In Monessen, a small city in Westmoreland County, officials meet monthly to conduct city business. They take votes, pay bills and ensure the city continues to operate unimpeded.

One seat in the room, however, is perpetually empty. Mayor Matt Shorraw has not attended a meeting in more than a year.

Rep. Justin Walsh, R-Westmoreland County, introduced a bill that aims solve that problem — for both Monessen and other cities, townships and boroughs across the state. The legislation would amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to allow municipal elected officials to be removed if they fail to attend more than 50 percent of scheduled meetings each year.

Currently, it is difficult to oust local officials in Pennsylvania, which does not allow recall elections — referendum votes that allow voters to remove an official from office before the end of their term.

According to Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton County and minority chair of the House Local Government Committee, some municipalities previously had charters imposing penalties on local officials who failed to meet their responsibilities. However, in 1995, the state Supreme Court ruled that such charters and codes were unconstitutional. The only means of removing an official from office is through the process described in the state constitution.

“Since the changes were made to the various codes, the only way to remove a municipal official is through the impeachment process, which is typically reserved for crimes,” Freeman said.

The new bill aims to provide another way. If an official failed to reach the attendance quota, the other members of the governing body could pass a resolution ordering the municipal solicitor to file an action in the court of common pleas to remove the absent official.

Although Monessen’s situation was Walsh’s initial impetus for putting forth the bill, he said it is not the only case of local officials neglecting their duties.

“Across the state there have been many cases of elected officials refusing to attend regularly scheduled public meetings and perform the duties that they were elected to carry out,” Walsh wrote in the bill’s memorandum. “This legislation will provide a much needed tool to municipal governments to deal with elected officials that refuse to do the job that they were elected to perform.”

And when officials fail to meet their responsibilities, their constituents suffer. Councils and boards cannot pass measures and agreements without a quorum present. Walsh said this inhibits local government from operating efficiently.

“When elected officials decide they aren’t going to go to meetings, it puts more delegational responsibilities on the other officials,” Walsh said.

The bill, which has gained support from several Republican lawmakers across the state, will be moved out of committee in June, according to Rep. Dan Moul, R-Adams County, who chairs the House Local Government Committee.

Moul said he supports the bill, especially after hearing from other representatives with similar problems in their own districts.

“It’s probably something that should be addressed,” he said. “You have people who get elected and then they realize it’s not for them or they get their agenda through and just collect checks."

Because the bill aims to amend the state Constitution, legislation would need to pass two consecutive sessions in the General Assembly without getting amended. After that, it would go to voters in a statewide referendum to be ratified. The last amendment to the state constitution was in 2017, when voters approved allowing the Legislature to pass a law that exempts residents from paying property taxes on their homes.

Jack Murray, president of the New Cumberland Borough Council, said it’s impossible for elected officials to be informed if they are not attending meetings.

“People run for public office and say they want to give back to their community,” he said. “What they don’t always understand is that giving back requires a lot of work.”

While Amy Sturges, director of governmental affairs for the Pennsylvania Municipal League, also thinks something should be in place for situations where municipal elected officials are not performing their duties, she has some concerns about the legislation. Sturges said the bill might make it easier for political rivalries to play a role in removing officials.

“It’s still keeping the function of bringing the claim for removal in the local government,” she said. “There needs to be a way to remove it from the local political structure and set a standard to determine whether someone has a legitimate absence.”

Murray, who has been on the council for 44 years, has rarely seen members skip meetings without a good reason. Still, he said having an established process to remove officials if they do not meet their responsibilities is important.

“To me, it’s a responsibility and a job,” he said. “I consider it something I have to take seriously because I’m spending other people’s money.”