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Home My WebLink AboutCOMM - Meeting Minutes - PB 11-18-20 - 11-18-2020 - PRISON BOARD263 1 MINUTE BOOK PRISON BOARD WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLANIA IMR LIMITED El316W1.,D Minute No. PB 11-18-20 November 18, 2020 The meeting of the Washington County Prison Board was held in the 7th floor conference room, Courthouse Square, Washington, Pennsylvania, with the following members being present: Commissioners Diana Irey Vaughan, Nick Sherman (Mr. Sherman entered at 11:33 a.m.) and Larry Maggi; Judge John DiSalle; Controller Mike Namie; and Sheriff Sam Romano. Absent from the meeting is District Attorney Gene Vittone. Also present: Warden Fewell; First Assistant District Attorney Jason Walsh; Solicitor Jana Grimm; Finance Director Joshua Hatfield; Assistant Human Resources Director Andrea Johnston; Chief Clerk Cindy Griffin; Administrative Assistant Joyce Thornburg; and Observer Reporter representative Barbara Miller. Mrs. Vaughan called the meeting to order at approximately 11:31 a.m. Mrs. Vaughan asked if there were any corrections, additions or omissions to Minute No. PB 11-4-20, dated November 4, 2020, each member having received a copy. It was moved by Mr. Namie and seconded by Mr. Maggi that Minute No. PB 11-4-20, be approved. The motion was carried unanimously with the Board signifying their approval by stating „Aye„ PUBLIC COMMENTS None. WARDEN'S REPORT Income from Other Units for the Maintenance of Inmates for October 2020 Administrative Fee $11,564.66 Social Security $800.00 Tylenol $129.28 Monthly sub -total $12,493.94 Year-to-date grand total $117,896.09 Program Fees and Room and Board Income for October 2020 Work Release Inmates Weekend Inmates Monthly sub -total Year-to-date grand total Status of Inmates Confined at the End of October 2020 Full-time Inmates Work Release Inmates Weekend Inmates Inmates Awaiting Trial and/or Sentencing Total Inmates Examinations Performed by the Physician New Commitments Repeat Patients Dental Extractions Medical Transports Performed by the Sheriff Contracted Housing Fee/Month Year-to-date grand total Billed Collected $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $31,296.00 $29,193.00 Male Female Total 31 3 34 0 0 0 0 0 0 Male Female Total 229 58 287 260 61 321 Male Female Total 15 37 52 22 30 5 35 $0.00 $0.00 Warden Fewell introduced himself. He stated that he took a COVID test, in accordance with Pennsylvania state regulations, since he drove in from Kansas City, KS, and communicated that he was COVID negative. Warden Fewell presented the following information to the Prison Board: • Inmate Population - 321 inmates of which 61 are female • The WCCF is in the process of conducting a staffing analysis in accordance with the National 264 MINUTE BOOK PRISON BOARD IMR LIMITED E1316649LD WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLANIA Institute of Corrections (a detailed staffing analysis is available on the National Institute of Corrections' website which offers guidelines to help determine the appropriate level of staff to maintain custody care, safety, security health and welfare. • The current duty schedules will be reviewed. The schedule consists of 8-hour shifts which has been determined to be problematic. The schedules will continue to be evaluated and recommendations will follow. • Union negotiations are ongoing and hoping to reach an agreement on a three-year contract. There is an upcoming appointment with the attorney, Mr. Palumbo, and with some small changes to the contract language, there could be immediate changes that would have a dramatic impact, for example, changes to the duty schedule. • COVID protocols are being reviewed. Subsequent to tour of the facility one day prior, it was determined that the facility is extremely vulnerable in that a sneeze could infect the population. • Inmates are being screened, monitored, and quarantined for 10 days upon intake; intake is currently full; there is additional housing that could be used for quarantine but limited staff is limiting use of additional housing units. Staffing issues are nationwide, but there are a few simple solutions such as a duty schedule that can be implemented to help alleviate some of these obstacles. • Warden Fewell stated that policies and procedures are being analyzed and evaluated and that any recommendations for changes will be coordinated with the union and the Prison Board for acceptance and appropriate approval. • Warden Fewell stated there will be a review of the current protocols and the special management procedures with regard to the mentally ill, the addicted, and medically infirmed. • Warden Fewell inquired about the dissemination of information. He is looking to the Prison Board to determine how much detail and with what frequency this communication should be provided, i.e., an email can be sent twice a day or at the completion of each shift (currently being sent out weekly) with regard to population, staffing, serious incidences, i.e., uses of force, medical information, current protocols, any changes, and command information, etc. Mrs. Vaughan commented that a weekly report would suffice, however, the Prison Board is requesting immediate notification to each member of the board of any incident involving a serious allegation against an employee, any incident involving harm to an inmate, or any other serious matter that would warrant immediate Prison Board notification. Mrs. Vaughan requested that the immediate notification be communicated via email. If the situation is of severe nature, Mrs. Vaughan requested that the Warden text message each member of the Board. Warden Fewell's closing remarks related to the consideration of technologies that could be a game changer and are not necessarily a Taser but similar technologies for corrections. Furthermore, there is also the video aspects to consider. The WCCF is in the process of re- negotiating the contracts with the objective that these technologies may be acquired without any additional cost to the County. It was moved by Mr. Romano and seconded by Mr. Maggi approving the Warden's Report. The motion was carried unanimously with the Board signifying their approval by stating "Aye". BILLS Mr. Namie presented to the Board for their consideration and approval of the bills dated November 18, 2020, in the amount of $136,063.61. Mr. Sherman requested clarification on the Schneider Dairy bid. Mr. Sherman noted there is a new dairy in Washington County. Mr. Namie remarked that the bids go out regularly. Mrs. Vaughan directed Mr. Sherman to follow up with Purchasing Director Randy Vankirk. It was moved by Mr. Namie and seconded by Mr. Maggi approving the bills dated November 18, 2020. The motion was carried unanimously with the Board signifying their approval by stating "Aye". (See list of bills attached hereto and made a part hereof.) 1 In L�� 265 MINUTE BOOK PRISON BOARD WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLANIA tMR LIMITED E1316649LD OLD BUSINESS None. NEW BUSINESS None. There being no further business, Mrs. Vaughan declared the meeting adjourned at approximately 11:44 a.m. THE FOREGOING MINUTES SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL: 2020 ATTEST: SECRETARY 1 1 266 PRISON BOARD IMR LIMITED E1316649LD MINUTE BOOK WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLANIA This page is blank. 1 1