Luzerne County Government

January 26, 2010

Two prison workers to be laid off

Deputy Warden Hyder among those cut. Vote on warden’s third suggested cut tabled.

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

Luzerne County Deputy Warden Sam Hyder and restitution coordinator Stephen Solovey will be laid off on Friday, the county Prison Board decided Monday.

The board tabled a vote to furlough a third prison employee, treatment coordinator Jennifer Lombardo.

Lombardo told the board Monday that she doesn’t believe it’s “just or sensible” to lay her off.

She said she saved the prison more than $150,000 in the last two months placing inmates in alternative treatment facilities and applied for a grant in December that would help fund other prison services and staff.

“That far exceeds my salary in just two months,” said Lombardo, who makes $41,200.

Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla said after the meeting that commissioners had asked all department heads to cut their budgets, and prison Warden Joseph Piazza said he could cover essential services without the three workers.

“He comes back with the cuts he can live with, and now we’re not going to support the cuts he made?” Petrilla said. “It makes no sense to me whatsoever. This whole thing is puzzling.”

Petrilla said she promised taxpayers she would not raise taxes without cutting expenses. County taxes are slated to increase 10 percent this year, possibly more when the budget is amended.

The three county commissioners serve on the prison board with county Controller Walter Griffith, District Attorney Jackie Musto Carroll, acting Sheriff Charles Guarnieri and county Judge Tina Polachek Gartley. The judge and district attorney did not attend Monday’s meeting.

Hyder, who earns $74,263, has been out on sick leave since Aug. 6, though he continues to receive his full pay and benefits because he is using accumulated sick, vacation and personal time. He could not be reached for comment Monday.

The county is contesting a claim for workers’ compensation that was filed by Hyder.

A workers’ compensation hearing was scheduled for Feb. 2. This is the third time since 1994 that Hyder has sought compensation payments from the prison for work-related injuries.

Hyder left prison employment in 2000 but returned four years later, when he was hired as deputy warden by then-commissioners Greg Skrepenak and Todd Vonderheid.

Griffith said he backed away from plans to call for a vote on Hyder’s termination because he did not think he had enough support on the board. Griffith said he supported Hyder’s furlough because he will be off the payroll and will not likely be called back to work.

The board also authorized Piazza to start the hiring process to fill 12 vacant corrections officer positions, which may reduce prison overtime expenses.

The prison ended up spending $582,296 on overtime in 2009 – $312,300 more than budgeted for the year. Commissioners budgeted $650,000 in prison overtime for 2010.

Overall, prison spending was $25.1 million for 2009, close to $1 million less than budgeted, according to a year-end report released Monday.

The prison employs 194 corrections officers.

Plans to set up a day reporting center were also discussed Monday. The center could save money and possibly reduce recidivism by requiring certain low-level offenders to report to the center and comply with recovery plans, rather than being housed in the prison at a cost of around $88 per day.

Eight companies submitted proposals to operate a center, and Piazza has narrowed those down to five. These five will be interviewed soon by a selection recommendation panel, he said.

Jennifer Learn-Andes, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 831-7333.

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