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MINUTE B❑OK
PRISON BOARD WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Minute No. 5-P-90
Washington County Prison Board
Washington, Pa., May 16, 1990
The Washington County Prison Board met for its monthly meeting in the
Commissioners' Conference Room, Courthouse Square, Washington, Pennsylvania,
with the following members being present: Judge Gladden; Commissioners
Mascara, Petrosky and Paluso; Controller Belcastro; Chief Deputy Sheriff
Littleton; and District Attorney Pettit. Also being present: Warden Pelzer;
Linda Hands, Clerk -Steno II; Kathy Warco, Observer -Reporter; Pete Skirchak,
Herald -Standard; Jim Jefferson and Clara Courie, WJPA; Mel Bassi, Solicitor;
Gary Gilman, Executive Assistant; and Charles Stock, Law Librarian.
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. 4-P-90, each member having received a copy. Moved by Mr. Belcastro,
seconded by Mr. Petrosky, that Minute No. 4-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
April:
No monies received.
Total Work Release and Weekenders:
Weekenders billed
$ 770.00
Received $ 810.00
Work Release billed
$1,620.00
$1,685.00
TOTAL
$2,390.00
$2,495.00
Received no monies
from Clerk of
Courts.
$50 was turned over
to the Clerk
of Courts for collection.
Status of prisoners confined at the end of April 1990:
MALES
)FEMALES
TOTAL
Sentenced prisoners
37
7
44
Weekend prisoners
32
3
35
Work Release
32
1
33
Unsentenced prisoners
Awaiting trial
47
2
49
Awaiting sentencing
4
0
4
Home Detention Program
1
1
2
TOTAL PRISONERS
153
14
167
No. of inmates doctor saw
87
19
106
New commitments doctor saw
46
Repeat patients doctor saw
60
Sheriff transported 18 inmates
Warden Pelzer advised the Board relative to the matter involving the
contract with
the federal
government
concerning the
medical expenses of federal
prisoners. He
noted that
Assistant
Solicitor Kathy
Emery issued a legal
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MINUTE BOOK
PRISON BOARD WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
opinion stating that the County is responsible for all the medical expenses
that occur while a federal prisoner is actually in the County Jail and that the
federal government is responsible for any medical expenses that occur in an
outside facility.
Warden Pelzer brought up the matter of a memo that he had forwarded to
the Prison Board members requesting that the Board approve an increase in the
per diem rate for prisoners which would include weekenders, work release and
home detention prisoners. This increase would raise the weekenders payment to
$20.00 a weekend and the work release to $30.00 a week. The Home Detention
Program inmates would pay $30.00 per week, thus helping to offset the cost of
the program.
Moved by Judge Gladden, seconded by Mr. Belcastro, approving an
increase in the per diem rates as recommended by Warden Pelzer as per above.
District Attorney Pettit requested that discussion be held on this
matter. He questioned whether these increases would be sufficient. He stated
that he felt any increases should be sufficient enough to offset the costs of
providing these programs to the prisoners and that the programs should not cost
the taxpayers or the County any money. Discussion followed. Judge Gladden
then recommended that the Board temporarily adopt these increases until further
study could be completed. Further discussion was held.
Moved by Judge Gladden, seconded by Mr. Belcastro, amending the
foregoing motion to temporarily approve an increase in the per diem rates as
recommended by Warden Pelzer, pending further study and consideration of
information from other institutions and the County's costs involved in
administering these programs. Motion carried unanimously by the Board
signifying their approval by stating "Aye".
With reference to the Warden's Report concerning "Status of
Prisoners", Judge Gladden suggested that since all the work release, weekend
and home detention prisoners are sentenced, that the Warden break them down
into categories of full-time, work release, weekenders and Home Detention.
Commissioner Petrosky questioned Warden Pelzer as to the number of
inmates currently in the Home Detention Program and whether or not there are
more inmates being considered for the Program. Warden Pelzer explained that
there are currently two inmates in the program and that he is working with the
Courts and the District Attorney to select three more prisoners for the
program, for a total of five. A discussion followed on how inmates are chosen
for the Home Detention Program. Mr. Pettit suggested that Warden Pelzer
prepare a "waiting list" of eligible prisoners for the program.
Moved by Mr. Petrosky, seconded by Mr. Belcastro, to accept the
Warden's Report. Motion carried unanimously by the Board signifying their
approval by stating "Aye".
MINUTE BOOK
PRISON BOARD WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
36
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Bills:
��-42919
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Controller Belcastro presented to the Board for their consideration
and approval the bills for the month of April in the amount of $40,467.73.
Moved by Mr. Belcastro, seconded by Mr. Petrosky, approving the bills for the
month of April 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.)
(Meeting recessed.)
(VOTE: The Board went into an Executive Session to discuss pending litigation.
(Meeting reconvened.)
Moved by Mr. Littleton, seconded by Judge Gladden, to recommend to the
Board of Commissioners, based upon the recommendation of Solicitor Bassi, the
approval of a supplemental budget appropriation in the amount of $26,000 for
the Jail for the purchase of legal reporters and research material.
Roll call vote taken:
Judge Gladden - Yes; Mr. Pettit - No;
Mr. Littleton - Yes; Mr. Belcastro - Yes;
Mr. Petrosky - Yes; Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Mascara - Yes.
Motion carried.
There being no further business, Chairman Mascara declared the meeting
adjourned at approximately 12:15 p.m.
THE FOREGOING MINUTES SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL:
June 6 1990
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