HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM - Meeting Minutes - 3-P-95 - 3-8-1995 - PRISON BOARD7
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MINUTE BOOK
WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Washington County. Prison Board
Washington, Pa., March 8, 1995
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
Petrosky, Bassi and Ford; Controller Belcastro; Sheriff Secreet; and District Attorney Pettit. Also being
present: Warden Pelzer; Linda Hands, Clerk -Steno II; Jim Jefferson, WJPA; and Joe Smydo, Observer -
Reporter.
Chairman Petrosky 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-95, each member having received a copy.
Moved by Mr. Belcastro, seconded by Mr. Pettit, that Minute No. 2-P-95 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, 1995:
No monies
Total Work Release and Weekenders:
Work Release were billed $3,840.00
Weekenders were billed $2,480.00
Amount received $5,515.00
No monies were turned over to the Clerk of Courts for collection.
Status of prisoners confined at the end of February, 1995:
MALES FEMALES TOTAL
Sentenced prisoners 58 8 66
Weekend prisoners 33 3 36
Work Release 35 1 36
Home Detention Program 10 7 17
Unsentenced prisoners
Awaiting sentencing 16
3 19
Awaiting trial 90
3 93
TOTAL PRISONERS 242
25 267
No. of inmates doctor saw 173
23 196
New commitments doctor saw
57
Repeat patients doctor saw
139
Sheriff transported 14 inmates
District Attorney Pettit questioned Warden Pelzer on the total population of the jail and what steps
would be taken in the new justice center to accommodate the total population of 267 inmates. Warden
Pelzer explained that there will be areas that can be easily double -bunked in the cells. Some discussion
followed.
It was noted that there are four bracelets that are broken and have been sent out to be repaired.
Warden Pelzer stated that the bracelet program will be expanded by an additional 10 bracelets from a grant
497
MINUTE
PRISON BOARD
WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
through the Pennsylvania Probation and Parole.
Moved by Mr. Belcastro, seconded by Mr. Secreet, approving 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, 1995, in the amount of $31,175.01 plus $1,800.00 for jail physicians.
Moved by Mr. Pettit, seconded by Mr. Secreet, 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.)
New Business:
Discussion was held regarding an article that appeared in the Observer -Reporter with reference to an
inmate (George "Rocky" Balboa) who allegedly defrauded 17 banks in Pennsylvania and Illinois while
incarcerated in the county jail.
Commissioner Ford questioned Warden Pelzer on what precautions are currently being taken to see
that this does not happen again. Warden Pelzer stated that in the proposals for the new justice center that
there are safeguards against the inmate telephone. The calls are announced that they are collect calls from a
penal institution; it also comes up 3-way calling, and it will automatically disconnect the phone. He noted
that the jail can also program into the computer numbers that are not to be called and if they are on for
more than 10 minutes, phone calls will be automatically taken off. Warden Pelzer did point out that the
only thing they have now at the jail is that the calls are collect and state that they are from a penal
institution. A discussion followed regarding the manner in which prisoners are monitored in the use of the
phones at the jail. Warden Pelzer pointed out that in the new justice center there will be a time limit of 10
minutes on all calls and after that the phone automatically shuts off.
There being no further business, Chairman Petrosky declared the meeting adjourned at approximately
11:50 a.m.
THE FOREGOING MINUTES SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL:
1995
ATTEST:
SECRETARY
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