Area jailer gets the ax in sex case

By Tricia Pursell
The Daily Item

July 09, 2009 11:30 pm

— MIDDLEBURG — The deputy warden at the Snyder County Jail has been fired for allegedly violating the county's sexual harassment policy in an incident occurring June 18.
Commissioner Malcolm Derk, a member of the county's sexual harassment review committee, said the incident did not involve an inmate, but declined to provide additional details. The matter was discussed by prison board members in a lengthy executive session Thursday morning.
Don Reade will be notified by certified letter of the termination of his employment, Derk said. He will also be notified by the county's attorney, Bob Cravitz.
After the alleged June 18 incident, Reade was placed on a unpaid suspension until an investigation was completed.
The county's sexual harassment policy allows anyone to come forward with a claim that they are either aware of sexual harassment, or they themselves have been harassed, Derk said.
"We treat every allegation seriously," Derk said. "Immediately there is an investigation launched."
Sharon Silverman, the prison psychologist, led the investigation. She later presented her findings to the county's sexual harassment review committee, consisting of Derk, prothonotary Teresa Berger and acting register and recorder Stacey Zerbe. The committee then issued a ruling, believing the investigation to show a violation of the sexual harassment policy.
"The alleged would have the opportunity to discuss the incident with the committee and defend themselves," Derk said.
Silverman was not available to answer questions Thursday afternoon.
The board on Thursday also discussed the rates to be charged out-of-county inmates.
Union County earlier this year rejected a proposal to house its inmates at Snyder County Jail for $56 a day, providing Union has 20 of its inmates there each day. The Union County Jail can house 35 inmates.
With fewer federal and out-of-county inmates being housed at Snyder County Jail, revenue has fallen and may result in the jail having to charge more for out-of-county inmates, Commissioner Richard "Bud" Bickhart said.
"If we keep going the way we're going, it'll be in the $70s," Bickhart said. "I'm proposing $60 to $65. I can't imagine they would find it cheaper anywhere else."
However, the board agreed to delay a decision until a fair cost could be determined. Issues include the costs per inmate, the costs with revenue included, and what the costs are with or without inmates from other counties. There is a possibility that it would be more cost effective for the jail not to accept any out-of-county inmates, the board said.
A work session is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. July 23.
The numbers, Derk said, would also help to determine when a new special assistant to the warden position, with a proposed $35,000 to $45,000 salary, would be cost effective.
"I do think it would save the county money in the long run," Derk said. However, "I think the conversations we had today, may have us hold off on doing it."
He said he is still 100 percent confident in the position being created.
In other business, prison board members discussed a new contract made by the county with Prime Care, of Harrisburg, to be the prison's comprehensive medical care provider, beginning July 20. The company will handle the distribution of medication, nursing service and physician care, and telepsychiatry and medications associated with it.
Currently, telepsychiatry services are provided by New Jersey-based CFG Health Systems. By the end of the year, this contract, as well as a contract with Cost Management, which has helped the county save money on medical expenses within the prison, will be terminated.
Twenty-four other Pennsylvania counties have contracted with Prime Care, which Derk says will save Snyder County approximately $20,000 a year.
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