Cuts by Coatesville rippling out to neighboring townships
By Jamie Richard, Staff Writer, CoatesvilleTimes.com
WEST BRANDYWINE – The township Board of Supervisors has passed an ordinance allowing the township to recoup the cost of detaining prisoners by placing the cost on them.
At their meeting last Thursday, the board unanimously agreed to pass an ordinance permitting the township to fine prisoners and detainees for the cost of holding them at the Coatesville lockup.
The city has been forced to outsource overnight and weekend lockup supervision to a private firm due to a lack of dispatchers; four full time and four part time dispatchers were laid off by the city in an attempt to cut police staffing costs. Municipalities using the lockup facility are charged fee of $187.50 per prisoner per night. Although the board seemed eager to alleviate these costs to the township, Board Vice Chairman Thomas J. McCaffery expressed concerns over fining anyone found not guilty.
“I’m just trying to make sure we don’t recoup money from an innocent person,” said McCaffrey.
Township Manager Ronald A. Rambo Jr. stated the decision to add the fine will be left at the discretion of the district judge. In all likelihood, according to Rambo, the judge will drop the fines for anyone found not guilty. The township will then be required to cover the costs of detaining prisoners found not guilty.
Board Chairman Josef G. Obernier Sr. commented that he would like to reexamine the ordinance in six months in hope of gauging its effectiveness in cutting costs for the township.
The township will hold their next meeting on Apr. 19.
