Maria White of PA One Call (second from left) holds a proclamation citing April as Safe Digging Month in Susquehanna County signed by county commissioners (from left) Bob McNamara, Alan Hall, and Dave Darrow.
Story and Photo by Rick Hiduk
(originally published in the Rocket-Courier)
The official meeting of the Susquehanna County Commissioners on March 26 was compressed and swift due to the fact that meetings of the Salary Board, Retirement Board, and Board of Elections were scheduled subsequently. There were also a spate of proclamations that generally lead to some discussion by representatives of the agencies being recognized but, in the interest in saving time, most chose to simply thank the commissioners for their support.
With no public comment or questions presented, the only new references to the closure of the Susquehanna County Correctional Facility in Montrose had to do with the official termination of most of the remaining prison workers and the transfer of others into positions related to administration of inmates that will be housed elsewhere. Additionally, there were several contracts approved that were associated with the closure and the ongoing responsibility of the county to coordinate inmate affairs.
Commissioner Alan Hall did, however, offer comments about the closure prior to the start of a meeting on March 21 of the Susquehanna County Farm Bureau and elected officials that preceded Susquehanna County Ag Day. At that time, he explained that the prison constructed in the 1980s was in serious need of costly repairs or possible replacement at an estimated $50-$60 million. The facility was built to handle as many as 130 inmates, but jail population had dropped off in recent years to 40 or less at any given time. Staffing of the prison had also receded from a peak of about 40 employees to 27.
Hall estimated that the jail was costing tax payers about $4.5 million per year, though the official budget lists total prison costs at $3.9 million. The closure, he maintained will save the county approximately $3 million in the first full year and upwards of $90 million over a ten-year period.
According to the agenda for the March 26 meeting, the decisions were made during an executive session held by the commissioners on March 13. The motion “to ratify and approve the closure of the Susquehanna County Correctional Facility, effective March 28” was a single line item on an otherwise ambitious agenda. Additionally, the commissioners agreed to join the Prison Inmate Medical Cost Containment Program through CCAP (County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania) “for the review, repricing, and management of inmate medical costs.”
Officially terminated as of March 12 and March 18, respectively, were full-time corrections officer Darcia Mason and part-time corrections officer Madison Kenny, as per the agenda. All other COs, sergeants, cooks and administrators were summarily laid off “with approved severance pay, effective April 23” in a single motion.
Transfers were approved for Jocelyn Maskaly from part-time to full-time CO and Sherri St. Clair from full-time CO to full-time sergeant, both effective March 6. Changes taking place on March 31 were the transfer of John Karakash from full-time deputy warden to full-time inmate management coordinator, Christine Harder from full-time secretary to full-time jail accounts manager, and Levi Schmidt from full-time training lieutenant to full-time deputy inmate management coordinator. The latter three transfers were recognized again during the Salary Board Meeting with approval of the creation of the same positions.
Though no one spoke up during the meeting, Susquehanna County auditor Rick Aimey expressed concerns outside the meeting that the details of the contracts were not discussed and that his office will be receiving bills without explanations. “I shouldn’t have to go looking for them,” Aimey stated.
Hall indicated that Susquehanna is the seventh county in recent years to close its prison. “The issue is that they are not putting people in jail,” Hall said after the commissioners meeting. Citing bail reform and other institutional changes that effect sentencing, the average stay at the county level is about 16 days. “Rarely do we get the big criminals,” he continued, noting that most inmates housed at the county level have been convicted of DUIs and drug charges. Drug and alcohol and mental health services will be more readily available elsewhere, he added.
As for the prison employees who were retained, the transfers reflect the fact that Susquehanna County is still in charge of inmates convicted in its courts. In their new positions, the aforementioned will be handling case management, transfers, commissary accounts, and inmate placement upon release from prison. Deals have been finalized with Wayne County to house prisoners there at $118 per day and Wyoming County at $80 per day. Though not yet signed, an agreement with Lackawanna County is anticipated at a cost of $85 per inmate per day. “We may look at Bradford County at a later date,” Hall suggested.
Wyoming County Commissioners confirmed the agreement at their March 25 public meeting and noted that a number of officers from Susquehanna County had already applied to work at the prison in Tunkhannock, which has suffered from understaffing for a number of years.
With representatives from PA One Call, Children and Youth Services, Women’s Resource Center, and Susquehanna County Housing & Redevelopment Authority on hand, resolutions proclaiming April April as Safe Digging Month, Child Abuse Prevention Month, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and Fair Housing Awareness Month were passed in short order. April 6 to 12 was proclaimed Crime Victim’s Week in Susquehanna County on behalf of the District Attorney’s office.
(SusqCo Safe Digging Week)
Photo by Rick Hiduk