Turning down money is silly
Many are still wondering why Councilman Coles and I are doing what we’re doing, in regards to our absences. To touch on that, it is because we have no desire to be a part of the corrupt practices of our colleagues, and in time the full story and details will come out – but right now, that’s not the topic at hand. I felt it necessary to inform the public of missed opportunities, which would benefit the residents of Monessen.
Most recently, a $25,000 grant that I wrote last year and was awarded (of which the award was announced in this paper) had to be returned. The grant was not written through the City of Monessen, but through the Mon River Town Coalition, and was awarded through the Westmoreland Community Foundation. The grant would have initiated phase one to clean 6th Street Park, and rebuild the retaining walls between 6th and McKee, so as to avoid a landslide. The project would also see a public art piece put in place, created by students at Douglas Education Center, and the clean up would be made possible through Monessen High School students and other volunteers. This is in an effort to bring the community together, and bring about productive and positive change. The grant would have been at no cost whatsoever to the city; however, the three remaining council people: Feehan, Thomas, and Orzechowski did not give the project managers the time of day to present in writing, their authorization for these volunteer groups to be on city property to clean the area and proceed. Due to this, the grant monies have to be returned. The good news is, Monessen will still be able to acquire funds in the future for projects.
This is not the only instance of losing funding. Council refuses to accept grant funding for Phase two of the Early Intervention Program (EIP), which aims to keep Monessen out of bankruptcy. The coordinator Deb Grass had been working with Mike Foreman of PA Dept. of Community and Economic Development to implement the program, since 2016. Instead of receiving monies from the state, they would rather pay $100,000 out of the city’s funds for a plan that already exists. Certain council people mentioned that they do not want the state “telling them what to do.”
Why would you turn away knowledge and financial help, for a city we all know needs all the help it can get? I know the state is puzzled, and so am I. Hopefully this political nonsense breaks soon so we can all move forward, with or without the current council.
Matt Shorraw is the mayor of Monessen