HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM - Meeting Minutes - PB 2-3-21 - 2-3-2021 - PRISON BOARD279
MINUTE BOOK
PRISON BOARD WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLANIA
[MR LIMITED F1$16649L..D
Minute No. PB 2-3-21 February 3, 2021
The meeting of the Washington County Prison Board was with the following members being
present: Commissioners Diana Irey Vaughan and Nick Sherman; President Judge John DiSalle;
Controller Mike Namie; Sheriff Sam Romano; and District Attorney Gene Vittone. Absent from the
meeting is Commissioner Larry Maggi. Also present: Solicitor Jana Grimm; Warden Fewell; Deputy
Warden Waugh; Deputy Warden Cain; Chaplain Mike Pierson; Employee of the Month Zachary Fife;
Chief of Staff John Haynes; Finance Director Joshua Hatfield; Human Resources Director Shelli Arnold;
Deputy Controller Cathy Sams; Chaplin Mike Pierson; Chief Clerk Cindy Griffin; Administrative
Assistant Joyce Thornburg; Keefe Commissary Network representatives Eric Sowers and Scott
Conrath; IC Solutions representative Brad Coens; and Beacon Jail Management System representative
Ken Horne.
Mrs. Vaughan called the meeting to order at approximately 11:30 a.m., and Chaplin Mike
Pierson led the meeting with the invocation.
Mrs. Vaughan asked if there were any corrections, additions or omissions to Minute No.
PB 1-20-21, dated January 20, 2021, each member having received a copy.
It was moved by Mr. Namie and seconded by Mr. Sherman that Minute No. PB 1-20-21, 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 i,Jnits for the Maintenance of Inmates
for ianuary 2021
Administrative Fee $11,485.24
Social Security 800.00
Tylenol
Monthly sub -total $12,285.24
Year-to-date grand total $12,285.24
Proeram Fees and Room and Board Income for Ianuary 2021
Billed
Collected
Work Release Inmates
-0-
-0-
Weekend Inmates
-0-
-0-
Monthly sub -total
-0-
-0-
Year-to-date grand total
-0-
-0-
Status of Inmates Confined at the End of lanuary 2021
Male
Female
Total
Full-time Inmates
25
3
28
Work Release Inmates
0
0
0
Weekend Inmates
0
0
0
Male
Female
Total
Inmates Awaiting Trial and/or Sentencing
177
38
215
Total Inmates
202
41
243
Male
Female
Total
Examinations Performed by the Physician
18
11
29
New Commitments
4
Repeat Patients
25
Dental Extractions
3
Medical Transports Performed by the Sheriff
30
Contracted Housing Fee/Month
$0.00
Year-to-date grand total
$0.00
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MINUTE BOOK
PRISON BOARD
IMR LIMITED E1316649LD
WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLANIA
Warden Fewell opened with the introduction and presentation of January's WCCF Employee of
the Month certificate to Zachary Fife. Mrs. Vaughan congratulated Officer Fife and thanked him for his
service.
Warden Fewell stated that there were two juveniles,17 years of age, in custody in the adult
facility. Prison Rate Elimination Act (PREA) chooses the dynamics of how juveniles are treated in
custody. PREA makes it a violation of federally regulated requirements to house site, sound and
location of anybody under 18 years of age. To become PREA compliant, which is a federal
requirement, the WCCF must adhere to 100 standards, which are PREA standards. For the facility to
do be compliant, juveniles would not be housed here. Other jails have farmed out the juveniles, and
this comes at a great cost, possibly from about $200 to $500 per juvenile, per day. Warden Fewell
stated that he needs to provide the Board with more information on this and has been doing research.
He stated that he is contacting other counties and is talking with Allegheny County with regard to its
juvenile facility, but if WCCF seeks full PREA compliance and certification, the juvenile issue needs to
be addressed.
Warden Fewell moved on to the jail statistics pointing out the average daily population is at
approximately 247 and by February had declined by 10. He stated that the population is still
historically low as we pull into the winter months.
Warden Fewell introduced Ken Horne of Beacon Jail Management System for the presentation
of a proposal for a new jail management system. The financial proposal is with purchasing and will be
presented to the Board at a later date. The presentation highlighted the following areas:
• The new jail management system would be a zero cost to taxpayers or the agency. This cost
would be paid for from inmate telephone funds. Typically when a contract is signed, the
phone vendor would be billed directly. The turn -around time is within 60 to 90 calendar days,
once jail data of the current system is received.
• There will be no extra charges for implementing jail interfaces. Jails need to send data to the
phone vendor, commissary vendor, VINE, and, sometimes, live scan. This system will
interface to share data with any vendor that the facility requests. Even if at a later date the
Warden wants to, for example, implement the use of tablets, Beacon will work out the details
with the third party vendor to implement the interface. Most of the common interfaces have
been built, and VINE is already deployed in every jail with which Beacon does business.
According to the size of the facility, Beacon would provide implementation and conduct on -
site training for a minimum of 14 days. Specifically, the data would be converted from the old
system and Beacon would set up a jail management training system and then come on -site to
train personnel using the WCCF's own data.
• The contract also includes a minimum of one on -site visit per support year to train on any
updates, etc. With regard to reports, there are over 350 standardized reports in the JMS, and
JMS can provide customized reports as well. JMS has the ability to email specific daily reports
such as, day to day bookings, releases, headcount, etc. JMS would work with the County IT
department to email reports out from the server automatically.
• The user can view facility -wide information from a single screen, allowing personnel to make
accurate data -driven decisions. Personnel can view inmate charges, demographics, alerts,
race, sex, etc., sort the data, and extract the desired information as needed. When viewing the
inmate record, users will see the inmate header that displays information including the
inmate's photograph, booking date, and other information to assist in day-to-day operations.
The system will notify users of inmate housing and scheduled event conflicts such as keep a -
ways or double bookings. Users can also see specific historical inmate data while viewing an
active booking.
• Users can classify inmates using an agency defined points -based classification and
reclassification process. Questions can be adjusted with up to 10 answers with points
assessed behind those questions, and the system will calculate the inmate classification
automatically. This classification can be used to restrict housing locations if needed.
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MINUTE BOOK
PRISON BOARD WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLANIA
IMR LIMITED E131M49LD
• Regarding implementation, current existing legacy data would be converted prior to training,
and special reports can be generated. A two to three day pre -site survey would be conducted
for information gathering. Additionally, there would be two web inquiries. One specifically
designed to tailor data that should be available to the public which could reduce phone calls to
the facility. The other web inquiry is specifically for law enforcement to see. The law
enforcement officer (LEO) inquiry would show additional inmate information, i.e., visitor
information, photos, bookings, releases, and next -of -kin information. To explain further, if the
local police department is not on the JMS system, there is the capability for the local police
officers to have the ability to access the data, even from their cars, without having to call the
booking officer.
Mr. Namie inquired as to whether this system would replace the current Keefe accounting and
record -keeping system. He stated that, if so, the Controller's office should be involved. He stated that
the last time the accounting system was replaced, the conversion was not accurate and that it took
some time to correct. Warden Fewell stated that JMS would work with Keefe and that JMS would only
affect UCM. Brad Coens of IC Solutions added that neighboring counties such as Jefferson, Armstrong,
Columbia and Northumberland are using the proposed system. President Judge DiSalle asked if JMS
could be interfaced with the criminal case management systems like CPCMS and UJS. Ken Horne
stated that any data that needs to be sent or received could be set up once the specifications are
defined and provided. President Judge DiSalle stated that the CPCMS and UJS systems are
Pennsylvania statewide systems. Mr. Horne remarked that if these systems are similar to JNET that
the interfaces could be replicated. President Judge DiSalle stated that the County uses JNET
occasionally as well.
Warden Fewell recommended to the Board, on behalf of the Washington County Correctional
facility, to approve the bid award for milk to Schneider's Dairy, Inc., Washington, PA. This bid has
been awarded to the most responsible and responsive bidder meeting the specifications and will be
effective through December 31, 2023.
Mr. Sherman stated that he had two local Washington County dairies reach out to him
regarding their interest in submitting a bid proposal. Purchasing Director Randy Vankirk confirmed
to Mr. Sherman that the two dairies had not submitted a bid. Mr. Sherman wanted to discuss further
with Mr. Vankirk, and Mrs. Vaughan explained that Mr. Sherman could make a motion to approve the
Warden's Report with the exception of approving the milk proposal. Tabling the approval of the milk
proposal until further discussion would mean that Purchasing would need to reject the bid and
Solicitor Grimm would need to be involved in the discussion.
Warden Fewell recommended to the Board, on behalf of the Washington County Correctional
facility, to approve an addendum to the agreement with Keefe Supply Company, Strongsville, OH for
the Inmate Banking Software & Commissary Services as stated below:
Keefe Commissary Network, LLC would hire an on -location commissary representative
instead of using correctional staff as we are now. This individual would manage the day-to-day
commissary duties such as processing, distribution of orders, and discrepancies for a total of 25 hours
per week in exchange for a commissary commission reduction. If this is agreed upon, Keefe would
waive their annual pricing adjustments during the 2021 calendar year. Overall the proposal consists
of an on -site Keefe representative (25 hours per week), a commissary commission reduction from
40% to 34.25%, a commissary renewal, and a grant extension to forgo any pricing adjustments in
2021.
Warden Fewell reported that the camera upgrade was underway and that the roof project will
begin in May 2021.
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MINUTE BOOK
PRISON BOARD WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLANIA
[MR LIMITED E1316649LD
It was moved by President Judge DiSalle and seconded by Mr. Sherman, approving the
Warden's Report with no exceptions. The motion was carried unanimously with the Board signifying
their approval by stating "Aye".
OLD BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
None.
Mrs. Vaughan called an executive session at 11:59 a.m. to discuss personnel and potential
litigation.
Mrs. Vaughan reconvened the meeting at approximately 12:12 p.m.
Warden Fewell presented the list of new hires for the Board's approval:
NEW HIRES
Dimitri Abbot
Jules Bioni
Ronda Dupain
Anthony Ellis
John Evans
Garland Fuqua
Edward Gray
Jacob Potts
Paul Schmidt
Ryan Sikora
Erin Spangler
Matt Tobolski
Pierce Wissler
ALTERNATES
Andrew Campbell John Kibbe Ryan Ruffa
Joshua Peake James Miller
It was moved by Mr. Sherman and seconded by Mr. Namie, approving the new hires. The
motion was carried unanimously with the Board signifying their approval by stating "Aye".
Mr. Fewell was instructed by Mrs. Vaughan that, in the future, the new hires should be
included in the Warden's report.
There being no further business, Mrs. Vaughan declared the meeting adjourned at
approximately 12:13 p.m.
THE FOREGOING MINUTES SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL:
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