News

May 29, 2009

County prison now seeks bids for goods

Action aims to end debate over sole provider controversy.

By Jennifer Learn-Andes jandes@timesleader.com
Luzerne County Reporter
Jennifer Learn-Andes on Facebook   |   @TLJenLearnAndes on Twitter

Luzerne County Prison commissary goods are now being purchased through public bids, ending a controversy over no-bid purchases.

The debate over bidding started in December 2007, when county officials discovered that FR Wholesale, a company with ties to a county official, had sold more than $300,000 in candy bars and snacks to the commissary without bidding.

FR Wholesale owner Frank Rodano is a close friend of county Commissioner Greg Skrepenak and his family.

The company did not respond to the county’s recent request for bids.

The prison board voted Thursday to award the purchase of commissary items to the following companies: All State Distributors, Middletown, N.Y., 35 items; Keyco Distributors, Nanticoke, 31 items; Keefe Group/Spencer Group, Edison, N.J., 32 items; Edgar G. Scott Inc., Shickshinny, one item; Tastykake, Tom Wasley, Larksville, four items; Bob Barker Co., Fuquay Varina, N.C., 11 items; Herr Foods Inc., Pittston, four items; Pittston Candy Co., Pittston, two items; and Rex Vending, Hazleton, two items.

Inmates typically buy anywhere from $580,000 to $1 million in goods from the commissary per year, ranging from cupcakes and Slim Jims to toiletries, prison staffers say.

Profits are used to buy inmate services and supplies that would otherwise be funded by taxpayers.

County Purchasing Director Greg Hunsinger said some prices were reduced through the bidding.

The savings won’t necessarily be passed on to inmates. Prison staffers say the law requires the mark-up to be “reasonable.” The prison may opt to keep the same prices and collect a higher profit.

Most commissary items are currently marked up 25 percent, prison workers say.

In other business Thursday, prison officials said they are still exploring the possible creation of a “day reporting center.”

Such centers, operated by outside companies, allow low-level offenders to avoid prison by participating in a structured program that includes regular check-ins and work.

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