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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM - Meeting Minutes - 1-P - 1-19-1977 - PRISON BOARDPrison Board SALARY MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA Malcolm L. Mor*an David L. Gilmore, XhXI F� 1 kF1 X+��XI 39*x EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS I 1 Minute No. 1-P Washington, Pa. January 19, 1977 The regular monthly meeting of the Washington County Prison Board was held' on Wednesday, January 19, 1977 at 11:40 A. M. in the Public Meeting Room with the following members being present: Judge Sweet, Judge DiSalle, Judge Gladden, Judge Bell, Judge Simmons, Commissioner Morgan, Commissioner Paluso, Commissioner Gilmore, and Controller Mascara. Also present were: Warden Taylor, Jon Stevenson from the Observer -Reporter and Earl Bugaile from WKEG. CHAIRMAN: Do I have a motion for approval of Minute No. -12 P? Moved by Commissioner Morgan that Minute No. 12-P be approved; seconded by Judge Simmons. Motion carried by unanimous vote cast by the Board signifying their approval by stating "Aye". CHAIRMAN: I would like to thank the members of the Prison Board for their cooperation during the past year: generally, the attendance for the year was good; the dialogue exchange among the members, although many of us had various opinions, resulted in progress during 1976. -TheVe are a few of the things accomplished: selection of a new warden; I want to thank the members of the Search Committee, Judge Sweet, Judge Bell and Commissioner Gilmore. With the full support of the Board, recreation facilities were made available; records were removed from the proposed bunkroom and Judge Sweet got his wish . I understand from Tony Bevec that construction is started on the bunkroom so 1977 should show that we have a bunkroom for weekenders. A crisis in the medical services in the prison was averted as a result of efforts by the former Warden James Roupe, Chief Clerk Dick Brady, County Solicitor Gustave Diamond and the County Commissioners negotiating a new medical service agreement with the Washington Hospital. Special clothing for the truster was approved and purchased. More recently we have had an increase in revenues from the Federal Government increasing from $9. 19 to $14; an increase of $4. 81. We now have a rotating schedule for the guards. I want to thank all of you for your cooperation. I think it was a good year, and I am looking forward to serving you for another year, if nominated: which brings ups up to the election. Election of Officers: Moved by Commissioner Paluso and seconded by Judge Bell that Controller Mascara be re-elected to the position of Chairman of the Prison Board for the year 1977. Motion carried by unanimous vote cast by the Board signifying their approval verbally by stating "Aye". .may/ Prison Board SALARY MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA Malcolm L. Morgan, David L. Gilmore,, EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS BADZIK PRINTING J DONORA Moved by Commissioner Paluso; seconded by Judge Simmons that Judge Bell be re-elected to the position of Vice -Chairman (dithe Prison Board for the year 1977. Motion carried by unanimous vote cast by the Board signifying their approval verbally by stating "Aye". Commissioner Morgan: I would like to make a statement that the present Secretary declines nomination, if there is to be such a thing. Moved by Judge Simmons that Commissioner Gi�anore be elected to the position of Secretary of the Prison Board for the year 1977; seconded by Judge Sweet. Judge Sweet, Judge Gladden, Judge Bell, Judge Simmons and Controller Mascara voted "yes". Commissioner Morgan, Commissioner Paluso and Commissioner Gilmore voted "no". Vote carried by 5 to 3 that Commissioner Gilmore be secretary for 1977. COMMISSIONER PALUSO: I would like to bring up that we should be meeting in the jail. It is in the rules that we should do this. JUDGE SIMMONS: Once every three months. CHAIRMAN: Do you want to make those arrangements, Jay? WARDEN: Yes. COMMISSIONER PALUSO: Now, that will only be four (4) times a year. Make the arrangements Jay so that the girls will know. CHAIRMAN: (Judge DiSalle enters the meeting. ) Next on the agenda is appointment of Warden to the jail. I would ask for a motion to appoint our warden for the coming year. JUDGE SWEET: I move that we retain Mr. Taylor for the year 1977; seconded by Commissioner Gilmore. Motion carried by unanimous vote cast by the Board signifying their approval by stating "Aye". CHAIRMAN: I ask for the approval of prison personnel by the Warden. JUDGE SWEET: Mr. Mascara, I move that we pass the appointment of personnel to a special meeting; seconded by Judge Bell. Motion carried by unanimous vote cast by the Board signifying their approval by stating "Aye". Warden's Report: WARDEN TAY LOP: The jail population is 82 at the present. Jail operations have been normal the past month; no trouble. At Christmas, the Salvation Army donated gifts to the children of the inmates and packages to the inmates. The Souls Harbor Light House also donated baskets to every inmate confined. A state school inspector from Harrisburg, by the name of Lawrence Gomez was in on January 12th to inspect and evaluate our school program and reports from my counselor and lieutenant indicate a very favorable report forthcoming. The annual report for 1976 is in the process of completion and should 1 J 7 Ll be ready for distribution for the February meeting. PRISON BOARD MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASH NGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA � 1 9WXD Gilmore i� WARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS I f] There are a few problems at the jail at the presentiime. In priority would be the heat inside the big jail; not in the schoolroom or the wings, but where the eight (8) ranges are. It is okay during the week but on the week end, I have a problem with the inmates building fires. JUDGE DISALLE: What kind of fires? WARDEN TAYLOR: Paper fires. COMMISSIONER GILMORE: Do they have adequate clothing? WARDEN TAYLOR: They have their own clothing. If they had a coat when they came in, they wear them. We have also been issuing extra blankets. JUDGE SWEET: How cold is it? Are you talking about 40, 50 'or 60 degrees'. WARDEN TAYLOR: I would say on the week end, in the high 40's or 50's. (There was discussion on this after which Judge Sweet made the following motion. ) JUDGE SWEET: Let's make a motion that the Warden be directed to ascertai the temperature in the jail by thermometer and if it is less than 60 degrees that he be directedto take the matter up with the building superintendent and to tell him that it is the wish of the Board that the temperature of 60 be maintained in the big jail over the weekends. JUDGE GLADDEN: I second that motion. Motion carried by unanimous vote cast by the Board signifying their approval by stating "Aye". MR. PALUSO: I would also suggest that Mr. Taylor keep a running record of the temperature in the big jail. It should. be checked every hour and recorded. WARDEN TAYLOR: The next problem is with mattresses. As it stands right now, if we get anybody else confined we wouldn't have any mattresses 'to issue to them. (After some discussion, it was suggested by Judge Bell that this problem could be settled at the special meeting rather than waiting a whole month. ) WARDEN TAYLOR: The next thing is the communication problem discussed at the last meeting. The Sheriff gave me the walkie-talkies he had, but they did not work; once you leave the first floor you can't communicate with the upstairs. The last matter is the housing of female prisoners. From December 23 to the present date, the jail has had only one woman confined. I propose that the Board think about hiring a live-in type matron. COMMISSIONER MORGAN: Since we have not been successful in hiring a live-in matron, and it is costing us about $40, 000 a year for four matrons, I think it would be a better idea if we could hire a couple and provide them with an apartment so that there is always somebody available. PRISON BOARD MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY �a1Aco` 1SSLI0 c1 P V�,q H NGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA a co m organ, David L. ii�ore EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS COMMISSIONER PALUSO: I have a suggestion. We have always cooperated with Greene County and Westmoreland County and I think it would be cheaper to transport them over r there. We accommodate Greene County by housing their juveniles so perhaps they could accommodate us, until we get something worked out. After discussion on this, the Chairman suggested that Warden Taylor check with Greene County and Westmoreland County to see if they can handle this for us. JUDGE SIMMONS: There was a Writ of Habeas Corpus that some prisoner filed. Do you know anything about this? JUDGE BELL: Yes. He claimed that the jail was terrible; the food was terrible; everything in general. Do you know anything about this, Warden? WARDEN TAY LOR: No. CHAIRMAN: What do we do now? JUDGE BELL: Judge Sweet, as term judge, will handle this. JUDGE SWEET: I'll take a look at it and take action on it. The Warden mentioned that there was one household freezer over at the jail which did not work. Commissioner Morgan assured the Warden that in the near future the jail will be furnished with new kitchen equipment; hopefully within 90 days. JUDGE BELL: What about the communication problem? CHAIRMAN: What do you propose to do with the communication problem down in the jail? After some discussion, it was suggested by Commissioner Paluso that since the county has a contract with community research, the Warden should get in touch with Mr. Bohner, Civil Defense Director and have him look at the walkie-talkies the Sheriff had donated and see if he can come up with any suggestions. 1 Judge Simmons brought up the matter of Robert Gallo and the Warden said that Gallo had withdrawn his complaint. The Warden had a letter from Gallo which was read by Judge Sweet and he suggested that the letter should be notarized. Judge Simmons suggested that the withdrawal should be turned over to Mr. Diamond. I� 1 PRISON BOARD MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF CWNc ,,PP 1SgS12N9FNRd L. GilmoreWASH NGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA �•laiRSe'1SySR�`��ST1YF1i��., EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS CHAIRMAN: Do I have a motion to approve the payment of the prison bills for the month of December, 1976? Moved by Commissioner Gilmore and seconded by Commissioner Morgan that the bills for the month of December be approved for payment. The motion to pay the bills for the month of December carried unanimously by the Board signifying their approval by stating "Aye", CHAIRMAN: Do I have a motion to adjourn this meeting? Moved by Commissioner Gilmore, seconded by Judge Bell that the meeting be adjourned. Motion carried unanimously by the Board signifying their approval by stating "Aye". Meeting adjourned at 12:15 P.M. THE FOREGOING MINUTES READ AND APPROVED. January 21, 1977 ATTEST: `r0 Malcolm L. Morgan, SeCretary 1 .:S PRISON BOARD MINUTE B ❑ ❑ K BOARD OF COUNTMaSCM IS NERS WirS gaDavid L. GilNGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA K KXY,FXY XXX4XXvFXXX, EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS 1 I�