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Home My WebLink AboutCOMM - Meeting Minutes - 3-P-89 - 2-22-1989 - PRISON BOARD318 I 7A PRISON BOARD ADO MINUTE BOOK WASHINGTON COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA Washington County Prison Board Washington, Pa., February 22, 1989 The Washington County Prison Board met for its monthly meeting In the 7t-h Floor Conference Room, Courthouse Square, Washington, Pennsylvania, with the following members, being present: Judge Gilmore; Commissioners Mascara, Petrosky and Palu--o; Controller Beharry; and Ferdall Littleton, Chief Deputy S S h e r i f f Absent being; Dish ict Attorney Pettit. Also being p.-esent: Warden Pe1ze,.-; . "inda Hands, Clerk -Steno II; Tim Jefferson, WJPA; Pete Skirchak, Heralld-Standard; and Kathy Warco, Observer -Reporter. Chairman Petrosky called the meeting to order at approximately I r omissions to 1:25 a,m. and asi-led if there were any corrections, additions Ions o Minute - No. 2-P-99, each member having received a copy. Moved by Ms. Behar,ry, Meconded by Mr. Mascara, that Minute No. 2-P-89 be approved as written. Motion carried unaninnously by the Board signifying their approval by stating "Aye Warden'2 Report: Warden Pelzer presented to the Board the following information: Income from other units for the maintenance 4` o prisoners for ---------- - ----- - ----- January: U.S. immigration and Naturalisation Service $ 227.25 Total Work Release and Weel-render2: Weekenders billed 1 11� 930.00 Received 930-00 Work Release billed t-�1,555.00 $1,195.00 TOTAL $2,485.00 $2,125.00 Received $10.00 from Clerk. of Courts $25.00 was turned over to Clerk of Courts for collection. Status of prisoners confined at the end of January, 1989: MALES FEMALES TOTAL Sentenced prisoners 42 2 414 Work Release 26 0 26 Weekender prisoners 41 2 43 Unsen4E.enced Awaiting trial 62 5 67 Awaiting sentencing 3 0 3 TOTAL PRISONERS 174 9 183 No. of inmates doctor saw 89 6 95 Sheriff transported 13 inmates Warden Pelzel- reported that the bars on the upstairs storage room have been installed and that it appears to be very secure. Warden Pel,er noted a letter he received from Tom Zibrida, Director of I Engineering and Maintenance, regarding numerous security improvements needed at the main entrance to the County Prison. Be stated he would like to get the Board,'_- approval- for o�:r consultant to evaluate the entire entrance area and provide so:,'ie prelirriinary de2icfn schemes and cost estimates. Some discussion followed regarding what changes could be made to the entrance way of "he Jail to hhet.'_'er- secure the area. 319 MINUTE BOOK PRISON BOARD WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA Moved by Judge Gilmore, seconded by Mr. Littleton, recommending that ,-he Board of Commissioners pursue this action in terms of the deficiencies at the Jail entrance. Motion carried unanimously by the Board signifying their approvall by stating "Aye." Regarding the population at the Jail, Warden Pelzer noted that there are le3 inmates, the highest it has ever been. Discussion was held regarding the high population and to alleviate some of what steps could be taken to try majority of inmates are DU the problethe I cases. Warden.-fts. It was noted that t Pelzer stated that he and his staff have been contacting the Courts regarding the inroateS that are unsent-enced and awaiting trial. He explained that he is asking the Courts for relief on the inmates that are not of a violent nature by reducing their, bond -so they can make bond and be released instead of staying in +-e ;:ail population. Some discussion was held relative to District Justices 1 1 setting high bond-- on minor charges and causing a rise in the Jail population. Judge Gilmore suggested that any time the Warden gets a prisoner that o the charge, he feels the bond appears on the surface to be disproportionate t that he --hould --end a memo to the term criminal judge calling this to their attention. Some discus ion -followed. M2. Beharry noted a correction in the Warden's Report regarding the --t-atus 04 prisoners. She stated that in last month's report (page 313) unsentenced prisoners were reported twice which actually gives an incorrect amount in -,-he total prisoners- amount. This correction was noted for the record. B i I I s . Controller Beharry presented to the Board for their consideration and Co approval the bills for the month of January in the amount of 4,22,667.02. (See list of bills- attached hereto and made a part hereof.) Moved by Mr. Littleton, seconded by Ms. Bellarry, approving the payment of the bills as per above. Motion carried unanimously by the Board signifying their approval by -stating "Aye-." The Commissioner-- yes" votes were cast with the caveat that the Controller is tracking the bills to make sure the items are not exceeding the 0447000.00 bid requirement. (For further reference, see blanket caveat on page 278.) OUTSTANDING REIMBURSEMENTS Reimbursable January Medical. -0- Re4mbursable January Maintenance $ 227.25 $ 227.25 Outstanding Reimbursable Medical $ 770.96 Out -standing Reimbursable Maintenance 2,294.25 TOTAL $3,065.21 'otal Medical Outstanding Reimbursement $ 770.96 "otal Maintenance Outstanding Reimbursement 2,521.50 TO`IAL $3,292.46 F F� E J2 0 I I BOOK WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA Ms.Be-a--ry made note of the suicide attempt at the Jail by inmate Robert Mocchell which occurred on February 2, 1989. Ms. Beharry also noted that Attorney Melenyzer's office has requested that they be furnished with a copy of all meeting minutes so that they Can be j-1-.ept apprised of all lawsuits and incidents occurring at the 'ail. Ms. Beharry questioned Warden Pelzer relative to several matters - -a4z,ed lin the proposed Policy/Procedure Guideline for Use by Supervisory J Lorsonne-1 at the Jail. Chairman Petrosky suggested that the Board members review the proposed policy/procedure and if they have any questions, that they contact the Warden be -fore the next meeting so that the Board can take action on t at that meeting. Ms. Beharry also brought up the matter of Warden's Pelzer recommendation to create a position of inmate Supervisor/Correctional Officer that would have complete controll and supervision of the trustie2. Discussion followed. Chairman Petrosky stated that from his personal standpoint he did not see how the trustee program could function. His reasons were: (a) the Jail is I - shortchanged by having someone overseeing the trusties; (b) despite creating a har-dc'hijp in terms of money and expenditure2, he feels it would be better to someone as o form maintenance 41ir�Dy pposed to having the trusties perform functiion2; and i a survey of other fourth cla-_2,; counties indicates that a majority 0f them do r'ZD4- u--e trustles outside of the prison area. (Mi� . M2�cafa left the meeting. Ms. Beharry stated that she felt the Board should respond to the Warden's recommendation. Chairman Petrosky therefore entertained a motion to t e c- o Lei ra e n d that t h e policy be reinstated as to the trusty pflogra-m. No motion was made. -.here being no further business, Chairman Petrosky declared the meeting adjourned at approzimat-ely 12:05 P.M. T�PE gr-Y' ^'=r INGM3 T INUTES/eVBMITTED FOR APPROVAL: I A ATTEST 4 00 of 16? 1989