By Patty Yauger
Herald-Standard
UNIONTOWN, Pa. — A request by the Fayette County Prison chaplain to have the county pay his liability insurance may require officials to allow others to apply for the job.
For several months, the Rev. Terry Sanders has asked the county prison board to consider an increase in his $350 monthly stipend to ease his costly responsibility to pay for the commercial liability insurance that is required to work with inmates at the lockup.
During the prison board meeting Wednesday, Sanders again petitioned the members for a resolution to the issue, but was advised that any change in the contract would require the commissioners to advertise for new proposals.
“We can’t arbitrarily increase your amount,” said Commissioner Angela M. Zimmerlink, a member of the prison board. “There was nothing said that we would look at this contract on a yearly basis.”
Acknowledging that the $150 monthly cost for the insurance was exorbitant, Commissioner Vincent Zapotosky said that the elected officials also could not consider adding Sanders to the county policy without re-advertising the position.
Last month Sanders was asked to seek other quotes for the insurance but found only one company to offer a bid and it was more costly.
“I’m a believer that we should be providing the insurance,” said Zapotosky. "(To do so at this time) would be disrupting the process.”
In addition to Zimmerlink and Zapotosky, other prison board members include Sheriff Gary Brownfield, District Attorney Jack Heneks, Controller Sean Lally and Commission Chairman Al Ambrosini.
Deputy Controller Jeanine Wrona attended the meeting in Lally’s absence. Ambrosini was also absent from the meeting.
Sanders, meanwhile, said that despite several months of discussion about the matter, it has yet to be resolved.
“I feel I am being punished for providing a quality service for this county,” he said. “If you were in my position, you, too, would ask to expedite this process.”
While the board took no action in the matter, Zimmerlink indicated that it would likely be an issue addressed by commissioners at its March meeting.
Zapotosky, meanwhile, asked if Sanders intended to continue his duties.
“I don’t do this for myself,” Sanders said. “I do this for the people I serve. I will continue for now.”
In other personnel matters, the board agreed to hire two current prison employees and a former state corrections officer for three lieutenant positions at the prison.
In unanimous action, Joseph Barnes, a 7-year full-time employee at the prison with two years of experience as shift commander, and Josh Smith, a 6-year full-time employee, with similar experience in the supervisory capacity, was hired at an hourly salary of $21.73.
John Lenkey, who retired after serving a total of 11 years as a corrections officer at the State Correctional Institution at Fayette and the State Correctional Institution at Greene, was also hired with Zimmerlink abstaining from the voting process.
His hourly salary was listed at $21.10.
The three will begin their duties April 8.
In an unrelated matter, PrimeCare director Ron Dellarose advised the prison board that an after-hours call list will aid police and prison personnel in determining if the prison can incarcerate those with real or perceived injuries or illness.
PrimeCare is the county’s healthcare provider and has staff at the prison from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Last month and again Wednesday, Uniontown Police Chief Jason Cox asked that policies and procedures be eased to enable those in police custody that are expressing a need for medical attention for minor injuries can be imprisoned and monitored during the overnight hours and on weekends.
“We need some wiggle room,” he said, adding that those with severe injury or illness are routinely taken to the hospital for treatment.
Cox said that while infrequent, over the past two months, three incidents have occurred that have required on-duty officers to stay with prisoners instead of performing their duties.
Tammy Lambie, county deputy court administrator, said that court officers would like to review the policies and procedures to address the matter.
In other matters, the board also learned that 206 males and 36 females are currently at the prison while 35 males and 9 females are incarcerated at the Greene County Prison due to overcrowding at the Fayette County lockup.
Copyright 2013 Herald-Standard (Uniontown PA)
Distributed by Newsbank, Inc. All Rights Reserved