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Home My WebLink AboutCOMM - Meeting Minutes - 11-P-02 - 11-20-2002 - PRISON BOARDMINUTE BOOK PRISON BOARD WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 201 Minute No. 11-P-02 r., Washington County Prison Board E Washington, PA, November 20, 2002 a U_ The regular monthly meeting of the Washington County Prison Board was held in the 7th Floor Conference TRoom, Courthouse Square, Washington, Pennsylvania, with the following members being present: Commissioners 0 m John P. Bevec, Diana L. Irey and J. Bracken Burns, Sr.; District Attorney John Pettit; Controller Michael Namie; and T Sheriff Larry Maggi. Absent being: Judge David Gilmore. Also being present: Warden Joe Pelzer; Cathi Kresh, Administrator/Chief Clerk; Richard DiSalle, Solicitor; Michelle Miller Kotula, Director of Human Resources; Linda Belcher, Administrative Assistant; Randy Vankirk, Deputy Controller; Joseph Brownlee, Adult Probation Office; Deputy Controller; Deputy Warden John Temas; Betsy West, interested citizen; Reverend Leroy Davis and Phyllis Cappalonga, representatives of the Good News Jail and Ministry; and Linda Metz, Observer -Reporter. Chairman Pettit called the meeting to order at approximately 11:40 a.m. and asked if there were any corrections, additions or omissions to Minute No. 10-P-02, dated October 16, 2002. Moved by Mr. Bevec, seconded by Mrs. Irey, approving Minute No. 10-P-02 as written. Motion carried unanimously by the Board signifying their approval by stating "Aye". WARDEN'S REPORT Warden Pelzer presented the following information to the Board: Income from other units for the maintenance of prisoners for October, 2002: Social Security $ 600.00 U. S. Marshall 7,150.00 Administrative Fee 2,718.69 Monthly Sub Total $10,468.69 Year to date GRAND TOTAL $80,432.27 Program Fees and Room and Board Income for the Month of October, 2002: a Billed Collected Work Release $10,854.00 $10,706.00 Weekenders $ 2,134.34 $ 2,214.34 Turned over to Clerk of Courts (Minus) -0- Adjustments made to billings (Minus) -0- Monthly Sub -Total $12,988.34 $12,920.34 Year to date GRAND TOTAL $179,466.47 $179,206.78 Status of prisoners confined at the end of October, 2002: Full Time Work Release Weekend prisoners Unsentenced prisoners Awaiting sentencing and/or trial TOTAL PRISONERS Examinations performed by the physician MALES FEMALES TOTAL 82 6 88 43 1 44 24 3 27 148 17 165 297 27 324 MALES FEMALES TOTAL 141 45 186 New commitments Repeat patients Medical Transports performed by the Sheriff 10 53 133 202 MINUTE BOOK PRISON BOARD WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA Moved by Mrs. Irey, seconded by Mr. Bevec, accepting the Warden's Report as per above. Motion carried unanimously by the Board signifying their approval by stating "Aye". BILLS Controller Namie brought to the Board's attention a matter regarding the Correctional Facility's budget for prescription drugs for inmates. Mr. Namie stated this issue was called to his attention by Roger Metcalfe, the Budget Director. He noted the budgeted amount for this year is $42,000 and the facility has spent approximately $115,000 at this point in time. Warden Pelzer stated the increase in drug costs is due to the high number of inmates who are coming to the facility while on psychotropic medications. Warden Pelzer also stated there are several inmates that are HIV -positive and need medication that could easily cost $5,000 per month. Chairman Pettit informed Warden Pelzer that when an inmate is committed, he should advise Mr. Pettit of the situation and perhaps the District Attorney's Office could process the inmate sooner, especially if the prisoner faces a state prison sentence. Also, he suggested the judges' involvement in allowing the prisoners to serve their sentences on electronic home monitoring, then the county would not be responsible for the prisoner's health care costs. Commissioner Burns stated that as a member of CCAP he was able to have the issue included as one of the organization's legislative goals to look into this matter. He suggested that the subsidies be forwarded to the county to help meet the jail expenses. He noted it doesn't make sense that welfare and Social Security payments are cut off when a person is incarcerated and then the county is responsible for the person's housing and medical costs. Controller Namie presented to the Board for their consideration and approval the bills for November, 2002 in the amount of $73,708.64. Moved by Mrs. Irey, seconded by Mr. Namie, approving the bills for the month of November, 2002. Motion carried unanimously by the Board signifying their approval by stating "Aye". (See list of bills attached hereto and made a part hereof.) OLD BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS At this time, Warden Pelzer introduced Reverend Leroy Davis and Phyllis Cappalonga of the Good News Jail and Prison Ministry. Reverend Davis explained to Board members the ministry is a non-profit organization that assists inmates to prepare for a better way of life upon their release from prison. He noted the ministry now provides more than 215 staff chaplains in 179 institutions in 23 states and nine countries, locally there are chaplains at prisons in Westmoreland, Indiana and Fayette Counties. Reverend Davis explained the organization is primarily funded by donations and occasional support from foundations and grants, therefore, there would be no cost to the county for this service. Board members questioned Reverend Davis regarding liability issues and any commitments on the County's part. MINUTE PRISON BOARD BOOK . 203 WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA Reverend Davis answered the Board's questions and pointed out each chaplain is required to go through z E training for this position and must be licensed, ordained and commissioned before entering any facility. 0 U- L warden retzer recommended the Board add the ministry to expand the worx aone ay Keverena tray tseecn. Moved by Mr. Burns, seconded by Mrs. Irey, accepting the proposal and contract from Good News Jail and E 0 Prison Ministry pending approval by the Solicitor. Motion carried unanimously by the Board signifying their approval c a by stating "Aye. There being no further business, Chairman Pettit declared the meeting adjourned at approximately 12:15 p.m. THE FOREGOING MINUTES SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL: loped l d if p %� , 2002 ATTEST: SECRETARY I]