SUNBURY - Two operations commanders, who were suspended earlier this week to reduce management positions at Northumberland County Prison, will not be losing their jobs in all probability. But the same cannot be said for a lieutenant and two sergeants.
At Wednesday's long, confusing and entertaining meeting of the Northumberland County Prison Board, members voted 7-0 to lay off operations commanders/intelligence officers Brian Wheary and Dennis Hendricks, an unidentified lieutenant and two unidentified sergeants, a move that would potentially save the county $237,000.
But the motion regarding the layoffs also grants permission to prison warden Roy Johnson to call back one of the operations commanders, while asking the other
commander to accept a voluntary demotion to lieutenant. After the meeting, Johnson said he plans to do just that, which means if both Wheary and Hendricks are retained, only a lieutenant and two sergeants would be laid off, a move that could save the county approximately $135,000 in salaries and benefits.
The salaries and benefits of the two sergeants being considered for the cuts are $48,415 and $37,809. The salaries and benefits of two of the lieutenants (only one will be cut) are $50,945 and $40,078.
The layoffs were approved by Commissioners Stephen Bridy, Rick Shoch and Vinny Clausi, Controller Tony Phillips, Sheriff Chad Reiner, District Attorney Tony Rosini and President Judge Robert B. Sacavage.
A motion to lay off only the two operations commanders/intelligence officers and another motion to recommend to the salary board to eliminate the intelligence officer positions and reinstitute the position of deputy warden were on the meeting agenda, but never acted on.
'Too many chiefs'
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.
Wheary and Hendricks are second in command at the prison under Johnson.
During a 90-minute executive session before the vote to cut the positions, Wheary and Hendricks talked to the media in the lobby area outside the commissioners' meeting room.
The 37-year-old Wheary, of Shamokin, said he was informed about his suspension at 3 p.m. Monday during a meeting at the county administration center with the three commissioners, chief clerk Gary Steffen and human resources director Joseph Picarelli.
Wheary said he received a letter stating that he was being suspended without pay due to budgetary constraints. "Basically, they told me there were too many chiefs and not enough indians working at the prison," he said.
Although he understands the financial conditions facing the commissioners and prison board and respected their decision to suspend him and Hendricks, Wheary said he was hopeful the prison board would retain the positions. "I think they are cutting too deep," Wheary said. "My main concern is the safety of the staff and inmates at the prison."
He added, "This isn't a job, it's a career for me. I have gone from correctional officer to operations commander. Since becoming operations commander, I've helped save the county money through various ways and I think I've done a good job. Recently, we reached 100 percent efficiency at the prison during a state inspection and I'm proud of that."
Wheary, who recently heard reports from several sources that his position may be cut, said if he wasn't retained, he may consider taking legal action.
'Didn't see this coming'
Hendricks, 41, of Coal Township, said he was informed of his suspension at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday during a meeting at the administration center with the three commissioners, Steffen, Picarelli and Phillips.
He said the reason for the suspension was cost-cutting measures taken by the county.
"I'm disappointed," he said. "I didn't see this coming, but I will stand by their decision."
Hendricks added, "I've been doing my job for 23 years now and staff safety has always been my priority. I don't think this (cutting prison positions) was researched too well. But I don't plan on filing any lawsuits if my job is cut. One of my options is to seek voluntary retirement."
Bridy, who serves as prison board chairman, said Wheary and Hendricks had been suspended without pay Monday and Tuesday, respectively. According to Bridy, the suspensions were approved by himself, Shoch, Clausi, Phillips and Reiner. Sacavage and Rosini 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 Tuesday, 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."
Bridy and Johnson reiterated Wednesday that the suspensions were made to reduce management positions at the prison to save the county money. Both officials said the moves were not prompted by any allegations of misconduct.
During Wednesday's meeting, Bridy, Shoch and Clausi admitted that a mistake was made to suspend Wheary and Hendricks without pay. A motion was later passed by the board on a 4-0-2 vote to correct the mistake and suspend the operations commanders with pay. Sacavage and Rosini abstained.
Johnson said neither Wheary nor Hendricks will lose any pay as a result of the suspensions.
Central booking center
The warden said he plans to discuss the layoffs and callbacks with Wheary and Hendricks today to determine which commander will be retained and which one will be demoted to lieutenant. If one of the two refuse the demotion, they will be laid off.
Johnson said a decision on cutting a lieutenant and two sergeants won't be made until the situations involving Wheary and Hendricks are settled.
When asked by Rosini if he can still efficiently manage the prison without two operations commanders and the loss of other management positions, Johnson said, "Yes, I believe I can."
But the warden told Rosini there would be no way to implement a central booking center at the prison with the loss of the management personnel.
Rosini and other law enforcement officials have endorsed the establishment of a central booking center in the remodeled basement area of the prison.
The district attorney previously said efforts are being made to acquire grants that would pay for the necessary equipment to operate the central booking center.
He said the countywide operation would involve defendants being kept at the prison overnight until they can be arraigned the next day.
The district attorney said the center also would provide fingerprinting and video arraignments that would free up police to handle other calls.
Clausi claimed Wednesday that the booking center would cost approximately $500,000, which would create too much of a financial burden on the taxpayers.
Rosini disagreed with Clausi's cost estimate, but admitted the center wasn't worth pursuing if Johnson felt his staff couldn't provide enough supervision with the loss of management positions.
Sunshine Law
At the beginning of the meeting, Rosini accused the commissioners of violating the Sunshine Law by not holding a public meeting before suspending Wheary and Hendricks.
"You brought these employees in and suspended them without the entire prison board being notified of your intentions," Rosini said. "You violated the open meetings law and created a public safety issue. You discussed this action with certain members of the prison board without a proper meeting. This was an illegal action. Why couldn't you wait two days until today's meeting?"
Rosini said he was disappointed in Bridy for allegedly instigating the action to suspend the operations commanders, but also expected more of Shoch, who is an attorney in Sunbury.
The three commissioners defended themselves and denied violating the Sunshine Law.
Clausi said Rosini, who recently had an assistant district attorney cut from his staff by the county salary board, had a "vendetta" against the commissioners. "I have a right to discuss anything with anyone," Clausi said. "I consulted over the phone with Mr. Bridy about this issue. He told me we would save more than $100,000 by making these cuts, and I was on board with it."
Bridy and Shoch said they believe there are too many management positions at the prison that need to be cut.
Shoch said the issue was discussed with the county solicitor before a majority of the prison board approved the suspensions.
Johnson said he wasn't thrilled by the prison board's action to reduce management positions, but understands the poor financial situation in the county and is willing to do his best to continue an efficient operation.
More lawsuits
Dave Sprout, a paralegal for the Lewisburg Prison Project, a nonprofit organization that oversees prison conditions, said eliminating management positions could have a detrimental effect on the prison and lead to more lawsuits against the county.
Sprout's comment infuriated Clausi, who stated, "You have no right to tell us how to run our prison. You got $1.3 million from us in that lawsuit you filed against the county to improve conditions at the prison."
Sprout said the money paid by the county in its settlement was for attorney fees and didn't go to the Lewisburg Prison Project. Clausi said the county paid approximately $1 million to defend the suit before settling it.
In other business
The prison board approved a recommendation by Clausi to install a fingerprint time clock at the prison within the next 60 days. Clausi said the county already has the clock, which is valued at $400.
The board authorized the advertisement of an open door policy with employees and the prison board, and agreed to require all employees and visitors, regardless of position, to sign in and out of the prison. Employees will be required to sign in and out at the command center, while visitors must register at the front gate.
Prison board members also approved a new policy that all confiscated contraband, including tobacco, be reported, logged and itemized at the time of confiscation. The warden will be responsible for conducting a weekly audit of the contraband, which will be destroyed on a quarterly basis.