal of Monessen’s insurance policy.

“In wake of the lack of leadership that the mayor has ever exhibited, which has been absolutely zero, along with Mr. Coles, people sometimes have a tendency to ask, ‘Where’s our leadership?,” said Orzechowski. “Well, here’s your leadership. We haven’t gone anywhere. We are doing what’s required of you as elected officials. You need to show commitment if you’re going to do a job. To sit there and come out of the shadows and decide to run for office and never show up at these meetings, that’s not leadership. That’s a joke. You all deserve better than that.”

Lou Mavrakis, former Monessen mayor, implored council to prevent Shorraw from returning to meetings.

“This council should make a motion, that no matter what, Shorraw cannot come back under any circumstances,” said Mavrakis. “You are in unchartered waters. You wrote to the governor to remove him and Coles. The governor didn’t want to touch it and the state representatives don’t want to touch it. They’re setting a precedent for all third-class cities. If I’m the mayor and I get elected, and I don’t have the majority of the council, I’m not going to come to any meetings. I’m going to wait for two years for another election of the council. And if I get the majority, I’ll come back. Make the motion. Do it.”

Council members had no comment about Mavrakis’ suggestion but Feehan stated, “The three of us follow the letter of the law to a ‘T’.”

Feehan and Councilwoman Lois A. Thomas, Gregor, Joseph P. Gigliotti and Brett Lepresti are all running for two seats on council.