Prison board to consider staffing analysis
The Fayette County Prison Board will consider having the U.S. Department of Justice conduct a staffing study to determine the appropriate number of correction officers needed at the lockup.
While the board — Sheriff James Custer, District Attorney Rich Bower, Commissioners Vincent Vicites, Dave Lohr and Angela M. Zimmerlink and county Controller Scott Abraham — did not direct Warden Brian Miller on Wednesday to contact the federal agency, the officials appear ready to do so if the board will not be mandated to follow any of its recommendations.
The staffing issue was broached after Kevin Locke, local union vice president, advised the board that part-time correction officers were not being mandated to work overtime while full-time officers were repeatedly being called upon to work a second shift — a breach of the current contract.
Locke said six part-time workers are now available to fill slots, but are being restricted in the amount of time they can work.
“We have more senior officers being mandated (to work an additional shift),” he said. “With all due respect to the (part-time workers), they have six months under their belt and walking right out of the prison (after one shift).”
Locke said that the contract allows for the least senior officers — including both full time and part time — to be required to work a second shift, when necessary.
“It is creating a very stressful work environment for us,” said Locke. “(After a shift) we’re tired and stressed.
“The inmates know we are being mandated and that’s when they strike. They see the weakness and act upon it.
“We’re asking the board to hire more part-time workers.”
Vicites said that the commissioners are aware of the situation and are working to resolve the matter.
“We are actively working on this with our legal human resource people,” he said. “We are focused on this. We have a game plan to hopefully alleviate this problem.”
Locke responded that while commissioners seek a resolution to the staff shortage, the contract terms continues to be violated.
“It happened (Tuesday) night,” said Locke. “It’s going to happen tonight and tomorrow.
“Give permission to the warden to mandate the part timers.”
Miller said that after full-time positions are filled, there remains 36 additional slots that are to be filled by part-time workers. Each of the 14 part-time officers are only permitted at the current time to work two days per week, filling 28 of the available 36 slots.
It is anticipated with vacation hours being taken by the full time staff beginning in June, the open slots will be increased to 58, resulting in a severe manpower shortage.
Vicites, meanwhile, said the problems would not exist had the prior administration allocated the funds in the original budget to allow for the hiring of eight full-time workers.
“The (required) $600,000 wasn’t there, requiring (the new administration) to make a decision to go back to doing what was done in the past (utilizing part-time workers),” he said. “This is something that has been done for decades and done on a regular basis.”
Correction Officer Dan Eicher said additional staff is now needed due to a state mandate that requires the prison to offer daily outdoor time for inmates in addition to staff being used to transfer inmates to court hearings or other locations.
“There’s no doubt about it, you are going to be over budget,” he said.
Miller was asked to conduct an overtime cost analysis for board members and provide information related to a justice department analysis before a final decision is made to ask the federal agency for assistance.
In other matters, the board learned that 199 men and 37 women are currently housed at the prison with two men and eight women housed at the Greene County Prison.