COLUMBUS State, psychologist enter pact for services at penitentiary

The state correction department had considered creating civil service jobs for psychologists.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- A New Springfield psychologist will continue to provide services at the state prison in Youngstown -- at least temporarily.
The State Controlling Board approved an unbid, $45,000 contract Monday with Dr. John Botirius to provide psychological services at the Ohio State Penitentiary on Youngstown's East Side for the remainder of the state's fiscal year that ends in June.
But state Sen. Rhine McLin, D-Dayton, held up approval until questions surrounding the contract could be aired out.
Botirius has been providing services at the prison since this past July.
Recommendation: The Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, which oversees state prisons, had been mulling a recommendation to create civil service positions for psychologists.
The prisons department entered into eight short-term contracts with psychologists to continue services through the remainder of the fiscal year.
But, state officials say, Reginald Wilkinson, rehabilitation and correction director, implemented a hiring freeze and the department hasn't yet been able to fill psychologists positions.
State officials say the department will continue to work on creating civil service psychologists' positions when it's possible.
McLin held up approval to find out answers to such questions as how much the contract for the first six months had been and how much the salary of a civil service person would be. The board went on to other business before coming back when department officials could bring back the answers.
Vicki L. Cox with the rehabilitation and correction department said Botirius' contract for the last six months was for $43,200.
Cox said the civil service range for a psychologist would be $53,477 to $73,965 annually excluding benefits.
Concerns: State Rep. Sylvester Patton of Youngstown, D-64th, and a controlling board member, said he had concerns with the contract.
"I have a problem with six-month contracts unless they specify from beginning to end," Patton said.
If the state was trying to transition to a civil-service psychologist position, Patton said the state could have planned better. "It could have been avoided," Patton added.
Opened in 1998, the Ohio State Penitentiary off state Route 616 houses about 530 high maximum- and minimum-security inmates.