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Monessen Council vacancy in hands of Westmoreland judge

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MONESSEN – With the Monessen mayor still missing from City Hall, the decision on who will fill a vacant seat on council appears to be heading to Westmoreland County Court.

The 30 days from the death of Councilman Ron Chiaravalle during which council had a chance to fill his seat expires today, city solicitor Joseph Dalfonso said.

“It has to be done by court order and is out of council’s hands by midnight tomorrow,” Dalfonso said Tuesday.

Chiaravalle died May 28, a couple of weeks after council issued a vote of no confidence in Mayor Matt Shorraw stemming from his making public comments about a lawsuit against the city before it was settled.

Shorraw, 27, has made clear in statements on his Facebook page he does not intend to return to the council table until after Chiaravalle’s seat is filled by the court. As a result, council has been unable to attract a quorum to its meetings, creating a large stack of unfinished business and unpaid bills.

His absence also comes at a time when the city is dealing with a worsening blight problem, including the collapse of an abandoned building Monday in the 300 block of Schoonmaker Avenue.

Meanwhile, a 26-year-old man was shot to death in the city early Monday, prompting Shorraw to address it on his Facebook feed.

“My heart breaks every time things like these happen,” Shorraw stated in his Facebook post about the murder. “Details are forthcoming, as the investigation progresses.”

The problem in attracting a quorum to council meetings is complicated by another councilman being missing from City Hall. Gill Coles hasn’t attended a meeting since February, without citing a reason.

“It’s not a good situation,” Dalfonso said. “It’s only going to get worse.”

Residents of Monessen who are interested in seeking the vacant seat on council must file a petition before the court before a hearing is scheduled to name Chiaravalle’s replacement, a court official said.

President Judge Rita Hathaway will issue an order explaining the application process that requires each applicant to seek 10 signatures of local voters to be considered, Westmoreland County Court Administrator Amy Mears DeMatt said.

A hearing would then be scheduled for the court’s entire bench to fill the seat on council, DeMatt said.

Shorraw did not return a message Tuesday seeking comment about his absence from City Hall.

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