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Committee OKs suspension to amend commissary contract with Keefe for fixed pricing
Summary
The committee approved forwarding an amendment to the contract with Keefe Commissary Network that keeps commissary prices fixed through 2027 with annual adjustments capped at 3% thereafter.
The Public Safety and Justice Affairs Committee voted to advance to the full council a resolution amending the contract with Keefe Commissary Network to maintain fixed prices on inmate commissary items through 2027 and permit annual price adjustments beginning in 2028 capped at 3 percent.
Chris Costin of the sheriff’s department told the committee that the amendment preserves current item prices through 2027 and lets menu prices be adjusted annually after that with any increase limited to 3 percent and subject to agreement by both the sheriff’s office and Keefe. Costin asked the committee for a suspension of rules because the existing contract had expired on Aug. 10.
Council members asked whether residents had complained about commissary items and about the market comparability of vending‑machine prices. Costin said the department had received “nothing but positive” feedback and that vending prices were comparable to grocery‑store items. The committee moved and seconded the item to go to full council under second‑reading suspension and approved that motion.
The action maintains the current commissary and vending structure inside the jail while giving both parties a limit on future price increases. Committee discussion included a request that staff confirm any consumer complaints and provide cost benchmarking if available.
