Minutes of the Monthly Meeting of the Lancaster County Prison Board May 16, 2024 The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Joshua Parsons at 9:15 a.m. in the Public Meeting Room at the Lancaster County Administrative Office Building. Members Present: Commissioner Joshua Parsons, Commissioner Ray D'Agostino, Commissioner Alice Yoder, Judge DavidAshworth, Sheriff Chris Leppler, FirstAssistant District Attorney Travis Anderson and Controller Lisa Others Present: Wayne Freeh, Cheryl Steberger, Miguel Castro, Joseph Shiffer, Arla Brown, Bob Devonshire, Castro, Chirichello, Beth Bowman, Kim Wolfe, Jason Boyd, Matthew Thompson, Kerry Miller, Bradley Whittaker, Justin Hackler, Jonathan Collins, Carrie Kurtz, Judy Erb, Dennis Dougherty, Kathy Kunkel, Tim Burke, Jenna Meglizzi, Karlee Shambaugh, Neil Ward, Kent Kroehler, William Carter, Jen Nissley, Jen Luciano, Mark Note: there were others present who did not sign in and whose identity is Colôn. Wilson and Hannah Cody unknown. Commissioner D'Agostino moved to approve the minutes of the March 21, 2024 Prison Board meeting. Commissioner Yoder seconded. The motion carried unanimously. Cheryl Steberger, Warden; Miguel Castro, Deputy Warden of Operations; Joseph Shiffer, Deputy Warden for Inmate Services; Arla Brown, Director of Administration; Robert Devonshire, Director of General Services; and Controller Lisa Colôn gave reports on their areas of responsibility. All these reports, including operations and statistical information, Warden Steberger gave her report on the population. In April 2023, 737 was the average population and in April 2024, the average population was 736. This morning the total is 717. The' Warden noted that the Title 37 permit allows for amax population of 1,085. Warden Steberger reported on CIT (Crisis Intervention Training), starting back up. Katlyn Wildburger from Probation and Parole, Sgt Kreider, and Officer Brian Weaver are assisting with the weeklong program, at the County Public Training Center. The Warden has requested that the entire staff go through the program. Currently 113 staff members have completed the training. The next CIT class will be held in September. Warden Steberger talked about Corrections Week and the numerous activities. She thanked the Commissioners for coming out to kick off the week. Warden Steberger presented the 2024 Lock and Key award to Jonathan Collins, Prison Work Release are posted on the County's website. Prison Board Meeting Minutes May 16"h, 2024 Page2 project manager. The Lock and Key, awarded annually by prison administrators, is the prison's highest honor and recognizes an employee who goes above and beyond their job to help the facility and fellow staff. Nominations come from prison staff and staff members vote on the winner. Mr. Collins expressed his gratitude in accepting the award. Inr response to Commissioner Yoder's question about how staff is selected for CIT, Warden Steberger stated that all staff will go through training and Sgt. Megan Kreider helps schedule staff members through the program. They typically divide classes into Deputy Warden Miguel Castro, reported on Officers of the Month per shift. 1st shift Officer is Zachary Freet with approximately 9 months of service, 2nd shift Officer is Zachary Price with approximately 14 months of service and 3rd shift Officer is Brady Lefever with just under 7 months of service. The Deputy Warden noted that all three showed exemplary Deputy Warden Castro reported 3 staff promotions and invited Sgt. Jason Boyd, Sgt. Kerry Miller and Sgt. Matthew Thompson to the podium. All three sergeants expressed gratitude for their promotion. Commissioner Parsons expressed his appreciation to the Deputy Warden Castro stated there are currently 1 Sergeant vacancy, and 2 Lieutenant vacancies. In addition, there are 3 new correctional officers who graduated from the Prison's academy in March. The next academy starts June 10, 2024. As ofApril 30, 2024, Inr response to Commissioner Yoder's question about the number of correctional officer vacancies, HR manager for the Prison, Beth Bowman, said they are actively participating in job fairs and other recruitment activities to decrease the number of vacancies. Commissioner D'Agostino suggested doing a 3-, 6-, and 9-month touch point with all new hires. Ms. Bowman stated that was a good idea in addition tothe' "stay interview" currently Deputy Warden Joseph Shiffer reported on the MAT (Medication Assisted Treatment Program. Reported last month they started out inductions, inApril there are 18 individuals inducted into the MAT program. In May there have been 19 inducted. As of today, there are 83 total participants in the MAT line. 69 participants are Subutex; 14 are Methadone. Int the month of April there were 94 participants for Subutex and 28 participants for Deputy Warden Shiffer reported on the New Beginnings Program. The graduation will be Deputy Warden Shiffer reported that a few weeks ago, the prison staff started drug and alcohol risk assessments. These assessments are to allow the prison to create a plan and give the staff a more comprehensive re-entry program for each inmate. He reported supervisors and subordinates. skills and abilities and went above and beyond the call of duty. Sergeants. there were 32 correctional officer vacancies. conducted at the prison. Methadone. held in May. Two female participants graduated from the program. Prison Board Meeting Minutes May 16"h, 2024 Page 3 on some of the programs that are available to inmates. Deputy Warden Shiffer indicated that the assessments are starting on the female intake block 2-5 and male intake block is G-1. Deputy Warden Shiffer stated that staff will continue assessments with any new intakes that are housed elsewhere in the prison. On Monday the staff started an education group for new inmates to explain what programs are available in the prison and counsel Arla Brown, Administrative Director reported 2 vacancies. She will be holding interviews in a few weeks. The department is attending job fairs to help fill these positions. Robert Devonshire, Director of General Services, gave the April Facilities Management Report. Mr. Devonshire stated that they are working on ther new correctional facility. Work orders in April 2024; 81 work orders, 397 year to date work orders, 99 work orders per month on average and 146 work orders per month for a 5year average. Mr. Devonshire noted that in reviewing work orders, he credited the downward trend to preventative In response to a question from Tom Lisi, LNP, regarding the legionnaires testing, Mr. Devonshire indicated that the prison is testing legionnaires monthly. Eventually the testing will be stretched out to bi-monthly, quarterly, and yearly. Right now, the prison is doing Controller Lisa Colon gave hert financial report. Controller Colon reported on the operating revenues and expenditures for April 2024. Total revenue increased by $522,710.96; Personnel expenses increased by approximately $2M; supplies increased by $199k; Purchased services increased by $477k; and capital expenditures increased by $1,400. This gives a total increase in expenses of $2.7M. For Prison Maintenance category: The increase in supplies is $338.78; increase inj purchased services is $144,804.78; for ai total Warden Steberger reported on the new prison project: CGL and Trans Systems are continuing to evaluate the building with the Commissioners direction of 1,000 beds. The court committee, chaired by. Judge Merrill Spahn, held theiri inaugural meeting last month and will meet monthly to continue to discover new ways to reduce Lancaster county's length of stay to align with national averages. The committee will also review laws at the Warden Steberger added that the prison team spent a day this week with CGL and Trans Systems, with the prison commitment staff. The Warden realizes that the prison will need to give a lot of attention to the commitment area. The team spent a day reviewing the Judge David Ashworth added he asked Judge Spahn to chair the committee to review current and past procedures to see what can be implemented to reduce the prison them on the re-entry process. maintenance. monthly tests and the tests have come back negative. increase of $145,143.56. state level that could impact the jail population. prison and the following day went over needs with staff. Prison Board Meeting Minutes May 16,2024 Page 4 population however possible. This is in conjunction with what the prison and staff are Commissioner Josh Parsons stated these meetings are very important and once a design is presented, the Commissioners and Board will review. He pointed out that taking time Kent Kroehler, Have a Heart, asked about the monthly report being updated with the 3 sectors of the prison population: inmates being held for trial, those held on a parole violation and those that are: sentenced. He stated that information isn'tnormally reported. Mr. Kroehler is requesting that information in a monthly report from Judge Spahn's committee. Judge Ashworth indicated that when the information is available it will be Inr response to a question about any dates or timelines for when the public would see a draft about the new prison construction, Mr. Devonshire indicated that there are no dates. Inr response to Mr. Kroehler's questions, Commissioner Parsons responded about the process of how the draft will be distributed to the public. Commissioner Parsons indicated that the plans will be discussed at the Commissioners' work session and Commissioners' meeting as well as the Prison Board meeting. He is unsure of which will be first but assured that the public will have ample time to discuss and review the plans. When the Judge Ashworth made a public announcement that Mark Wilson, Director of Adult Probation and Parole, will be retiring. He thanked him for his 30 + years of service to the Neil' Ward, West Earl, made a plea to continue the New Beginnings program ini the prison. He talked about the impact of the program that he believesis beneficial fori the prisoners. Mr. Ward stated that the program is scheduled to expire in June 2025. Judge. Ashworth agreed that the program is tremendous. Commissioner Yoder also agreed that this Kent Kroehler stated that he doesn't have all the hard data that he has questions and comments about the General Welfare Fund. From pre-COVID to post-COVID there is a monumental shift in the funds. Mr. Kroehler believes this fund is currently under review. There was a $30k commission kickback for inmates about 6-8 years ago. Mr. Kroehler reads that the January income is $131k. Mr. Kroehler stated that the amount changes the policy for the Fund. He continues to say that he does not have the hard data, but stated that there are some 6 figure expenses to come out of the General Welfare Fund. His understanding is that there are some operational items ini that fund. Mr. Kroehler indicated that the fund is not to be used for operational expenses. He asks if the data he has is correct, and ifiti is, will the review be taking the additional funds into consideration. already doing. to get the design right is more important than rushing. made available. plans are presented at the board meetings the public will be notified. County and stated that he will be missed. program is worth having. Prison Board Meeting Minutes May 16+,2024 Page 5 Commissioner Parsons responded that the data is public information, but he does not know ifiti is correct. Commissioner Parsons stated that the boards are always reviewing policies, but the General Welfare Fund goes ultimately to the welfare of the inmates; no matter the amount of money in the fund the money will goi towards the inmates' welfare. Commissioner Parsons stated that he is unsure of the mandated review for this fund. Controller Colôn said that the 6 figure expense is a PrimeCare medical expense for a catastrophic medical expense. This expense hit between January and March. Controller Colôn stated that this would have been addressed in the last board meeting. Controller Colôn states there has been nothing incorrect or not allowed in the review of the Mr. Kroehler reiterated that the General Welfare Fund, to his understanding, should not Commissioner D'Agostino moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:13 a.m. Judge Ashworth seconded. The motion carried unanimously. The next meeting will be held on June 20, expenses. be used for operational recurring expenses. 2024 at 9:15 a.m. Sincerely, Casobv Lisa Colon Controller