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Monessen Mayor Matt Shorraw and City Council have been busy recently, by filling vacant positions on City Boards, Authorities, and Commissions. This year, the City filled over 20 vacant positions, marking the largest and most diverse cohort of appointees in decades.

The City has 13 active boards, and is also in the process of creating a Blight Review Board. In recent months the City revived its Shade Tree Commission, and created an Environmental Advisory Board and a Police Accountability and Internal Affairs Board. Other active boards include: Monessen Planning Commission, Zoning and Hearing Board, Civil Service Commission, Mon Valley Sewage Authority, Redevelopment Authority, Recreation Board, Library Board, and Mon Valley Refuse Authority. The City also has a representative on the Mid-Mon Valley Transit Authority Board.

In January, Monessen also created a Human Relations Commission, when the City adopted its most sweeping anti-discrimination ordinance, since 1968, to include local protections from discrimination in housing, commercial property, employment, and public accommodations, based upon race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, handicap or disability, or the use of guide or support animals because the user is a handler or trainer of the animals. The Commission will serve as an educational and advocacy organization.

Mayor Matt Shorraw said that he is “thrilled to see so much community involvement”. He mentioned that there was a reluctance from members of the public to join boards and volunteer in the past, due to tensions within the City over the past six or seven years, as well as the lack of support for volunteers within the City. Shorraw says, “I’m glad people are stepping up now – we (the City) will do whatever we can to support their work, and help them, help us create a better Monessen!”

*(Editors Note: Article was submitted for publication on behalf of the City of Monessen).

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