Corrections officers' OT is discussed

Overtime for correctional officers was one of the expenditures discussed for the Schuylkill County prison board's final quarterly meeting for 2009 held in the county prison in Pottsville on Wednesday.

Warden Eugene Berdarnier's report for the month of November showed expenditures totalled $340,537.90.

Monthly salaries for correctional officers totalled $204,563.35 and overtime last month came to $28,792.82 as three officers and the captain of inmate records were on extended medical leave and two officers on restricted duty.

The inmate population as of this day was 307, including 264 males and 41 females. Warden Berdanier updated the members on the status of the physical plant and of maintenance work involved.

Prime Care Medical Inc., Harrisburg, which provides health care to the inmates, showed responses during November were made to 82 sick calls. There were also 181 inmates seen by psychiatrists and 17 inmates were on suicide watch but no incidents occurred.

Probation Officer Joseph Huth, who is the work release coordinator, reported 33 beds were filled by inmates with employment,10 participated in the Vocational Rehabilitation Program, and nine females participated in the work release program.

The Vocational Rehabilitation Program completed 17 working days for the month. Two days were spent providing service to 75 senior citizens as referred by the Office of Senior Service Agency and 14 in community jobs. Collected was $7,056 for their room and board and $2,222 towards their court costs and fines.

The board meets once a month with four meetings held at the prison and the remainder at the courthouse. Members of the prison board are President Judge William E. Baldwin, Sheriff Joseph Groody, District Attorney James P. Goodman, Commissioners Mantura Gallagher, Francis McAndrew and Frank Staudenmeier and Controller Melinda Kantner.