Board approves GED program contract amendment and mechanical change order; voucher passes after question on NRA dues

The Chester County Prison Board of Inspectors approved two contract amendments and a voucher assessment during its July 23 meeting.

The first contract amendment extends services with Delaware County Community College to provide General Educational Development (GED) preparation to inmates for a one-year term, Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026. The Warden and the procurement director said the amendment will be funded 100% by the inmate welfare fund.

The second action was a change order for GEM Mechanical Services to allow floor modifications needed to accommodate a pump-rail system for a laundry pump demolition and replacement project at the prison. The procurement director said the change order had been reviewed and approved by the project's engineer.

The board approved both amendments by voice vote; no roll-call tallies appear in the transcript. The procurement director presented both items and the board moved and approved the motions.

The board also approved the Controller's voucher assessment by voice vote. A board member asked why the county was paying annual membership dues to the National Rifle Association. A staff member replied that the prison’s firearms instructors must be NRA members in order to attend required training and obtain instructor certifications; the board then approved the voucher.

No dollar amounts or contract totals were provided in the transcript; the procurement director said the Delaware County Community College amendment is fully funded by the inmate welfare fund and the GEM Mechanical change order was previously reviewed by the project engineer.

All contract and voucher motions were approved by voice vote with no recorded roll-call tallies in the meeting transcript.