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MINUTE BOOK
PRISON BOARD WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Minute No. 3-P-90
Washington County Prison Board
Washington, Pa., March 21, 1990
The Washington County Prison Board met for its monthly meeting in the
Washington County Jail, Washington, Pennsylvania, with the following members
being present: Judge Gilmore; Commissioners Mascara, Petrosky and Paluso;
Controller Belcastro; District Attorney Pettit; and Chief Deputy Sheriff
Littleton. Also being present: Warden Pelzer; Linda Hands, Clerk -Steno II;
Kathy Warco, Observer -Reporter; Pete Skirchak, Herald -Standard; and Jim
Jefferson, WJPA.
Approval of Minutes:
Chairman Mascara called the meeting to order at approximately
11:40 a.m. and asked if there were any corrections, additions or omissions to
Minute No. 2-P-90, each member having received a copy. Moved by Mr. Belcastro,
seconded by Mr. Littleton, that Minute No. 2-P-90 be approved as written.
Motion carried unanimously by the Board signifying their approval by stating
„Aye".
Warden's Report:
Warden Pelzer presented to the Board the following information:
Income from other units for the maintenance of prisoners for
February:
No monies received.
Total Work Release and Weekenders:
Weekenders billed $ 710.00 Received $1,085.00
Work Release billed $1,755.00 $1,620.00
TOTAL $2,465.00 $2,705.00
Received no monies from Clerk of Courts.
$25 was turned over to the Clerk of Courts for collection.
Status of prisoners confined at the end of February 1990:
MALES FEMALES TOTAL
Sentenced prisoners
57
6
63
Weekend prisoners
33
2
35
Work Release
31
0
31
Unsentenced prisoners
Awaiting trial
so
7
57
Awaiting sentencing
7
1
8
TOTAL PRISONERS
178
16
194
No. of inmates doctor saw
100
20
120
New commitments doctor saw
41
Repeat patients doctor saw
79
Sheriff transported 7 inmates
Moved by Mr. Belcastro, seconded by Mr. Pettit, to accept the Warden's
Report as per above. Motion carried unanimously by the Board signifying their
approval by stating "Aye".
Bills: Controller Belcastro presented to the Board for their consideration
and approval the bills for the month of February in the amount of $58,561.65.
He noted that these bills included a number of outstanding invoices from 1988
5020=1T.&M
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MINUTE BOOK
PRISON BOARD WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
W" W801 4 Al A a -W 49
Moved by Mr. Belcastro, seconded by Mr. Petrosky, approving the bills
for the month of February as per above. Motion carried unanimously by the
Board signifying their approval by stating "Aye". (See list of bills attached
hereto and made a part hereof.) The Commissioners' "yes" votes were cast with
the caveat that the Controller is tracking the bills to make sure the items are
not exceeding the $4,000.00 bid requirement. (For further reference, see
blanket caveat on page 278.)
OUTSTANDING REIMBURSEMENTS
Reimbursable February Medical
Reimbursable February Maintenance
TOTAL
-0-
-0-
-0-
Outstanding Reimbursable Medical $ 770.96
Outstanding Reimbursable Maintenance 693.25
TOTAL $1,464.21
Total Medical Outstanding Reimbursable $ 770.96
Total Maintenance Outstanding Reimbursable 693.25
TOTAL $1,464.21
Prison Transfer (out of business) Oct. 1986 235.25
U.S. Navy Apr./May 1989 357.00
N. Hampton (Denies claim) May 1985 101.00
TOTAL OUTSTANDING $ 693.25
Other Business:
Chairman Mascara addressed the Board regarding correspondence to the
Warden from the Commissioners with reference to the Drug Control and Systems
Improvement (DCSI) funds. It was noted that this was funding for the
Electronic Monitoring System (bracelets for first offenders) to be implemented
at the Jail. Mr. Mascara reported that the correspondence stated that the
Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) is going to delay or
cancel the implementation of the much -needed programs. Some discussion
follow-ed. Mr. Petrosky explained that the County requested approximately
$16,000 from the PCCD for 10 bracelets. The County delayed the implementation
of this program once because the Commissioners thought that state monies were
going to be available. Now PCCD is saying that we are on the list; however,
there is no money available and there will not be any available until the next
state FY90/91 budget. Mr. Petrosky further explained that from the information
that the Commissioners are getting back from the State, that the proposed
budget is already $220 million in the red. He noted that the County had
previously asked the successful bidder to hold off on implementing the program
until the County received the funding from PCCD, which was anticipated to take
approximately three months; and they agreed to do so. However, he doesn't know
if the company would be willing to hold their price for• another three months.
He stated that he felt that the amount of money involved is not that
significant in terms of dollar amount and he therefore recommended that the
Prison Board implement the program as soon as possible due to the overcrowding
at the Jail. Discussion followed. The Board members agreed that the program
should be implemented as soon as possible. Mr. Paluso suggested that a written
MINUTE BOOK
PRISON BOARD WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
356
policy relative to who would be eligible for this program should be made in
conjunction with the Courts and District Attorney along with input from the
Warden. More discussion followed.
With reference to Senate Bill 620 (Act 97), Chairman Mascara advised
the Board that Senator Joseph Loeper, prime sponsor of this legislation, has
written to the Board of Probation and Parole and stated that it was not the
intent of the Legislature to mandate a program and then ask the counties to pay
for it; rather, the intent was for the Commonwealth to bear the responsibility
for the costs of this pre-release drug testing program. Chairman Mascara noted
that Senator Loeper, in conjunction with lobbying efforts by PSACC, is
vehemently opposing the Board's position in this matter. Warden Pelzer pointed
out that he has two prisoners who will be eligible for parole within the next
two weeks under, the state mandatory sentencing guidelines and that he is in the
process right now of having their urine tested for any suspected drug abuse.
Mr. Mascara suggested that the Warden not pay these costs and hold the
invoices, pending the outcome of this matter.
Commissioner Petrosky brought to the Board's attention correspondence
he received this morning relative to the Governor's proposal to set aside $100
million for the use of county governments for the renovation of jails and the
building of new jails. He stated that as yet PSACC has not taken a firm
position in terms of the amount because counties feel that it should be more
(the original amount had been $400 million). Some discussion was held.
There being no further business, Chairman Mascara declared the meeting
adjourned at approximately 12:00 Noon.
THE FOREGOING IN SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL:
1990
ATTEST: Appri 51, 1990
SECRETARY
1