Meter Maid Claims Mayor Demanded Sexual Favor For More Hours
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MONESSEN (KDKA) – A Monessen city employee has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against the city and mayor.
According to the lawsuit paperwork, the alleged harassment began in May 2016, when Melissa Luketich asked Mayor Lou Mavrakis to increase her hours as the meter maid. At the time, she was working six hours a day and had requested to work eight per day.
As part of her request, she stated that she was a single mother making $7.25 per hour and could use the extra hours.
Mavrakis allegedly told her, "If you want more hours, come down to the city building, and get under my desk and (commit a sexual act)." He allegedly went on to say, "I don't need any blue pills, even though I am 80-years-old."
Mavrakis has denied these claims.
"I've had prostate surgery. What is Viagra gonna do me, or Viagra, or Cialis, or whatever it is? What's that gonna do for me," sais Mavrakis. "Maybe she's watched too much of Bill Clinton, and she's fantasizing."
Luketich's attorney, however, say her client's claims are based in reality.
"After she had said no, she reported the mayor's behavior and then that's when she was subject to sort of heightened scrutiny with her job performance. She noticed that people would be watching her perform her duties as a meter maid on a daily basis," attorney Christi Wallace said.
Three months later, Luketich met with another female employee who accused Mavrakis of sexual harassment in 2014.
"It's nothing but political garbage, and it happens in this town quite often," said Mavrakis.
But the next day, Mavrakis allegedly called Luketich a "psycho b - - - -" and said her "job was on the line."
Luketich's attorney, meanwhile, confirms her client filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against a prior employer. Mavrakis say that's all anyone really needs to know.
"This is her MO. She's looking for $5,000, $10,000, and she's gonna run away," Mavrakis said. "Let her run the course through her suit, see how it goes."
