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Home My WebLink AboutCOMM - Meeting Minutes - 4-P-86 - 4-9-1986 - PRISON BOARD229 PRISON BOARD Minute No. 4-P-86 MINUTE B ❑ ❑ K WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA F Washington County Prison Board Washington, Pa., April 9, 1986 The Washington County Prison Board met for its monthly meeting in the Commissioners' Conference Room at approximately 11:45 a.m. with the following members being present: Judge Gilmore; Commissioners Mascara and Petrosky; Controller Beharry; and District Attorney Pettit. Absent being: Commissioner and Sheriff Fazzoni. Paluso/ Also being present: Warden Poland; Linda Hands, Clerk -Steno II; Executive Assistant DuJordan; and Jeff Hoch, Observer -Reporter. Chairman Mascara called the meeting to order and asked if there were any corrections, additions or omissions to Minute No. 3-P-86, each member having re- ceived a copy. Moved by Mr. Pettit, seconded by Miss Beharry, that Minute No. 3-P-86 be approved as written. Motion carried unanimously by the Board signify* .rg their approval by stating "Aye". ,..WARDEN'S REPORT: Warden Poland presented to the Board the following information: Income from other units for the maintenance of prisoners for March, 1986: U. S. Marshalls $9,014.25 Allegheny County $ 227.75 U. S. Immigration $ 151.50 A TOTAL $9,393.50 Total Work Release and Weekenders for March, 1986: Weekenders billed $ 580.00 Received $ 838.00 Work Release billed $ 945.00 $1,000.00 TOTAL $1,525.00 $1,838.00 * $60.00 was turned over to R & I for collection. Status of prisoners confined at the end of March, 1986: MALES FEMALES TOTAL Sentenced 54 1 55 Unsentenced 49 4 53 Feedeer,sl Hold- overs10 0 10 TOTAL 113 5 118 Work Release 14 0 14 Inmates seeinq the doctor for March, 1986: 62 Males 7 Females Total 69 Warden Poland reported to the Board the attempted escape which occurred on Arpil 2, 1986, whereby one of the trusties kicked out a window in the trusties' ;';quarters and went into the recreation yard and over the fence. Some discussion followed. BILLS: Controller Beharry presented to the Board for their consideration and approval the bills for March, 1986, in the amount of $25,426.61. Miss Beharry brought to the Board's attention the total payment of $8,785.00 to Greene County 230 MINUTE BOOK PRISON BOARD WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA Jail ($2,170.00 for housing for 62 days for inmate R. Good and $6,615.00 for housing for September, 1985 thru March, 1986 for inmate H. Brown). Miss Beharry questioned why these inmates were moved to Greene County for housing. Mr. Poland and District Attorney Pettit explained to the Board the reasons ,for these moves. Moved by Miss Beharry, seconded by Judge Gilmore, approving the payment of the bills for March, 1986. Motion carried unanimously by the Board signifying their approval by stating "Aye". OUTSTANDING REIMBURSEMENTS Reimbursable March Medical -0- Reimbursable March Maintenance $ 9,393.50 TOTAL $ 9,393.50 Outstanding Reimbursable Medical $ 1,498.57 Outstanding Reimbursable Maintenance $16,724.56 TOTAL $18,223.13 Total Medical Outstanding Reimbursement $ 1,498.57 Total Maintenance Outstanding Reimbursement $26,118.06 TOTAL $27,616.63 OTHER BUSINESS: Chairman Mascara brought up the matter of the surcharge filed against the County Commissioners by the Controller in her 1985 Annual Financial Report re- lative to 61 P.S. Sections 2141-2145 concerning the collection and disbursement of wages or salaries of employed prisoners. He noted Controller Beharry surcharged the Commissioners in the amount of $1,280.00 "for failure to direct their employee, the warden, to implement the required procedure". He questioned as to whether this surcharge was proper in being filed against the Commissioners as opposed to being filed against the Prison Board. Miss Beharry explained that she surcharged the Commissioners due to the fact that the Warden is an employee under the direction of the Commissioners. She also noted that she referred this matter to her attorney, Frank Carroll, after the last time it was discussed at a Prison Board meeting and that he has sub- sequently discussed the matter with Mrs. Drewitz, the Court Administrator, who was dealing with the issue on behalf of President Gladden and that she would be making some recommendations through Judge Gladden very shortly. Judge Gilmore questioned why the Warden was not surcharged and Miss Beharry again responded that he works under the direction of the Commissioners. Commissioner Petrosky stated that it washis understanding that the Courts had considerable reservations relative to establishing another bureaucracy in terms of strict compliance with this statute and that it was the consensus of this Board that although all the members felt it was proper to collect all monies'' due, theyweren't anxious to take on additional costs in having the monies collected. He also noted that the matter of complying with this statute has never been pre- sented to the Board in the form of a formal motion; it has only been presented by a suggestion or recommendation and no formal action has ever been taken. He stated that he is not going to be held responsible for an action that this Board 23 1 MINUTE BOOK PRISON BOARD WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA ( takes or doesn't take and that he would like some legal answers as to the authority and responsibility of this Board. Discussion followed. Miss Beharry stated that she views the Prison Board as an advisory board, and not a decision - making board, that makes recommendations to the Board of Commissioners as to such things as spendipg money and implementing recommendations. Chairman Mascara questioned the current procedure concerning collections. Warden Poland explained that the Jail currently collects room and board from the weekend and work release prisoners on a week -to -week basis and that the Jail does' ,:not collect their full wages or salaries. Mr. Mascara stated that it was his feeling that there would be a need to hire additional personnel in order to strictly comply with the statute's requirements relative to collecting and dis- bursing prisoners' wages. Warden Poland agreed that additional personnel would be needed in order to fulfill this statutory obligation. Discussion followed between Mr. Petrosky and Miss Beharry as to the necessary procedures and mechanics of implementing a systemfor°the collection and disbursement of prisoners' wages. Chairman mascara stated that he would recommend at tomorrow's Salary Board meeting the creation of a position at the Jail for the purpose of handling the collection and disbursement of prisoners' wages. Warden Poland stated that one of the problems he foresees with implementing such a system will be getting the paychecks endorsed by the prisoners if when, in fact, they drop them off, they are not already endorsed. He noted that when the prisoners go out to work, the Jail personnel don't see them until the next day and most of the prisoners report to the Jail at night. Commissioner Petrosky questioned Judge Gilmore relative to the feeling. of the Courts on this matter. Judge Gilmore stated that although the Courts has not come to any decision, it is their feeling that they do not want the responsi- bility of determining who gets what. He also stated that although he feels the parameters of such a program may not be that difficult to set up, he foresees a large number of disputes arising from the program and that someone will have to have the responsibility of resolving those disputes. Discussion followed. The Board suggested taking a look at other counties where such programs are working. Commissioner Petrosky made some comments relative to the matter of making a formal request to the Courts to disband the work release/weekender program due ,to concerns about the possibility of another surcharge next year. Commissioner Mascara noted that he feels this problem must be rectified immediately and again stated that he would present to the Salary Board the matter, of creating a position at the Jail in order to commence forthwith the implementation of the statute; and, in the meantime, ask the Courts to stop the program. More discussion followed. 232 MINUTE BOOK PRISON BOARD WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA There being no further business, Chairman Mascara declared the meeting t adjourned at approximately 12:20 p.m. THE FOREGOING MINUTES SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL: l t fiC�re4 �' 1986 ATTEST:�C((��c�a�ri SECRETARY �1 7 1