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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM - Meeting Minutes - 1-P - 1-16-1974 - PRISON BOARDSALARY MINUTE BOOK 73 BOAR© OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, JOHN P. BEVEC, JOHN MAZZA, COMMISSIONERS inute No. # 1-P Office of the County Commissioners Washington, Pa. January 16, 1974 The re -organization and regular meeting of the Prison Board of the County of ashington met in the Public Meeting Room at 11:30 a.m. , Wednesday, January 16, 1974, with e following members being present: Sheriff Debreczeni; Judge DiSalle; Commissioner Flynn; udge Gladden; Commissioner Jones; Controller Mascara; Commissioner Paluso; and Warden oupe. Absent being: District Attorney Costa; Judge Simmons; and Judge Sweet. Also present ing: Mr. Dave Daniels - Deputy Controller; Mr. Dave Gilmore - Assistant Solicitor; Mr. Bol Robertson - The Observer -Reporter; and Mr. Eric Bugaile - WESA. Moved by Mr. Paluso, seconded by Mr. Mascara, that Sheriff Debreczeni be ele Chairman of the Prison Board. Motion carried by unanimous vote cast by the Board, signifying their approval verbally, by stating "Aye. if Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Paluso, that Judge Tulle be elected as Vice -Chairman of the Prison Board and F.D. Whalen be retained as Secretary of the Prison Board. Motion carried by unanimous vote cast by the Board, signifying their approval verbally, by stating "Aye. It (Sheriff Debreczeni then took over the meeting) Warden' s Report: Warden Roupe reported that the annual report will be ready by the next meeting. Warden Roupe went on to give a brief summary of the 1973 fiscal year at the County Jail. "I would like to thank the Prison Board for their full cooperation in the past year. It has been a pleasure to work with Judge Gladden who is Chairman of the Board also all committeE During the past year the two escapes appeared to all concerned very bad. However after the federal men were called into evaluate the Prison, all was not as bad as pictured. Humat errors can happen and did. I as Warden was very pleased with the committees report. The two men who came up with the said recommendations were very cooperative. I was aware Mr. Uhl and Mr. Casey had spent their time with the federal Bureau of prisons working in various offices. The federal inspector Mr. Warren Wirth inspected the Washington County Prison on August 29, 1973. His report was very satisfactory and agreed to having the new contract signed al the past $4.50 rate to our actual cost of $7.42 per day. The state inspectors report was good. In prison management you must work step by step, and tell it like it is. Noted improvement! have been noted and all recommendations which the Prison Board feels we can justify will be complied with. We have tried to stay within the budget however nothing is cheap today.. For units using our County Prison we have turned into the County Trsurer $18, 795. 25 with outstanding income of $2,169.47. Total of $20, 964. 72. Warden Roupe reported that the Crime Commission work is now being completed." S. it 374 ZoApaSALARY BOARD 'OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MINUTE BOOK WASHINGTON ,COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN. .JOHN P. BEVEC, JOHN MAZZA, COMMISSIONERS Warden Roupe next read a list of Recommendations for Corrections at the County Jail: Federal Recommendations: 1. Depository for weapons in entrance. 2. Close off passage to Sheriff's Office. 3. Place safe in Warden's Office. 4. Bars installed inside air ducts. 5. Electronic cell locking air ducts. 6. Knife cabinet. 7. External lighting. 8. Fencing recreation area. 9. Emergency communication sydtem - will notify Bell Telephone Co. to come over and explain procedure to be taken. 10. Tel -Key cabinet. 11. Daily log and rounds. Local Recommendations: 1. Guard in school room. 2. Time clock. 3. Block driveway. 4. Screen around rotunda area. Warden Roupe then gave a brief summary of each of the above listed items. Commissioner Jones stated that he had gone down to the Jail and made an inspection on Tues January 15, 1974. Warden Roupe next gave a brief summary on Mr. Frank T. Symonak::r`eport. Said report was it regards to the audit of the Crime Commission Fund allotted to the County Jail. The Warden further stated that a minister would be available to see inmates any day. Warden Roupe gave a "Report of Extraordinary Occurrence" which occurred at the Washington County Jail on January 14, 1974 at the time of 12:55 a.m. The person in question was Kenneth Engle - Age 55. He was admitted January 13, 1974 on the charge of driving under the influence of liquor. At the time of death he had not yet been sentenced. The official cause of death has been listed as suicide. The name of the examiniing physician is the Emergency Room at the Washington Hospital. Warden described the extraordinary occurrence in detail: "At 1:55 a.m. in the a Wrning of the 14th, I received a call from Sgt. Anthony Kijowski st ting that an inmate, Kenneth Engle had hung himself in a cell in the Big Jail. He stated and my investigation in the morning revealed after talking to inmate Charles Adams that Guard Richard Brezenski and he had observed Mr. Engle sleeping in his bed and all was fine. He stated Guard Brezenski went around iJze tQ r- .)YA�;_ back_in.nQi___ more than 15 minutes/Kijoawsk�je& at once they entered the range and cut him down. Inmat and Guard Brezenski gave resuscitation to Mr. Engle until the Ambulance arrived to take him to. the Washington Hospital. They stated he was still breathing while they were giving his resuscitiation. Sgt. Kijowski was informed by the Hospital that Mr. Engle pas away. it Warden Roupe stated that Coroner Jsckson and the Chief Deputy Sheriff visited the prison and talked to the Inmate Charles Adams in their investigation. Moved by Midge Gladden, seconded by Judge DiSalle that the report by the Sheriff's Depu be made a part of the record. Motion carried by unanimous vote cast by the Board signifying their approval verbally, by stating "Aye." �l C and noticed Mr. Engle anging in caled >ed 1 Sheriff Debreczeni then turned over the report of his Chief Deputy Sheriff - Mr. Edward M. Morascyzk. Said report is listed below: ©A,eaSALARY MINUTE B Q o K �375 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, JOHN P. BEVEC, JOHN MAZZA, COMMISSIONERS 1 Nature of Investigation: Death of inmate, self inflicted, during period of confinement at Washington County Jail, Washi Pa. .Reason for Investigation: Death by suicide of subject confined to Washington County Jail. Synopsis of Investigation: On date of 13 January 1974 one KENNETH ENGLE, 620 Ewing St., Washington, Pa. was taken custody by Tpr. PETER SYLVES, Penna. Stab-, Police, Troop 'IS" Washington, Penna. as a result of an accident which ocurred on Int. 70 at milepost 20/42 located in South Strabane Twp., Washiron Co. , Penna., at about the hour of 1755. Refer to Stadte Police Incident No. S6-10716. As a result of the accident investigation subject ENGLE was charged with violation of Section 1037 of the Penna. Motor Vehicle Code 'Driving Under the Influence of Liquor or Drugs." Re of the Penna. State Police also indicate that subject ENGLE refused, the che!riical AnalJrsis made of his blood to determine the alcohol content, also refused the breathalyzer examination to determine the alcohol content. A visual examination of subject ENGLE at the time of arrest made by the investigating officer is as follows: There was the odor of alcohol on the breath. The subject was boisterous. The subject had poor coordination. The subject has a fair sense of ideation. The subject had astaggering gait. The sucject admitted to consuming three beers. As a result of the above examination the subject was taken before Magistrate JOHN LUONGO, 87 E. Maiden St., Washington, Penna. where he was charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle when Under the Influence of Alcohol. Subject was then committed to Washington County Jail. Investigation at the Washington County Jail, Washington, Penna. disclosed that one KENNETH ENGLE, 620 Ewing St., Washir n, Penna., white, male, age 55, DOB Nov. 23, 1918, 6E" 145 Social Security No. 172-12-2843 was received at 2150 hours 13 Jan. 74. Warden on duty when su�l ject was received was Lt. ABRAHAM ZAHAND. Approximately 4 hours had elapsed since subie ENGLE was apprehended and the time he was received at the Washington County Jail. At this t' condition was such that he was not committed to the isolation cell, subject ENGLE was laced in range one - left, as the effects of the alcohol had apparently wore off. Records main- ined by the Warden of the Washington County Jail indicate that the checks of the ranges and cel e made periodically as required. harles M. Adams, inmate, range one - left when interviewed gave the following s.tement: 'I am the ranger in this cell block, range one - left. I left my cell and was walking to the showe o get some hot water. As I go by the cells I always look into them to check the inmates. I saw hat the inmates were alright. When I saw Mr. ENGLE he was lying on his coat and the covers rere over the lower half of his body, he appeared to be asleep and everything was normal. He ton, ds Lbs is 3%,s�ti &AkD SALARY M IN U T E BOOK BOARD_ OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHI.NGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, JOHN P BEVEC, JOHN MAZZA, COMMISSIONERS was still in the cot in the same position when I went back to my cell, his cell was locked. Late I saw the guard Mr. BREZINSKI walk by my cell one way then back making his rounds. About 15 minutes later I heard Mr. BREZINSKI call for the other guards, something had happened in ENGLE'S Cell, I went to the cell. As I approached the cell I saw Mr. BREZINSKI was reachir into the cell and moving his arm as if he was cutting, by the time I got there he had the door opened and had gone inside. I went insdie also, I saw that Mr. ENGLE was lying on the floor Mr. BREZINSKI was attempting to locate a pulse. I assisted in giving artificial respiration al until the ambulance came. Sgt. KIJOWSKI notified the Warden and Coroner." For the statement of Richard BREZINSKI, warden who discovered the body of subject ENGLE, to report submitted by Warden James O. Roupe, Washington County Jail, Washington, Penna. CONCLUSION: KENNETH ENGLE, 620 Ewing St., Washington, Penna. apparently committed suicide by hangir, in his cell. The subject used his belt for this act. Edward M. MORASCYZK Chief Deputy Sheriff Washington County (Discussion was held on the above matter.) Moved by Mr. Mascara, seconded by Mr. Flynn, that the following present employees' of the Washington County Prison be retained: Hanna Jones, Deputy Warden Henry Witzeling, Captain Abraham Zahand, Lieutenant Anthmy Kijowski, Sergeant Clyde Gregg, Sergeant Carl Kolick, Guard Albert Pipek, Guard Charles Sofsky, Guard Kenneth Wade, Guard Martin Harris, Guard Frank Valla, Guard Francis Rosmon, Guard Roy Zimmerman, Guard James Dalessandro, Guard Richard Brezenski, Guard Ronald Herrnberger, Guard Kenneth McMullen, Guard Paul Ross, Guard George Derry, Cook Dennis Walter, Counselor Mary Florganic, Secretary Edna Shives, Matron Alverta Denson, Assistant Matron Corrine Yaros, Assistant Matron ,,,,,,Charles Burbridge , Psychologist Motion carried by unanimous vote cast by the Board, signifying their approval verbal by stating "Aye." Chairman asked is there were any corrections, additions, or omissions to Minute No. er E LI 13-P, dated December 19, 1973, each member of the Board having received a copy. 1 1 �i5 Bo�2� SALARY MINUTE BOOK .37 R �N BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, JOHN P. BEYEC, JOHN MAZZA, COMMISMONSR,S Being none, the minutes will stand approved, as circulated. Prison Bills for the Month of December 1973: Prison Bills for the month of December 1973, were read by Controller Mascara in the amount of $5, 403'. 01 (2860 Prison Days); a list of said bills attached hereto and made a part hereof. Moved by Judge Gladden, seconded by Commissioner Jones, that the bills be appro ed for payment. Motion carried by unanimous vote cast by the Board signifying their approval verbally, by stating "Aye. if Controller Mascara recommended that there be more institutional bind in purchasing items for the County Jail. Old Business - None. New Business: Moved by Mr. Flynn, seconded by Mr. Jones, that the Prison Board member exten eir thanks to Judge Gladden for serving as Chairman of the Prison Board for the past two year. Motion carried by unanimous vote cast by the Board signifying their approval verbally, by stating "Aye. " Moved by Mr. Flynn, seconded by Mr. Jones, that the Prison Board members lcome the new Controller, Mr. Frank Mascara, as a new member of the Prison Board. Motion carried by unanimous vote cast by the Board signifying their approval rbally, by stating "Aye." Meeting adjourned. FOREGOING MINUTES READ AND APPROVED: TTEST : SECRETARY , 1974