Mayor causes outrage by firing multiple people during first meeting in over a year

MONESSEN, Pa. — The mayor of Monessen showed up to a council meeting Monday night after missing every single one for the past 20 months.

In his absence, two council members, the city administrator and solicitor essentially ran the city. But that all changed Monday.

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Mayor Matt Shorraw made major changes, including firing the city clerk and solicitor. Anthony Orzechowski, who acted as deputy mayor and director of finance in his absence, quickly questioned Shorraw’s motion to fire the solicitor.

“One, why? Two, justification? Three, where the hell have you been?” said Orzechowski.

It was a question many had during the meeting.

All Shorraw would say was that, “we’re moving in a new direction.” He then had the city administrator call the role for her own termination.

“Judy did the job of three people for over a year,” Orzechowski told Channel 11.

Orzechowski even had a change in roles. He’s now the director of parks.

Channel 11 reached out to Shorraw for comment, but he didn’t return our calls.

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