By Mark Gilger
The News-Item
SUNBURY — For the first time since January, the Northumberland County Prison Board has a chairman.
Reluctantly, Commissioner Stephen Bridy accepted the chairmanship Wednesday after other members declined to be nominated for the post, which has been vacant since the board’s reorganization meeting.
Sheriff Robert Wolfe was appointed vice chairman.
Controller Chris Grayson, who serves as board secretary and conducted the meeting in the absence, initially, of a chairman and vice chairman, asked if anyone was interested in becoming chairman. When nobody responded, Commissioner Chairman Vinny Clausi stated, “Somebody has to serve as chairman. I can’t because of the commitments I have as chairman of the commissioners.”
Grayson declined, citing his work commitments.
Bridy, who was chairman prior to the reorganization meeting, then accepted the position after being nominated by Clausi and Grayson. “I’m willing to take it, but it’s something I’m not excited about,” he said.
Bridy was approved by Clausi, Grayson, Wolfe and District Attorney Ann Targonski. Commissioner Richard Shoch cast the lone negative vote.
After the meeting, Shoch said he opposed Bridy’s appointment because he doesn’t believe he should be in charge of anything in the county. Shoch was critical of the way last month’s firing of Warden Roy Johnson occurred and blamed Bridy for “running to the press with inflammatory statements that subjected the county to a potential lawsuit.”
Shoch added, “I think he (Bridy) is an embarrassment to the whole county and is very unprofessional toward third parties from outside the county that we do business with.”
Bridy took offense to Shoch’s response.
“For a man who has no business experience or cost-saving ideas, and votes for virtually every raise that forces us to increase taxes, I think his comment was said while looking in a mirror.”
Shoch was vice chairman of the prison board and had served as acting chairman since January before resigning last month, right after the board fired Johnson on a 4-2 vote, with Shoch and Grayson opposed.
President Judge William H. Wiest was appointed chairman at the reorganization meeting, but declined the position and decided not to serve on the board because he believes it would pose a conflict of interest. The judge’s vacancy has not been filled.
Wolfe was nominated for vice chairman by Clausi and Targonski. His appointment was unanimous.
The sheriff also accepted the post with reluctancy.
“We must move on as a board and stop arguing over the chairmanship,” he said after the meeting. “I was a man about it and accepted the nomination. I am very busy with my duties as sheriff and I respect Mr. Shoch’s reason for not taking the position. But I just think we have to go forward, especially now since we are seeking a permanent warden.”
At the beginning of the meeting, Mustafa M. Abuomar, of Mount Carmel, addressed the board about various concerns.
Abuomar, a former imam at the State Correctional Institution-Coal Township, said the prison has encountered serious problems for 25 years and blamed the board for not adhering to ethical and academic criteria when hiring a warden.
He said a warden should possess a bachelor’s or master’s degree and have experience and training in security, treatment programs, human resources and financial management.
Abuomar particularly cited problems with the hiring of the past two wardens. Brian Wheary, operations commander at the prison, currently serves as acting warden.
Abuomar also informed the board of alleged threats made against him. Bridy and Clausi told him he should report any threats to police.
Clausi told Abuomar he had no facts to support his allegations of wrongdoing at the prison.
At a July meeting, Abuomar, who has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against his former employer, accused the county prison of failing its Muslim inmates by incorrectly serving food during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which ended July 28. Meals had not been served in accordance with religious tenets for fasting from dawn to sunset, he said.
On Wednesday, Abuomar told prison board members he didn’t mean to offend anyone with his previous remarks.
The board met for about an hour in executive session to discuss its food service contract with Aramark Correctional Services and potential litigation.