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Luzerne County has seven new correctional officers, according to the newly posted June personnel report.
The new officers, all hired at $15.09 per hour: Brinton Ball, Nicholas Deno, Jacob Dohmen, Marvin Jones, Michael Koschinski, Jason Summerton and Storm Vardzik.
Meanwhile, two corrections officers left employment during the month. Ronald Gene Hartman resigned, and Steve Hvozdovic retired. Albert Dunn was hired as a correctional officer but terminated later in the month, the report shows.
With additions and departures, the prison system had 11 correctional officer vacancies as of last week, said county Correctional Services Division Head Mark Rockovich.
More hirings
Nine new workers were hired in other departments during the month, the report shows.
These employees along with their positions and hourly pay: Christopher Chapman, planning/zoning transportation planner, $26.15; Jean Evans and Charlene Finkel, district justice clerk typists, $13.30; James Jesikiewicz, prothonotary fiscal supervisor, $20.51; Samantha Lentz, public defender investigator, $15.95; Sarah McQueen, building/grounds custodial worker, $12.75; Michael Melber, deputy sheriff, $15.36; Paige Sears, Children and Youth caseworker I, $15.82; and Renita Zezza, human resources business partner in human services, $26.67.
Departures
In addition to Hartman, 10 employees resigned in June: Aging Agency clerk typist Dorothy Brotzman, 911 telecommunicators Tyler Gavlick and Amanda Petaccio, senior center manager Maureen Haydt, district attorney clerk typist Brandon Kitchen, prison captain Henry Malet, Children and Youth caseworker Jennifer Polemitis, public defender office administrator Elizabeth Poor, Children and Youth legal assistant Cassandra Sherrill and IT specialist Kevin Stevenson.
Four workers retired in addition to Hvozdovic: Children and Youth caseworker Sharon Considine and caseworker supervisor Janice Reindel, prison commissary clerk Robert Ruckle and licensing bookkeeper Theresa Schobert.
Assessment office real property field investigator Patricia Brooks was terminated in June, the report says.
Promotions
Five workers advanced to new positions in June.
These employees, along with their new titles and hourly compensation: Bonnie Armitage, aging agency case aide, $18.86; Amanda Nicole Biros-Gilmer, district attorney clerk typist, $16.38; Colleen Curtin, Mental Health/Developmental Services caseworker, $17.83; Joseph Taylor, district attorney trial assistant, $14.94; and Lisa Wall, Children and Youth caseworker manager, $38.96.
Prison health care
Four companies have submitted proposals to handle inmate health care services in the county prison system, and an administration committee is reviewing the responses, Rockovich said.
Kansas-based Correct Care Solutions, now renamed Wellpath LLC., has been handling the services since March 2015, when the county decided partial outsourcing would be more cost efficient.
The company is paid $197,688 per month to provide a range of services and personnel, including a medical and mental health team to perform inmate screening, health assessments and examinations. Prescription and non-prescription drugs, emergency ambulance transport and other medical treatment also are included in the package.
The county continues to employ unionized licensed practical nurses at the prison on Water Street in Wilkes-Barre and the nearby minimum offenders building on Reichard Street, but they take direction from Wellpath, according to the county.
The new request for proposals beefed up requirements for inmate mental health coverage, largely in response to the death of four female inmates from June 2017 to January 2018 — three ruled suicides and the fourth deemed accidental.
Tuesday meeting
County council will meet on-the-road Tuesday at the Pittston Memorial Library, 47 Broad St.
The evening will begin with a meeting of council’s Act 13 Grant Committee at 4:45 p.m., followed by a 5:45 p.m. public hearing on a proposed intergovernmental agreement for Butler Township’s takeover of county-owned roads.
Council is set to hold a voting meeting at 6 p.m., followed by a work session.