Let's talk about Northampton County and "what" they are doing to plan a new jail. We could use a simple acronym -FUBAR - to describe activity to date. They are throwing away (in the best case scenario) $78,000, by bringing in a "expert" architect firm. That foolish or potentially corrupt decision is going to cost them (the taxpayers, ultimately) millions in capital costs and untold amounts in operating costs should a jail be built. They could accomplish a verified study at no cost by asking the National Institute of Corrections (NIC is a division of the US Dept. Of Justice) for technical assistance.
The programs they offer are extremely helpful and well structured for local government officials (it's one of the efforts the Feds do well, surprisingly). The first thing they stress is being all inclusive in a planning or review process. By all inclusive, they strongly recommend that top levels of government are involved. That means the County Executive or his designee, the President Judge, the District Attorney, Chairman of a Prison Board, Probation Dept., Public Defender, and of course the Corrections Dept. And Finance Dept. You form a committee of all the "Users."
You never put the Warden in charge. That's a foolish move that spells disaster from the outset. I might add that you also do not put an unqualified County Director of Administration in charge with the Warden reporting to her. Massive amounts of money and operational screw ups will result. You also stress transparency. It makes residents much more comfortable in understanding the process. Invite the press to your meetings and brief them on a regular basis.
It is a truism that "no one wants a prison in their backyard". Your committee explores all aspects of corrections from inmate reduction programs, transportation issues, alternatives to incarceration, remote arraignment, Public Safety interface, Mental Health custody, and most importantly, community safety. (That list is not all inclusive. New Institution Planning involves a massive amount of work). You plagiarize other successful efforts in other communities. Design of a potential facility comes later as well as location/locations of facilities. You "Construction Manage" your efforts and independently "value engineer" your final product. The architect is not your friend...... They are in it for the money.
The potential costs I have read of in the press and your reporting are two to three times higher than the norm for building a facility of the size Northampton County most probably may need. Ergo, my observation of "corrupt" . Prison/ Jail planning can be a sham operation that "feathers" many nests. Having all those "Users" involved in an "Open" process makes corruption difficult and in the final analysis leads to more cost conservative decisions.
Northampton County Jail is a federal lawsuit waiting to happen. ... But solutions are doable (including not building a mega jail) if handled correctly without bankrupting the citizenry. Stop the present process now, regroup and ask the NIC for help and involve all segments of government in the process and close all the present "back door" deals. Yes, this process takes time and effort. ... But you only get one chance every 150 years to get it right.
I reviewed the National Institute of Corrections webpage, and sure enough, there is an application form for requesting technical assistance. The Pa Comm'n on Crime and Delinquency also has a grants process. These and other opportunities should have been explored before wasting limited taxpayer dollars on on architect that we are paying to persuade us to hire again for the design.
This is what happens when a county executive with no county experience hires a Director of Administration with no county experience or education and she brings in a Corrections Director who has never been involved in the planning process for anew jail.
So what you are saying Mr. O'Hare is that this is a massive conspiracy by the county executive and his county council in order to build a new prison. To what end? It is either some big plan or you are suggesting that neither the county executive or the county council know what they are doing. Dies any of this make any sense?
ReplyDeleteWithout question, brown intends to build a new jail, and most likely at Gracedale. From previous meeting videos we know the following: 1) as of one year ago, Keen had visited 100 different jails to give him an idea what he likes best. 2) brown visited at least a dozen different sites within the county. 3) Cathy Allen and Bob Werner had a meeting about a jail at Gracedale over a year ago, and left that meeting feeling that positions had changed. 4) brown told council he had ruled out Easton as a site. 5) the zoning in Upper Nazareth can be challenged as exclusionary. 6) cusick pointed to Gracedale a year ago as the only alternstive. 7) there is public water at the Gracedale site. 8) Keen told council he needs a new jail and Easton is no good. 9) brown hired prison architect DLR as a consultant just a few months ago. 10) the prison advisory board chair identified Gracedale as the best location in July. 11) Keen said he'd like to start building in 2018 and be done by 2020.
ReplyDeleteIt is very clear that Brown intends to build a new jail at Gracedale. He was trying to keep it under wraps bc of the election, but Upper Nazareth people are not as stupid as you seem to think they are. They have read the stories here and st other news sources.
As Ryan Woodmansee told Council, "The cloak is off."
Was dubious about all of this at first. Seemed to be no story as the press didn't mention it or played it off with a press release type story. Must say your reporting has really made some interesting points. With this much smoke there must be some fire.
ReplyDeleteI tend to agree with those who think Brown and the republicans decided to keep this under raps until after the election. Supposedly there was a 90 day study that started in early June and should have been received in September but is still not around and won't be until after the election? Seriously, guys you are not even doing a good job of hiding this. Be interesting to see if they can convince the residents that there is nothing to see here. Amazing to see Phillips scrambling like a cat on a hot tin roof over this story.
If Mcclueless gets elected, can he fire Keen on day 1?
ReplyDelete5:44. Yes
ReplyDeleteOutstanding reporting Bernie. You are 100% on point. This is a massive and expensive undertaking. The prime people in government in NC are neither experts or of good governance. This is all inclusive with the Chief Deceiver, the unqualified tax cheat, the rambunctious Director of Corrections, the clueless and lying scumbags on council and the personal consultants hired and brought in by Brown and Keen. This all equals a terrific tax hike with exorbitant spending and political pay back or pay-offs for all.
ReplyDeleteIs this another trip down the same incompetent, wildly expensive path like the last build-out of the government center that included such fiascos as the asbestos in the law library, discovered after the fact, resulting in "reconstruction" of the library and destruction of innumerable law books? County taxpayers beware.
ReplyDeleteIts COUNTY OWNED PROPERTY BUILD IT THERE! Or bring it to Upper Mount Bethel on Met Ed's 800 acres of industrial land
ReplyDeleteKeep trying to prime the pump Bernie. Other than a few ring leaders no one is all that worked up. Most people won't even be voting. This is no real issue and Brown is smart to realize it. Your attempt to stir the pot won't make any difference.
ReplyDeleteBernie I spoke to a mutual friend of ours who claims the source is this story is false. The claim is this is information that you discovered and are claiming a came from a reputable source. Please comment?
ReplyDeleteThe source of story is someone who built three jails. If you are suggesting that I fabricated this, be my guest.
ReplyDeleteIs this not with the help of some of the very indictable team from the failing town to the west Bernie. I seem to remember a comment of mine removed upon its appointment from flying the coup. Than there are those that have flown the coup to bedlum.
ReplyDeleteIt is one big ugly convelooted mess that we all are stuck in here in the valley. The mess has been and will continue to smell as if we are all stuck in a 3rd world cesspool and humans are the floaters.
Nauseating. Typical NorCo and not specific to either party. The county named a park after a guy whose comment on council chambers cost overruns was, "I think it's nice." Wasting taxpayers' money is a county tradition.
ReplyDeleteYet Bethlehem Township is spending tens of thousands of dollars in superficial drainage and park studies and no outcry. An answer the prison question is very much needed. The amount spent on a jail study doesn't seem all that bad.
ReplyDeleteBT has a terrible stormwater drainage problem, and most of the money spent addressing it comes from grants. NorCo's jail question is certainly one to be answered, but a responsible Exec would have looked for a way to do it without spending taxpayer dollars. Maybe if Brown had done his job last year instead of running for statewide office, he would have learned about NIC. Since you don't think the money spent is so bad, provide your name and address so the bill can be sent to you.
ReplyDeleteBernie. I can tell you there is a move out there to really discredit you on this one. Be careful. These guys want this and you are creating a problem for them.
ReplyDeleteAny land for sale near the new prison to build for a bond company
ReplyDeleteThese guys are shifty as hell. A resident at the meeting told a friend that Cusick was very disrespectful and condescending while council just looked on.
ReplyDeleteWhile Council could have been more forthcoming, my take on Cusick is that he was just being himself. I saw no disrespect and no condescension. If some residents feel that way, it is likely bc he is quite formal.
ReplyDelete