SUNBURY - Negotiations continue between Northumberland County and the state Department of Corrections (DOC) regarding housing options for county inmates and potential employment opportunities for displaced workers of the county prison.
Commissioner Chairman Vinny Clausi said no determinations were made on either topic following Wednesday's meeting between county and state officials, including DOC Secretary John E. Wetzel. Discussions continue, Clausi said, declining further comment and deferring to a joint press release.
One day after the Jan. 14 fire destroyed the 139-year-old county lockup, Clausi asked Wetzel to consider hiring county workers at state facilities - either temporarily while county inmates are housed in Coal Township and Muncy, or permanently in the state corrections system.
All 208 inmates held inside Northumberland County Prison were safely evacuated and transferred to the state prisons.
Wednesday's meeting was intended as a fact-gathering session, and few specifics were offered by those attending. A representative of the state Department of Labor and Industry attended to provide "necessary information" for the displaced workers.
"This was just the first meeting to begin the process of sharing information and making the necessary contacts. The secretary has requested additional information from the county so the process of housing our inmates in the state system can continue to operate smoothly and so the state can meet as many of our needs as possible," the joint press release stated.
Workers, building
A limited number of the 56 prison workers remain on the job: several employees are at the temporary command center at the county administration building, records officers and the commander are at the State Correctional Institution at Coal Township, and corrections officers are performing prisoner transports.
The county commissioners previously approved paying all employees for two weeks and an additional two weeks for any employee ineligible for unemployment. Medical coverage also continues, for now.
Commissioner Richard Shoch said the county is likely to follow Wetzel's advice and commission a feasibility study exploring options for inmate housing. He said it could be a year before a decision is made on a county prison plan - recalling that Wetzel advised a measured approach be taken - and between three to five years before a facility can be completed.
Shoch is meeting Monday with representatives of five neighboring counties. The meeting will focus more on shared services rather than the potential construction of a regional prison facility, he said.
Options
Commissioner Stephen Bridy said he couldn't foresee a decision taking longer than six months. Bridy is interested in potentially retrofitting an existing structure, perhaps the Sunbury Armory, saying it may be the cheapest alternative. Building a new prison, he said, should be the last option.
Clausi is leaning towards the construction of a new facility, but expressed caution at a potential $45 million price tag for a modern 200 cell facility outside of the city of Sunbury. His concerns eased a bit when it was learned Tuesday that the prison is insured for a maximum of $31 million. A settlement is pending with Travelers Insurance.
Shoch said all options should be explored, including building behind the former prison's walls at 39 N. Second St.
The cause of last week's fire remains pending, Trooper Kirk Renn, state police fire marshal, said Wednesday.
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