Two people hired to run Civic Center

Linda Carson and Curtis Wade were selected to share the job, each working 15 hours a week.

Monessen hired two individuals Thursday to run the Civic Center after searching for several months to find suitable candidates to oversee the recreational space.

Linda Carson and Curtis Wade will each work 15 hours per week at the facility. The community hub has been without a supervisor since the death of Recreation Director Julian Naphier in September.

The city decided to hire two people to run the Civic Center to split up the duties.

“That is a huge job, and no one person is gonna be able to do the programming, do the cleaning, be there and work with the kids,” Councilwoman Karen Cosner said. “So we thought we should have two people with different skill sets.”

City officials believe the center requires two people to keep it running smoothly.

Cosner said Naphier — who dedicated much of his time to coordinating events for Monessen’s youths — required assistance when he oversaw the Civic Center.

“It was too much for Julian,” Cosner said. “He needed somebody there to say, ‘If I can’t be here, can you be here? What do you think about this idea?’ And that’s why we thought two different people should work it out. There’s strength in numbers.”

The city couldn’t find just one person who met all the qualifications for the job, but Carson’s and Wade’s skills and experience meshed well together.

“So we get the best of both worlds,” Mayor Ron Mozer said. “We get somebody that’s very well organized, and we get somebody who’s very sports oriented. It just seemed to make so much sense. I have great hopes for them.”

Carson has prior experience in community organizing and is no stranger to the city. She has served in roles for Mon Valley NAACP Unit 2274 and the Nehemiah Project.

According to city officials, Wade has volunteered for the youth basketball league at Civic Center.

City employee passes away

Mozer announced the passing of city Code Enforcement Officer Marvin Davis during Thursday’s meeting.

“I’m really sad to announce that our brother, mentor, friend and fellow employee of the City of Monessen Marvin Davis has lost a battle with cancer and joined his sister in heaven early this morning,” the mayor said. “It is those of us here on Earth who will miss him dearly, and our deepest sympathy goes out to his widow, Mary.”

Councilwoman Lois Thomas asked residents in attendance to keep Davis’ family in their prayers.

“It’s a difficult time when you lose someone that you love so much,” Thomas said. “Marvin was a good friend and a great employee of the City of Monessen.”

The city hired Davis as a code enforcement officer in January 2022.

In other business:

• Council voted to reinstate the police pension board. Police Chief David Yuhasz will recommend board members to council.

• Mozer issued a proclamation for Mark Coleman, a public works employee who retired at the end of 2024 after 35 years with the city.