There may no longer be enough time for the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association to reverse the decision made earlier this year to close nine facilities across the state, but if they are going, they are looking to take others with them, it seems.
Last week, NYSCOPBA officials and members filled an auditorium before the New York State Assembly to testify against the closings while calling to cut administration within the department. The OBSERVER received a copy of the minutes shared at the public hearing.
Members and officials affiliated with the State Correctional Facilities presented five charts to the New York State Assembly urging them to look at the numbers plain and simple.
"Now is the time to right-size this monster cash cow reflected in Chart number 1," Vice President for the Central Region, Tom Haas said, referring to a chart comprised of the 180 plus Department of Correctional Services Executive Team. "We strongly oppose the cuts that have already stripped our manpower to mere 'skeleton crews' within our correctional facilities."
"As you can see by Chart number 1, the arrogant 'Let them eat cake' mentality is prevalent in the commissioner's mind and his decision making."
The chart focused on executives who work under one roof in Albany, Building Two. The total annual payroll administration for Building Two alone $52 million and $75 million in benefits and salary.
During the testimony, NYSCOPBA officials also highlighted the fact there are currently more than 50 deputy superintendent positions within the Department of Correctional Services that were not budgeted for by the Division of Budget, but were filled nonetheless. In addition to the salaries and benefits that are associated with each of the unbudgeted positions, the New York State Legislature heard testimony about additional "perks" that are enjoyed by the individuals occupying those positions. Some perks include housing and automobile allowances.
"Several facilities within this state are either directly across the street from one another or simply separated by a fence which would clearly allow for one administration at these types of locations. In light of technological advances in recent decades, continuing to operate with so many levels of administration is totally impractical, and not very cost savvy," the minutes read.
The group proposed several plans, including the consolidation of administrations at several facilities with geographical locations that make dual administrations totally unnecessary. The Lakeview Annex was not a facility mentioned during the testimony. The facility in Brocton is scheduled to be closed on Oct. 1, 2009. It currently is funded for 66 positions, so that is the number of positions that will be abolished. Only about 50 of those 66 positions are actually currently filled. Arguments have been made that facilities across the state are losing officers while they remain overcrowded. Assemblyman William Parment and state Sen. Catharine Young confirmed statements made that the annex at Lakeview is only using 50 of their 250 beds.
"In recent years, the state has seen a decline in the prison population, which has resulted in the decline of the number of correctional officers who work behind the walls. While NYSCOPBA understands that certain situations could mandate a decrease in the correctional officer workforce, NYSCOPBA believes that is is more appropriate to first right-size the prison system before haphazardly cutting correctional officer titles," Donn Rowe, President of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association said. "Despite the state's position that the decline in the prison population should result in a corresponding cut to the number of correctional officer positions, the state's prison system is still currently operating well in excess of capacity. In fact, the state's medium prisons are operating at approximately 104 percent capacity while the state's maximum secure facilities are operating at approximately 123 percent of capacity."
During a conference call from Department of Correctional Services Commissioner Brian Fischer it was said the state's inmate population has decreased by 16 percent over the last decade. That point was argued also during the testimonies on Tuesday.
"In 1999, New York's inmate population was at a peak of 71,000 inmates and our prisons were operating at 130 percent capacity. There is no dispute that the population has declined by approximately 10,000 inmates between 1999 and 2009, but in percentages that means we have only dropped from 130 percent to the current 102 percent," Kevin Walker, Vice President for the Mid-Hudson Region said. "New York's maximum security facilities are currently operating at 124 percent and the medium security facilities are currently operating at 100 percent. The prisons continue to be overcrowded and understaffed by the current Commissioner and his administrators at every New York prison."
The Lakeview Annex has less than 50 inmates in it currently and that total changes daily. The annex will, however, continue to be maintained, along with the other annexes, for available use because it is part of the larger program at Lakeview, according to Fischer.
All planned closures include: July 1 closure of Camps Mt. McGregor (Saratoga County), Gabriels (Franklin County) and Pharsalia (Chenango County), and the scheduled Oct. 1 closure of prison annexes at Butler (Wayne County), Eastern (Ulster County), Green Haven (Dutchess County), Groveland (Livingston County), Lakeview (Chautauqua County), Sullivan (Sullivan County) and Washington (Washington County) Correctional Facilities.
Comments may be sent to mrukavina@observertoday.com