HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM - Meeting Minutes - 12-P-92 - 12-9-1992 - PRISON BOARD4811
MINUTE BOOK
PRISON BOARD WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Minute No. 12-P-92
Washington County Prison Board
Washington, Pa., December 9, 1992
The monthly meeting of the Washington County Prison Board was held in
the Washington County Jail, Washington, Pennsylvania, with the following
members being present: Judge Gilmore; Commissioners Mascara and Ford;
Controller Belcastro; District Attorney Pettit; and Sheriff Fazzoni. Absent
being: Commissioner Petrosky. Also being present: Warden Pelzer; Deputy
Sheriff Sweeny; Linda Hands, Clerk -Steno; Jim Jefferson, WJPA; and Kathi Warco,
Observer -Reporter.
Chairman Mascara called the meeting to order at approximately
11:35 a.m. and asked if there were any corrections, additions or omissions to
Minute No. 11-P-92, each member having received a copy. Moved by
Mr. Belcastro, seconded by Mr. Fazzoni, that Minute No. 11-P-92 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
November:
United States Navy was billed $59.50.
Total Work Release and Weekenders:
Work Release were billed $3,960.00
Weekenders were billed $3,020.00
Amount received $6,155.00
$270.00 was turned over to the Clerk
of Courts for collection.
Status of prisoners confined at the end of November, 1992:
MALES
FEMALES
TOTAL
Full -Time prisoners
47
5
52
Weekend prisoners
43
3
46
Work Release
26
1
27
Home Detention Program
16
0
16
Unsentenced prisoners
Awaiting sentencing
8
0
8
Awaiting trial
51
4
55
TOTAL PRISONERS
191
13
204
No. of inmates doctor saw
154
8
162
New commitments doctor saw
40
Repeat patients doctor saw
122
Sheriff transported 20 inmates
Moved by Mr. Fazzoni, seconded by Mr. Ford, accepting the Warden's
Report as per above. Motion carried unanimously by the Board signifying their
approval by stating "Aye". I
4 k,
MINUTE BOOK
PRISON BOARD WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Bills:
Controller Belcastro presented to the Board for their consideration
and approval the bills for the month of November in the amount of $17,017.41.
Moved by Mr. Belcastro, seconded Mr. Fazzoni, approving the payment of
the bills for the month of November 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.)
New Business:
Chairman
Mascara noted
as a point of
information that he has been in
contact with
Westmoreland County
Commissioners
and they are going to arrange
for a tour of
the new Westmoreland
County Jail
facility. If any members are
interested in
going they should
let him know.
The
Board discussed an
incident which
occurred at the jail on December
6th involving inmate Matt Muniz and Deputy Sheriff Carl Pitzeralla. Chairman
Mascara asked Deputy Sheriff Sweeny to give an account of his investigation of
the matter. Deputy Sheriff Sweeny stated that he received a request from
Warden Pelzer to investigate this incident and that he and Lieutenant Cochran
of the Washington City Police conducted an investigation. He noted that Warden
Pelzer provided a report of the incident to the Prison Board members on
December Sth. Deputy Sheriff Sweeny stated that he talked to the inmate
involved who stated that a cigar was flipped from one of the jail windows
towards Deputy Sheriff Pitzeralla. The inmate claimed that he never threw the
cigar and he does not know who did it. Deputy Sheriff Pitzeralla came into
the jail and requested to see the inmates' pictures from the rolodex on the
sergeant's desk downstairs. He went through the pictures but could not
identify the inmate who flipped the cigar so he then went upstairs to the
window from where the cigar was thrown. When he went upstairs he grabbed the
inmate and wanted to smell his hands whereupon he made threatening gestures and
said he would like to smash the inmate's face, but the inmate still said he did
not throw the cigar from the window and did not know who did it. The inmate
stated that he did not want any criminal charges filed against Deputy Sheriff
Pitzeralla for manhandling him, but he would like some action taken as a
reprimand. Commissioner Ford questioned Deputy Sheriff Sweeny if he had talked
to Deputy Sheriff Pitzeralla to get his side of the story, and if he had not,
did he intend to-do that at some time. Deputy Sheriff Sweeny stated if the
Prison Board requested him to do so, he would.
Chairman Mascara questioned the Warden as to a policy relative to
admittance of Sheriff's deputies or other personnel into the jail when not on
official business. Warden Pelzer stated that the policy was not followed by
his staff and explained the proper procedure. Discussion followed.
4�1
MINUTE BOOK
PRISON BOARD WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Chairman Mascara suggested that Deputy Sheriff Sweeny also interview
Deputy Sheriff Pitzeralla and then report back to Warden Pelzer who would then
report back to the Prison Board at a subsequent meeting so that the Board could
take whatever appropriate action it feels necessary. Deputy Sheriff Sweeny
requested that Lieutenant Cochran of the Washington City Police be present when
interviewing Deputy Sheriff Pitzeralla so as to avoid any conflict.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at
approximately 11:55 a.m.
THE FOREGOING MINUTES SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL:
ATTEST:
SECRETARY
1993
NOTE: Following the meeting, the Board held an Executive Session in order
to discuss a personnel matter.
J
1