By Paul Peirce Brad Bumsted and Richard Gazarik
TribLive
PA — Local elected officials, still stunned by the announcement that state prisons in Greensburg and Cambria County will close, say they will hold a joint legislative hearing and summon Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel and others to explain the move.
On Wednesday, Wetzel formally announced what had leaked out the day before: The two older state prisons will close as a new prison in Benner Township, Centre County, opens. He said the closure will save $23 million in the 2013-14 state budget and up to $35 million a year in the long term.
More than 800 state employees are affected by the move, which the agency expects to complete by June 30, said Wetzel, who admitted it was an “error” not to inform staff at the facilities at the same time legislators were told late Tuesday afternoon.
It caused “a little excitement at the facilities,” he said.
Wetzel cautioned, “It‘s not 800 employees getting laid off.”
Full story: Lawmakers want hearing on prison closing; state touts savings