Prison officials cite overtime, incidents in changing former warden's position
Barnhart given new job in corrections department
Warren — The Maine Department of Corrections has changed the management of the Maine State Prison in Warren in part due to concerns about the amount of overtime and the number of incidents reported in the prison, according to Associate Commissioner Jody Breton.
"The department has decided a change in management at the Maine State Prison is in the best interest of the Department," she said in a press release Feb. 8. State officials want to see a reduction in incidents including drug busts involving inmates.
Former Warden Patricia Barnhart has left the prison and will take on a new job with the department.
"Ms. Barnhart will be leaving her position as warden at MSP and assuming a new role within the department as policy development coordinator, effective March 1, 2013," Breton wrote.
Breton said Feb. 8 during a phone interview that Barnhart is well qualified for her new role in the department.
As warden she was paid $102,897. In her new position, the salary is $68,578 per year, according to Breton.
The state will conduct a national search for a new full-time warden. In the meantime, Rodney Bouffard, who has headed Long Creek Youth Development Center, is acting warden.
Breton said Bouffard has overseen various facilities through times of massive change in policies in the past including the youth center. She said he does very well in periods of change, but is not interested in serving as permanent warden.
Daniel Dunkle can be reached at ddunkle@courierpublicationsllc.com or 594-4401.
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What else would you,or should you expect from this.We get fed all the crap they want to dish out and we are supposed to swallow it.You'd better believe there is a lot more going on than what you are reading here.As they say...The blue take care of themselves.
Mr. Barnes that is sort of the point I was making. It is reported that she has been fired. There is a hiring freeze. Just saying
Poor management, simple.....her job proformance was poor...allowing too much overtime, and other issues to occur.....That's when a person might and could be replaced...? She (it appears) is better suited for her new position, and the State does not want to let a good employee go....Perhaps that is all it is......
why would she accept if there was no wrong doing-think about it
Maybe if the hiring ban was lifted these things would not be happening
Better to give her a job at $70+ (with benefits) then to have to pay off a lawsuit. Oops, some town just paid someone off and showed how management really works.
Something does not seem right here! Either between the 2 parties this is an acceptable explanation or something really stinks. Why do you walk into an office and just fire someone with no notice or explanation at the time then cite want to see less overtime and less drug busts? Those are not grounds to be fired. Now the former warden is given another job within the system. What kind of a cover up is this? Oops state officials would not cover up anything!