By Doug LaRocque and EJ Conzola II

“We’re done.”

Those were the words of Whitehall Deputy Mayor Patricia Norton in response to speculation that Great Meadow Correctional Facility could be one of five prisons to be closed by the state.

Great Meadow is located in Comstock in the Town of Fort Ann.

Several local officials said the facility’s closure would have a major economic impact on their municipalities.

Whitehall Mayor Julie Egan labeled it as a devastating blow to her community.

“It’s going to have a huge economic impact,” Egan said.

Whitehall is just a few miles away from the prison and a major employer for the village and town.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has sent the state Legislature a resolution asking she be allowed to close up to five state prisons within 90 days of their approval. The request was contained in her annual budget message.

The resolution does not specifically name which prisons might be shuttered, but there is significant speculation Great Meadow might be one of them, primarily because the prison currently houses about 400 inmates but has room to house 943 more.

The Correction Association of New York, an independent monitoring and oversight agency for state prisons, says that is the largest vacancy rate in the state.

Just not enough staff

The acting commissioner of the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), Daniel Martuscello, testified this past week before a legislative committee considering the governor’s request. He said a “staffing crisis” is the primary reason for the closings.

Martuscello told lawmakers the department currently has 3,800 vacant positions, 1,900 of which are for corrections officers, commonly referred to as prison guards.

Martuscello indicated the staff shortages are not the only driver here. He noted New York’s prison population has declined 55% over the last 25 years.

The reaction has been fast and furious

Assemblyman Matt Simpson (R,C-Horicon), whose district includes Fort Ann, Whitehall and Granville, was quick to strike back at the governor, joining a number of upstate Republican colleagues expressing their opposition to the potential closures at a news conference at the state capitol.

Simpson highlighted two points. He contended state law requires any prison closure to be carried out over a one-year time frame. He called a 90-day notice both “illegal and impractical.” The lawmaker is also concerned over the economic fallout of such a potential closure.

As one of Washington County’s largest employers, Simpson said that if Great Meadow were on the governor’s list of potential sites, the impact on the region would be “devastating.” Simpson speaks not only of the potential loss of jobs but also about the displacement of families, as many may be forced to relocate to find new employment.

State Sen. Dan Stec (R,C-Queensbury) who also represents the area around the prison, is displeased as well with Hochul’s proposal. He said he is “proud to represent several correctional facilities and the dedicated officers and civilian staff that work at them.” Stec added, “As we work toward a final state budget, I am going to fight to keep these facilities open and ensure these jobs stay here in our communities.”

Assemblyman Scott Bendett (R,C-Sand Lake) represents the southern portion of Washington County.

“Our prisons are essential, especially those that are higher security and hold greater numbers of inmates,” Bendett said. “It is critical we plan any changes or closures when it comes to our state’s prison system to be sure it is not overwhelmed.”

Assemblyman Chris Tague (R,C-Schoharie) was one of the organizers of the Assembly members’ press conference.

“Workers, various unions and the general public are concerned about the implications of closing prisons,” said Tague.

He called Hochul’s “ignorance” of the problems “glaring.”

“She claims that this plan will save millions of dollars, but the safety and security of both the inmates and staff are the cost,” Tague said. “Instead of making rash, politically driven proposals, she needs to start communicating with people at the forefront of the issue.”

Washington County’s budget director, Brian Campbell, said the county is digging into the possible impact but does not have any hard numbers to talk about as yet.

The New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) is also in opposition to any closures. The union expects more resignations or retirements if the governor’s proposal is approved.

In a statement, NYSCOPBA President Chris Summers said, “Our current staffing levels are horrible. Attrition rates are at all-time highs, while recruitment is at all-time lows. Our members face unprecedented levels of mandatory overtime to fill staffing vacancies. They see the inside of the prisons more than they see their families.”

Summers also indicated prison violence is contributing to the staffing problem. He said in 2023, DOCCS reported 1,671 assaults on staff and 2,107 assaults on other inmates. Summers said both are at record levels.

The Top 5

The Correction Association of New York report lists the five New York prisons with the greatest number of vacancies. Great Meadow tops the list. The other four in declining order are Auburn, Franklin, Clinton and Bare Hill.

Clinton is located in Dannemora, in Clinton County near Plattsburgh, Auburn is in Central New York, and Franklin and Bare Hill are in the Malone area of Northern New York.

The state has not identified which facilities could be slated for closure.

Check our website NYVTMedia.com for further updates on this developing story.