May 27, 2004 By Amy Karpinsky 3 min read

The Fayette County Prison Board voted unanimously Wednesday to strictly adhere to a provision in the policy and procedure manual that only allows prison employees one year of medical leave of absence. In approving the motion, County Commissioner Joe Hardy was adamant that there should be “no exception.” Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites voted yes, and then pointed out that there is already a policy in place adopted by the prison board in 1990.

The discussion began when county human resource director Dave Rodgers reported that since last month, he received a letter from a medical professional regarding the status of Anthony Dragone, who previously exhausted his two six-month leaves of absence.

Rodgers said the letter stated that Dragone will need to be off for another four months, or until Sept. 15, before he will reach the maximum medical treatment benefit.

The letter further stated that if Dragone isn’t prepared to return to work in four months, the doctor will advise him to seek alternative work. Because Dragone will be out significantly beyond the one year, he will not return to his position at the prison.

Warden Larry Medlock said another officer’s one-year leave of absence will expire on June 1. In the union contract for the prison employees, employees are permitted 12 weeks’ leave and anything beyond that is at the discretion of the prison board.

Rodgers suggested that in addition to taking a stand on the length of absence, he asked that the prison board also decide if medical benefits will be provided during the length of the absence. The prison board took no action on that request.

Rodgers said the union contract is vague regarding if medical benefits are to be paid during the leave of absence. In Dragone’s case, Rodgers said the benefits were cut off and later re-established.

County Commissioner Angela M. Zimmerlink made the motion to adhere to the policy, with Hardy, Vicites, Sheriff Gary Brownfield, Judge John F. Wagner and Controller Mark Roberts all voting in favor of it.

In other personnel action, the board accepted the resignation of full-time corrections officer Justin Hammond, effective June 5.

Medlock said Hammond was leaving to take another position elsewhere. Medlock reported that he is seeking to determine the status of an employee who has been on military leave for a year, and may not be returning to the prison.

The board also voted to hire six part-time officers at a starting salary of $11.14 per hour. The six are William Ritz, Jessica Goode, Lee Zawacki, Carl Litman, Robert Kelly and Jessica Dahlgren. Medlock said with the six additional part-time officers, there are now 15 part-time officers employed at the prison.

Medlock reported that the population at the prison continues to remain low.

Medlock said as of Wednesday morning, there were 229 total inmates at the prison, including 206 males and 23 females, and there were no prisoners being housed outside the county.

He said the population was down 4.8 percent for the first five months of the 2004 compared with the first four months of 2003. Medlock added that there was a slight decrease in the past month of .4 percent, or one inmate.