When the McKean County Prison Board meets Friday, the major
topic of discussion will apparently be whether to continue Warden
Dennis Luther’s employment and under what conditions.

Luther, who points out that he originally agreed to take the
position for “a period of at least six months” is now asking the
board to consider several options for continued supervision of the
prison.

Two of those options involve hiring someone else, and a third
offers his resignation without further comment.

The final, and seemingly most likely proposal asks that his work
year be set at 200 days with 15 days of vacation.

In an Aug. 22 memo addressed to prison board members, Luther
notes that he took the warden’s job at a salary lower than a person
of his experience might have expected, but that, “At this stage in
life, an important consideration for me is time to spend with
grandchildren and to pursue other interests.

“Therefore, considering the limitations of the county and my
personal needs, I am proposing … a work year that would allow me
some flexibility while still providing professional leadership for
the prison.”

The memo reminds the board that Luther always carries a cell
phone and has “made it clear to staff that I am available for
consultation, and am to be called in case of emergency,” at any
time.

It also notes that he receives no “on-call” pay.

Luther said Monday that he desires to continue in the position,
wanting to “see through some things that I’ve started.”

With that in mind, the four day work week would be his choice,
he indicated, noting that it was not far from what many county
employees work, and that some elected officials work less.

The warden also pointed out that his original employment terms
included a $50,000 annual salary with no additional benefits.

Luther made no mention of increased salary or benefits other
than the stipulated 200 work day year.

He said in an interview Tuesday that he is still interested in
bringing more structure and a higher professional level to the
prison staff and facility, pointing out that he had developed a
test and interview procedure for promotions to shift supervisor, a
newly created post, and for initial employment. Up until this time,
there have been no standards for employment, he noted.

Since he took office in January, Luther noted, seven of the
eight persons who have been hired at the facility have either a
college degree, experience in criminal justice, or both.

“Not that a degree is necessary,” he said, “but it’s
helpful.”

Luther’s memo also states “While we now have an acceptable
operation at the prison in terms of legal requirements … it is not
possible to achieve excellence within the constraints of the
current union contract.”

He explained that the contract sets seniority as the determining
factor in promotions, as long as the applicant achieves a passing
score on the test.

That way, a person who gets a 70 and has a year and a day
seniority would get a position over a person with one year who
scored a 99.

“I think taxpayers have a right to expect more than the
minimum,” he said.

His complaint about the union contract come in an option in
which Luther suggests that the board might consider finding a
private operator for the prison, and that he would remain as warden
during that period.

In the same paragraph, he also notes that “… the culture is so
firmly entrenched that while it can be changed, it will never be
what I would like to see it as long as the current staff are in
place.”

Some staff changes apparently have been made since the memo was
written.

Option II of Luther’s memo suggests that the board could hire a
permanent warden for the prison, and that he would “assist on a
consulting basis, with recruiting, selection and training of a new
warden,” and be available for continued consulting services for as
long as the board felt he was needed.

A fourth option offers his resignation, effective Sept. 18, a
date that has already passed without action.

County Commissioner John Egbert declined to comment on the memo,
except to point out that Luther’s initial employment had been
temporary.

Egbert said the commissioners are not the ones who will make a
decision, but will participate in any action as part of the
10-member prison board which includes, in addition to the three
commissioners, the president judge, the district attorney, the
public defender, the controller, the county administrator and
solicitor and the sheriff.

Commissioner Bruce Burdick said last week that he considered the
memo an internal personnel matter and was “disappointed” that
someone had passed it to the media before Friday’s meeting.