Shorraw’s letter on city’s financial state criticized
By KRISTIE LINDEN
klinden@yourmvi.com
The mayor of Monessen sent a letter to all city residents late last week regarding finances that some thought was potential campaign literature, but he says that’s not the case.
Mayor Matt Shorraw, who is running for re-election in the May primary, said the letter was sent from the office of the mayor and paid for by the city’s general fund because it contains financial information he feels residents need to know.
Shorraw originally shared the information at the March 9 council meeting, but said he decided to send it to every home in the city because not all residents can attend council meetings or watch them online.
It cost about $1,428 for the postage to send it to 3,000 households.
Shorraw said the information needed to get out to residents to clear up rumors and misinformation.
“There is speculation, chatter in the street, that we’re millions of dollars in debt,” Shorraw said, adding that while that’s technically true, he felt residents should know what that actual debt is and that’s what he said is outlined in the letter.
Early on in the letter, Shorraw talks about the city paying down debts in 2020 and 2021 “left by Councilman (Tony) Orzechowski, when he was ‘Deputy Mayor’ in 2019.”
It’s the blame for the short-term debt that seems to be pointed at Orzechowski, who is also up for re-election this May, that made some in town think the letter was campaign literature as Orzechowski and Shorraw are political rivals.
“I think it’s just politics from council chambers,” Orzechowski said. “He’s politicking because it’s an election year.”
Shorraw said that’s not true because information on what he believes to be Orzechowski’s financial mismanagement is something that he’s been saying about the councilman for some time.
“We’ve been saying this about him for the last year and he called himself the deputy mayor,” Shorraw said.
“It’s always what I did, what I did,” Orzechowski said. “I’d like to remind everyone this isn’t a dictatorship. (Councilwoman) Lois (Thomas) and (former councilman) Dave Feehan were there voting, listening and approving everything as a group.”
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