HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM - Meeting Minutes - 5-P - 5-19-1976 - PRISON BOARDPrison Board
SALARY MINUTE BOOK
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANI)k
M KKWN COMMISSIONERS
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Minute No. 5-P Washington, Pa. , May 19, 1976
The regular monthly meeting of the Washington County Prison Board was held on
Wednesday, May 19, 1976 at 11:35 a. m. in the Public Meeting Room with the following
members being present: Judge Sweet, Judge Gladden, Judge DiSalle, Commissioner Morgan,
Commissioner Paluso, Commissioner Gilmore and Controller Mascara.' (Judge Bell entered
the meeting late. ) Judge Simmons, District Attorney Jess Costa and Sheriff Debreczeni were
not present. Also being present: Warden Roupe, Mrs. Beaver Perkins from the Offender
Aid kh&jk6 s ration Program, Bob Robertson of the Observer -Reporter and Earl Bugaile of
WKEG.
Chairman Mascara asked if there were any corrections, additions or omissions
to Minute No. 4-P, each member having received a copy.
Moved by Judge Sweet; seconded by Tudge Gladden that Minute 4-P be approved.
Motion carried by unanimous vote by the Board signifying their approval verbally by stating
"Aye".
Warden's P eport
Warden Roupe: The only thing that the strike has caused at the jail is that the garbage
is not being picked up.
Judge Sweet:
Warden Roupe:
Mr. Paluso:
Warden Roupe:
Judge DiSalle:
Warden Roupe:
bags.
What are you going to do about this?
We will be able to handle it for awhile.
Why wouldn't they pick it up?
Because they are in the same Union.
The truck drivers.
I guess so. But we are taking care of it. We are storing it in plastic
The Warden reported on Bruce Gaitos, trusty, who hadb"Alwilaway from the jail.
A written report on this matter had previously been given to the Board Members for their
perusal. Mr. Paluso felt that inmates who are mentally incompetent should not be made
trusty.
Warden Roupe: He was a trusty working inside the jail not in the courthouse.
In regard to the Wardens' Conference, we had a very instructive meeting. We
were honored to have our own Judge Sweet there and also Judge Smith of Allegheny County.
On the 30th of April, the evaluation team came to the prison to see about the
work of the warden and the over-all program, generally.
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On the loth of this month, Mr. Brady, Mr. Mascara and myself met with the
doctors from the hospital. Mr. Mascara will have that report.
That same afternoon Mr. Brady, Mr. Mascara and I looked over the thi-id floor
in the warden's old residence in reference to storage for records. It was okayed by Mr.
Brady to contact Mr. Dusyan Nicksick, which I did. We toured the place, and he is going
to get back to the Commissioners. That is about it.
Chairman: You all have a copy of the Medical Service Agreement and correspondenMe
relating thereto. The meeting is open for discussion relative to that particular corresponder.ce.
For those of you who did not read or receive this material, Mr. Roupe, Mr. Brady and I
met with Dr. Schmieler and Mr. Strosser on May loth. We had a letter from them on'May 3rd '-1,. ° -1
terminating their agreement. According to their contractual agreement, they are permitted
to pull out within 30 days from the writing of their letter. This means that as of June 3rd,
there will be no medical services at the county jail unless there is a new contract.
(Further detailed discussion on this. )
Judge Gladden: The situation is to substitute the medical personnel with first -aid -type
citizens. I don't know whether anybody else has looked up the law. I have looked into this
a little, and I don't know if we are required to have a doctor in the county prison. I don't
know if there is any regulation on this. If not, this is probably the best situation that we
could have, and I would be in favor a€ k any agreement you fellows have worked out.
Commissioner Gilmore: What are the state regulati.=ons?
Warden: They must be examined within 48 hours.
(More discussion on this. )
Chairman: What is the pleasure of the Board? We would have to refer this to
the County Solicitor and the County Commissioners.
Judge Gladden: I move that we give the Prison Board the right to approve the contract
and recommend to the Commissioners that it be entered into. Seconded by Judge Bell.
Motion carried by unanimous vote by the Board signifying their approval verbally by
stating "Aye".
Chairman: We will forthwith instruct the County Solicitor to meet with Dr.
Schmieler. There will be two contracts. One with Washington Hospital and one with the
male nurses. There is also a possibility of a $25.00 increase for next year.
Mr. Brady, Mr. Roupe and I checked out the rooms above the Sheriff's office
to be used for the record room. I spoke to Mr. Nicksick and he informed me that he has
plans for this building. He will reduce this to writing and forward this information to the
Commissioners and myself so I would imagine by the next meeting the records should
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PRI'Soo)AoAe-b SALARY MINUTE E
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
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Commissioner Paluso: Is this going to create any problem?
Chairman: No.
Judge Sweet: Is there a time plan on this?
Chairman: It should be by the next meeting, depending on Mr. Nicksick.
Judge Sweet: We will then go ahead and fix the record room as a bunkroom
for outprisoners.
Chairman: It has been a long time coming. We are now ready to make
a move. Who is going to fix the room, I don't know. That will be up to the Commissioners.
Judge Sweet: Is this going to be a minor renovation, something our own
men could do?
Commissioner Morgan: It probably would be better to have it contracted out.
Judge Sweet: Have we decided how many we want to accommodate in the
outprisoner room?
Commissioner Morgan: That is item #1. Are there any requirements of how much
room, etc. , of what would be required?
Warden: Shower and sanitary facility. The Bureau of Corrections
would come down and look into this.
Commissioner Morgan: Mr. Roupe, why don't you get the people connected with the
correctional facility to give you a recommendation as to how much room you need per
prisoner; how many you can accommodate in that room; a recommended lay -out.
Warden:
Okay, I can do that.
(There was a li3ngthy discussion to have labor and industry people and correctional facility
get together and coordinate this. Mr. Roupe will see that this is done, )
Chairman: Unfinished Business.
Mr. B oupe has brought the uniforms for the Board to see and approve.
The cost of coveralls is $9.90; trousers, $5.85; Shirt, $4.90. 1
Commissioner Paluso feels that only trusties who go outside the jail should wear
the uniforms.
(After some discussion, the following decision was ode.)
Moved by Mr. Paluso to buy 30 sets of coveralls, amounting to $297, on a trial
basis. Seconded by Judge Sweet. Motion carried by unanimous vote by the Board signifying
their approval verbally by stating "Aye".
Chairman: Under new business, I move for approval of prison bills for the month
of April, 1976.
Moved by Judge Sweet for approval; seconded by Judge Bell. Motion carried by
unanimous vote cast by the Board signifying their approval verbally by stating "Aye".
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
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Chairman: I have sent a memorandum to the Board in regard to Mr. Roupe's
decision to retire. He is willing to cooperate in helping to find his successor. As Chairman
of the Board, I will appoint a search committee. Judge Sweet will be chairman, Badge Bell
and Commissioner Gilmore will be on this committee, and I will serve as ex-officio.
(After some discussion, it was decided that the committee should try to find a professional,
learned man, with some experience.)
Chairman: The next item is the hiring of a new matron.
Commissioner Morgan: Mr. Roupe, have you and Mr. Fantini interviewed somebody
you think would meet the requirements?
Warden: On one, but Mr. Fantini has been so busy we haven't come
up with the second.
Chairman: I sent communications in regard to contract negotiations. Do you want
to talk about it?
Commissioner Paluso: We are not going to discuss anything about contracts at a
public meeting.
Commissioner Morgan: Mr. Foupe, these recommendations have been taken under
advisement and are being considered in the negotiations. I had asked Mr. Poupe to supply
us with recommendations, which he has done, and we are taking them into consideration.
Mrs. Beaver Perkins, a member of the OAR advisory board of directors was
present to express her concern of not spending any further energy on the project if volunteer
were not going to be permitted to work with the inmates.
Judge Bell: It is my understanding that this Board has already committed them-
selves and approved the program. It is up to the Commis sionersto pprove the application,
which I understand was denied.
Chairman: I think the original motion was initiated by Commissioner Flynn and
seconded by myself. I think the original motion included approval. I would have to reflect
back on the minutes to get the exact wording to see whether the motion would require
another motion by the Board.
Commissioner Morgan: It was rejected.
Chairman: That would render useless the original motion and would take new
action by this Board.
Judge DiSalle: As I understand it, Mrs. Perkins is not asking us to stand on our
original action, she's asking whether they come up with funding of their own if we would
adopt a motion passing and approving it.
Judge Bell: The program doesn't change, the funding does.
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
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Commissioner Paluso: I move that we table the matter until we have had time to
research the matter and bring it up at the next Board Meeting or a special meeting.
Commissioner Morgan: I second this.
Chairman: We will have a discussion on this.
Excerpt from November Board Meeting read by Commissioner Gilmore. "Moved
by Mr. Mascara, seconded by Mr. Flynn that the Prison Board adopt the Offender Aid and
Restoration Program at the Washington County Prison pending approval by the sub -grantee,
the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County."
Chairman: I have a motion to table and a second to that motion.
it
Judge Sweet: Now, will it take a motion to get/off the table or will it automatically
come up at the next meeting?
Chairman: According to the first motion I have, it was subject to approval by the
sub -grantee, the Board of County Commissioners, so that motion is not effective. I have a
motion on the floor to table and I have a second. That motion is questioned.
Judge Gladden: We had a motion to place on the table, but we have gotten the information.
I think the question is whether we approve the Offender Aid Program and whether it is funded
independently or by another sub -grantee would allow it to function.
Chairman: I have a motion to table it. We'll call for a motion on question.
Roll call taken: Mr. Morgan, Yes; Mr. Gilmore, No; Judge Gladden, No; Mr. Paluso,
Yes; Judge DiSalle, Yes; Judge Bell, No; Mr. Mascara, No; Judge Sweet, Yes.
Judge Sweet: I don't think the motion to lay on the table passed. I move to postpone
consideration of it until next month.
Judge Gladden: Whether we approve OAR is something we are inviting into our prison.
We can't approve funding because we are a Prison Board and not the County Commissioners.
Commissioner Paluso: I second Judge Sweet's motion to postpone until next month.
Roll call taken: Mr. Morgan, Yes; Mr. Gilmore, No; Judge Gladden, No; Mr. Paluso,
Yes; Judge DiSalle, No; Judge Bell, No; Mr. Mascara, No; Judge Sweet, Yes. Judge Sweet's
motion failed to pass.
Judge Gladden: I make a motion that,providing that the OAR Program is funded
appropriately,and we approve it as a program that is recognized by the Prison Board and
our institution. Seconded by Judge Bell. Motion carried by unanimous vote by the Board
signifying their approval verbally by stating "Aye".
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BOARD .OFCOUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYL,VANIA
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Commissioner Gilmore discussed the altercation which had supposedly taken
place between an inmate and prison guards. He presented his bill for $1120. Moved by
Commissioner Morgan that this be approved; seconded by Judge Sweet. Motion carried
by the Board signifying their approval verbally by stating "Aye". Commissioner Gilmore
abstained from voting.
There being no further business, Commissioner Morgan moved that the meeting
be adjourned; seconded by Judge Gladden.
Motion carried by unanimous vote cast by the Board signifying their approval
verbally by stating "Aye".
THE FOREGkJING MINUTES READ AND APPROVED:
May
, 1976
ATTEST: �• /itr►-✓+�
Malcolm L. Morgan, Se"c'retary.
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