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| Camp McGregor closing to impact many |
| By Paul Post |
| Published: 04/14/2009 |
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WILTON — Minimum-security Camp McGregor will close on or about July 1, eliminating up to 45 prison guard and five civilian jobs, officials said Friday. Plans call for transferring all employees to medium-security Mount McGregor Correctional Facility or other prisons. But workers say they haven’t been officially notified, leaving their fates entirely up in the air. State law requires a full year’s advance notice prior to any prison closing. Because of the current fiscal crisis, however, the newly adopted state budget allows Corrections Commissioner Brian Fischer to close McGregor and two other minimum-security camps any time after July 1. “Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to save money this fiscal year,” spokesman Erik Kriss said. “We’re facing a huge budget deficit that needs to be closed. The budget assumes $12 million in savings for 2009-10.” Medium-security Mount McGregor, with 493 inmates, will not be affected. Fischer will meet with camp superintendents and union leaders next week to discuss how closures will proceed, Kriss said. Camp McGregor has capacity for 300 inmates, but its population has steadily dwindled. There were only 53 inmates there as of Friday. Some inmates are scheduled for release before July 1. Others will be shifted to Camp Georgetown in Madison County or other minimum- and medium-security prisons in the state system. Camp McGregor has long been targeted for closure, but has always escaped the budget ax. With a deficit projected at more than $14 billion, however, it’s finally fallen victim to state spending cuts. Camps Pharsalia and Gabriels in Chenango and Franklin counties, respectively, will also close. Fischer can shutter them any time from July 1 to March 31 but will do so as soon after July 1 as possible to realize the greatest savings, Kriss said. In addition to camp closings, Gov. David Paterson has directed the Corrections Department to present a layoff plan by April 21 that calls for a 3 percent reduction in statewide prison guard jobs. “It sounds like no job is safe,” said Scott Dussault, a Mount McGregor dental assistant and president of CSEA Local 168, representing the prison’s civilian work force, numbering several dozen people. “Who knows what’s going to happen.” Civilians run the prison’s power house and include maintenance, clerical, medical staff and kitchen staff. Cliff Seguin of Wilton is one of two head cooks and has been at the prison 25 years. He said his job position is among those targeted. “I don’t have a clue what’s going on,” he said. Read more. If link has expired, check the website of the article's original news source. |
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