Public Safety Committee (DOC/Garner) Minutes
Regular Meeting – June 3, 2014 at 5:00 pm
Newtown Municipal Center (Meeting Room #1)
3 Primrose Street, Newtown CT
Members Present: E. Patricia Llodra, First Selectman; Police Chief Michael Kehoe, Newtown Police Dept.; Deputy Warden Denise Dilworth, Garner Correctional Facility; Jay Mattegot (Representing Nunnawauk Meadows); and Joy Previdi; Members Absent: Stephen Sedensky, State’s Attorney; Gino Faiella, Facilities Director for Board of Education; Mike Kelley and Rob Manna.
The First Selectman convened the meeting at 5:06 pm.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Ms. Previdi motioned to approve the minutes of the March 4, 2014 meeting. The motion was seconded by Chief Kehoe and unanimously approved.
GARNER CORRECTIONAL FACILITY UPDATE
Deputy Warden, Denise Dilworth, explained that she will be Acting Warden for an undisclosed length of time. Warden Falcone will be out due to a medical issue. Warden Dilworth said it’s been fairly quiet at the facility and noted the total current population is 551; breaking down to 232 in General Population, 286 Mental Health inmates and 17 in the Youth Development unit and 16 (when later asked, this is restrictive housing). There are no inmates being housed in the gym.
She noted that Garner is housing 29 mental health inmates that have been transported from Osborne (due to construction/renovation). These inmates are integrated into the mental health units and will return to Osborne in approximately three weeks.
Ms. Dilworth said the radon issue remediation is moving forward with vendors having submitted quotes.
Ms. Dilworth was asked to elaborate on the category of “un-sentenced.” She said the un-sentenced inmates are generally within the mental health category. When a person is arrested, they are sent to a jail to await sentencing. If this prisoner is deemed to show mental health issues, they are sent to Garner for evaluation. Once these concerns are cleared or stabilized, they are sent back to the original facility they were incarcerated in to await sentencing. If they are not cleared before sentencing, the inmate stays at Garner and is transported back and forth to court from there. Chief Kehoe said his office is notified when there are “high risk” transportations. Chief Kehoe asked Ms. Dilworth about DOC’s use of video feeds and conferencing to eliminate the
transportation issue. She said they have used this.
Garner is continuing their garden program this year. They have a small greenhouse.
After no further discussions, Chief Kehoe motioned to adjourn the meeting at 5:30 pm which was seconded by Ms. Previdi. All were in favor.
Respectfully submitted by Tammy Hazen, Clerk
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