SUNBURY - Both operations commanders at Northumberland County Prison have been suspended without pay by the county commissioners and prison board members, but not for any alleged misconduct.
Prison warden Roy Johnson confirmed Tuesday that Brian Wheary and Dennis Hendricks, operations commanders at the prison, were suspended as a way to reduce staffing. He said there was no indication of misconduct involved in the suspensions. Wheary's suspension took effect Monday, while Hendricks' suspension became effective Tuesday.
Johnson, who said he didn't know any other details involving the suspensions, directed further inquiries to the county commissioners, who he said made the decision to suspend Wheary and Hendricks.
The two operations commanders are second in command at the prison under Johnson.
Too many levels
Wheary has worked at the prison since Dec. 20, 2004. His salary is $36,030. He was named operations commander/intelligence officer I on March 1, 2010. Hendricks began working at the prison Sept. 19, 1988. He earns a salary of $40,575 and was promoted to operations commander/intelligence officer II on Oct. 20, 2009.
Commissioner Stephen Bridy, who serves as prison board chairman, said Wheary and Hendricks were suspended without pay - or placed on administrative leave - because there are too many levels of management at the prison. He said the county will save more than $102,000 in salaries and benefits if the two non-union positions are eliminated.
According to Bridy, the suspensions were approved by himself, fellow commissioners Rick Shoch and Vinny Clausi, Controller Tony Phillips and Sheriff Chad Reiner. President Judge Robert B. Sacavage and District Attorney Tony Rosini, who also serve on the prison board, did not approve the suspensions and were very disturbed about not being consulted about the decision that could have detrimental effects on staffing at the prison.
In confirming the suspensions or administrative leaves, Bridy stated, "We wanted to move in a different direction with management. Both the operations commanders are good employees. It was a heart-breaking decision, but saving money for the county was the driving force behind this. We have to look out for the taxpayers."
Clausi added, "We must do what's best for the taxpayers."
When asked why a decision on the suspensions couldn't wait until this morning's prison board meeting, Bridy said, "There was some human resources issues that contributed to us making the decision right away instead of waiting until the meeting. We felt now was the best time to act."
Phillips, who referred to the suspensions or administrative leaves as cost-cutting measures, said the prison board is scheduled to vote today on the suspensions and how long they will last.
Rosini not aware
When contacted Tuesday afternoon, Rosini said, "I am not aware of the suspensions. If they were suspended, it was done so without any authority from the prison board. No one consulted me that this was being done. I think the decision to suspend two operations commanders was inappropriate without the entire prison board being informed. I am seriously concerned that we won't meet the required state staffing levels by cutting two employees. A thorough review should have been done on this issue because it could jeopardize safety at the prison."
Sacavage 'aghast'
On Tuesday, Sacavage said, "I found out two operations commanders were being suspended without pay at about 1 p.m. today from a member of the media. I am aghast that I didn't know in advance about these suspensions. I don't know why they were suspended. It's news to me."
Sacavage said he received a telephone call from Bridy on Monday afternoon to discuss the management structure or chain of command at the prison, but was never told about the suspensions.
"My suggestion to Mr. Bridy was to send a memo out to the prison board and bring it up at the next meeting," the judge said. "I didn't participate in any meetings nor was I invited to any meetings to discuss any suspensions at the prison."
The prison, which operates with a $3.9 million budget, has a total of 70 full-time and part-time employees, including Johnson, Wheary, Hendricks, four lieutenants, four sergeants, correctional officers and clerks.
The current prison population is 220.
Johnson, who noted all management employees are non-union, said there are normally five or six managers, including the warden and operations commanders, who oversee nine correctional officers on first shift. Usually, a lieutenant and one sergeant are in charge of nine correctional officers on second shift and six correctional officers on third shift.
The warden said a union contract calls for adding one correctional officer to each of the shifts if the prison population exceeds 190 inmates.