Assistant warden will not seek Caridi’s vacancy

By KRISTA GROMALSKI

MILFORD — With commissioner Harry Forbes temporarily filling in following the resignation of Pike County Jail Warden Richard Caridi, the county is seeking someone to do the job full time.

Questions on a permanent replacement were raised during the June 6 meeting of the Pike commissioners.

Caridi resigned last month during fallout over claimed violations of the federal Hatch Act, which restricts federal, and some state and local government employees, who deal with federal funds, from also being involved in partisan politics. The law became an issue during the May primary election for county sheriff, which resulted in the withdrawal of several candidates.

Leaving his warden position, Caridi chose to retain his ability to run for reelection as Blooming Grove Township Supervisor.

During the commissioners meeting, Forbes said the jail has gone through four wardens since it’s opening. This may be a high turnover rate, Forbes said, but it’s a matter of getting “the right person.”

Chairman Karl Wagner, Jr., when questioned about the possibility of assistant warden Craig Lowe moving into the position, said, “Anyone can make application.”

Lowe said he was asked about his interest in the warden position during a meeting of the county prison board, but he declined application. A six-year employee at the prison, Lowe would not comment on his reason.

In other prison matters, the Pike commissioners approved the promotion of James Monahgan to sergeant at the county jail at a salary of $29,000 per year.

The commissioners also accepted a bid of $28,850 from Kohr’s Excavating for repairs to the Kimbles Bridge in Lackawaxen Township.