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Home My WebLink AboutCOMM - Meeting Minutes - 6-P - 6-19-1974 - PRISON BOARD. • n BISON ZaoD SALARY MINUTE BOOK � BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, JOHN P. BEVEC. JOHN MAZZA. COMMISSIONERS Minute No. 6-P Office of the County Commissioners Washington, Pa., June 19, 1974 The Prison Board of the County of Washington met in the Public Meeting Room at 11:30 a.m. , Wednesday, June 19, 1974, with the following members being present: Chairman Debreczeni; Commissioner Flynn; Judge Gladden; Commissioner Jones; Mr. Mascara - Controller; Commissioner Paluso; Judge Sweet; and Warden Roupe. Absent present being: District Attorney Costa; Judge DiSalle; Judge Hanna. Also/being Mr. Bob Robertson - The Observer -Reporter; and Mr. F.D. Whalen, Chief Clerk and County Administrator, Chairman asked if there were any corrections, addition, or omissions to Minute No. 5-P, dated May 15, 1974, each member of the Board having received a copy. Moved by Commissioner Flynn, seconded by Judge Gladden, that Minute No. 5-P stand approved, as circulated. Motion carried by unanimous vote cast by the Board signifying their approval verbally by stating "Aye." Warden's Report: Warden Roupe stated that the Training Program for the Prison Guards will end June 24th. Warden Roupe further stated that the Recreation Yard at the Prison should be completed in the very near future. Warden Roupe stated that the population at the Prison is increasing. He said that there are thirty (30) Juveniles, seventeen (17) Adults, and eight (8) Weekenders at the Jail at this present date. Prison Bills for the Month of May, 1974: Prison Bills for the month of May, 1974, were read by Controller Mascara in the amount of $6,196.17 (Prison Days-2, 031). Income from units for use of the County Prison Amounted to $1, 973. 81. Moved by Commissioner Jones, seconded by Judge Sweet, that the bills be approved for payment. Motion carried by unanimous vote cast by the Board signifying their approval verbally by stating "Aye." Old Business: Commissioner Flynn stated that the reason for the Commissioners being late for the Prison Board meetings was because they have their Agenda every Wednesday xmrning. Commissioner Flynn further stated that if it weren't for the Commissioners the Prison ;so�13o,�2D SALARY -M FN SITE° BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, JOHN P. BEVEC, JOHN MAZZA, COMMISSIONERS EA Board would not be able to make a Quorum at times. Commissioner Flynn then presented the following Prison Board Attendance List to Chairman Debreczeni: PRISON BOARD ATTENDANCE - JANUARY , 1972 thru MAY 1974 Total No. Meetings MEMBERS 1-1-72/5-31-74 Present Absent Judge Sweet 30 7 23 Judge Curran 20 9 11 Judge DiSalle 30 13 17 Judge Gladden 30 27 3 Judge Marino 13 5 8 Judge Simmons 13 10 3 Judge Hanna 2 1 1 Commissioner Flynn 30 27 3 Commissioner Jones 30 28 2 Commissioner Paluso 30 28 2 Dist. Atty. Costa 30 7 23 Sheriff Debreczeni 30 26 4 *Controller Elish 25 23 2 Controller Mascara 5 4 1 "Personal Attendance 13 *Represented By Deputy 10 Chairman Debreczeni stated that the comment he made at the last Prison Board Meeting in regards to the time set for the Prison Board Meeting was not directed personally at the Commissioners. He further stated that every member of the Prison Board is given sufficient notice of each meeting. He stated that every Monday of the week of the Prison Board Meeting notices are distributed to each member and then on the morning of the meeting each member is called to check on who will be attending the meeting. Mr. Debreczeni then stated that he feels the attendance at the Prison Board should be better than what it is. Judge Sweet then stated that the reasons he and his colleagues are not always present at the meetings is because Court may be in session and they are unable to get away. He stated that the Prison Board Meeting should be set from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. like it used to be. Old Business: 1 1 Mr. Mascara presented each member of the Prison Board with the following letter: AR5oN &zA S A L A R Y BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MINUTE BOOK 3%7 W ASi IM;TON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN. JOHN P. BEVEC. JOHN MAZZA, CC0II#1108100NgRS June 19, 1974 Mr. Alex Debreczeni, Chairman Washington County Prison Board Washington County Coruthouse Washington, Pennsylvania 15301 Dear Mr. Debreczeni: At the May, 1974 meeting of the Washington County Prison Board, I noted that a discrepancy existed between the number of prison days reported to the Board and the Commonwealth GJC-528 population report for the month of April, 1974. At that time, I stated that I would meet with Warden, James Roupe in an attempt to clear -up the matter. I subsequently engaged in an audit covering a sixteen (16) month period of the daily and monthly population reports at the prison, with the full cooperation of Warden, James Roupe, which disclosed the following: The prison days as reported to Board has been overstated by 11,267 days. More specifically, during the period January 1, 1973 through April 30, 1974, the number of prison days as reported to the Commorw ealth of Pennsylvania on the abovementioned State Report totalled 32,431. Again, the overstated difference is 11,267. (Schedule attached) I have met on several occasions with Warden Roupe in an attempt to determine why this difference exists, but as of this date have been unable to establish any affirmatoi y rationale. In light of these circumstances, I feel it only proper that the matter be considered at our regularly scheduled Prison Board meeting on June 19, 1974, under old business. Warde&;fin opportunay to explain to the entire Board his logic for the discrepancy`.--- - -_ The attendant result of the discrepancy increases considerably the average daily prison cost of food and incidental costs. For example, if the Prison Board figures are used in the computation the average daily cost is $1. 84---$80, 465.04 + 43,698 prison days When the State Report figures are used, the average daily cost increases to $2.48--- $80, 465. 04 + 32,431 prison days. This is tantamount to a 32.60 percent increase in averr.ge daily cost which certainly merits an explanation. I am in the process of gathering information which should enable me to provide the Board with an overall average daily cost of a prison day which I estimate to be in excess of $20.00 per day. Once we arrive at a firm figure it should give us a better perspective of the fairness of reimbursements as received from various sources. rt Very truly yours, Frank R. Mascara (Judge Simmons entered meeting) Warden Roupe then explained how Prison Days are figured out at the Prison. (Discussion was held) Mr. Mascara then presented each member of the Prison Board with the following letter: TO: Prison Board Members DATE: June 19, 1974 FROM: Frank R. Mascara SUBJECT: Overstated Prison Days , Prisoner Welfare Fund, Comparative Purchasing Analysis I have stated in detail to Chairman, Alex Debreczeni that a discrepancy of 11,267 prison days exists between the Washington County Prison Board Reports and the State GJC-528 Population Report covering a sixteen month period from January 1, 1973 through April 30, 1974. A detailed schedule is attached for your perusal. During a recent audit it came to my attention that a "Prison Welfare Fund" exists. Warden Roupe has advised me that the proceeds of this fund are used for prison welfare. The funds are received from the sale of certain commissary items to the prisoners. I respectfully request that this commissary function be discussed by the Boarc_. 399 so ,Egda20SALA'RY MINUTE BOOK BOARD' OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYL VANIA MICHAEL,R. FLYNN, JOHN P. BEVEC, JOHN MAZZA, COMMISSIONERS I wish not to belabor the matter of purchasing at the prison, b-tt the Controller" s Office has been conducting an indepth study for the past several months and the results are now ready for your scrutiny. The study included some eighteen (18) items covering an eight month period from October, 1973 through May, 1974. (Schedule attached) You will note that the total savings at the -prison on these items for the eight month period could have amounted to $1, 575. 24---nearly $200. 00 per month. An even greater savings could have prevailed had all purchases been considered. In the process of studying the prison purchasing habits to ascertain if bulk buying in concert with the County Homes would be feasible the following came to my attention. Using coffee and tea only over an eleven (11) month period $2, 350. 09 could have been saved if more care had been given to purchasing. The possibility exists that the person or persons responsible for purchasing at the prison could engage in cooperative buying with both County Homes. Respectfully, Frank R. Mascara. Mr. Mascara presented the following Schedule of Monthly Population Report of the Wash- ington County Prison Statistics: WASH. CO. - GJC-528 STATE TOTAL 1973 P. B. Report POP. REPORT Difference PURCHASES January 2762 1900 862 457478 February 2654 1703 951 451510 March 2614 1849 765 478198 April 2592 1711 881 446047 May 2514 2093 421 523865 June 2570 2242 328 433381 July 2714 2223 491 580809 August 2869 2329 540 553986 September 3174 2225 949 555800 October 2919 2093 826 492608 November 2881 2155 726 516231 December 2860 2136 724 540301 1973 Totals 33,123 24,659 8,464 6030214 1974 January 2941 1948 943 453118 February 2080 1758 322 466330 March 2838 2372 466 479676 April 2716 1694 1022 617166 Total four (4) 10,575 7,772 2,803 2016290 Months ended 4/30/74 Totals for sixteen 43,698 32,431 11,267 8046504 months May Totals 2,031 2,031 None 519617 Frank R. Mascara /s/ Audited and Prepared by Frank R. Mascara June 19, 1974 The May 1974, average daily cost: $2.56 The Prison Board Members then took a motion on how the Prison Days should be computed. Moved by Judge Sweet, seconded by Judge Gladden, that the Prison Day Report we, (the Board) , receives from the Warden and Controller should carry the same number of Days, as the Report submitted to the State.... Motion carried by unanimous vote cast by the Board signifying their approval verbally by stating "Aye.11 7 C� 1 Judge Simmons suggested that someone make a daily round of how many meals are eaten Y, Xo412,OSALARY MINUTE BOOK 09 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WAcSHINfi'1'ON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MicttAEL R. FLYNN, JOHN P. BEVEC, Jot+N MAZZA, COMAEtSMME" at every meal. The Prison Board members then suggested that the matter Mr. Mascara brought up on Comparative Purchasing Analysis be tabled until each member has had a chance to peruse the matter. The Prison Board members next suggested that in regards to the Prisoner Welfare Fund, Warden Roupe would report on this at every Prison Board Meeting. Warden Roupe stated that this fund is audited by the State yearly. Mr. Paluso then asked Warden Roupe when the Recreation Yard was going to be completed. Warden Roupe stated that he spoke to Mr. Bill O'Brien of Job -Fab, Inc., and it Mr. O'Brien said that due to the nature of the construction involved/#herefere will necessitate and that an opening be made in the present structure /a period of a few days is needed. In order to do this, every effort will be made to insure that ether conditions are suitable during this time. New Business: None Moved by Judge Gladden, seconded by Judge Simmons, that the meeting adjourn, Meeting adjourned. THE FOREGOING MINUTE READ AND APPROVED: June 19, , 1974 ATTYClY....... L1, _.L SECRETARY 1