Q&A
Issues with expired items and non-delivery of commissary products
1:12:11
ยท
124 sec
Council Member Julie Won inquires about reported issues of expired items and non-delivery of commissary products. DOC officials respond to these concerns.
- Won references a report from April 2024 indicating a trend in expired items and non-delivery of packages.
- James Conroy attributes the issues to supplier problems faced by Keefe, stating that problematic items were removed from the menu and replaced with comparable items.
- Nell McCarty, Deputy Commissioner, provides data on refunds: in 2024, 56 items were refunded due to expiration.
- Won expresses concern about continuing business with Keefe despite these issues and questions the consequences for the vendor.
Julie Won
1:12:11
Okay.
1:12:12
In April 2024, DOC indicated there had been a trend in expired items or just not having packages delivered.
1:12:20
The department also reported that in spring 2024, leadership met with individuals who manage the day to day commissary contract commissary operations to address the issues.
1:12:31
What was causing the issues of expired and nondelivered items, and how did you resolve them?
James Conroy
1:12:40
I was not here at the time, so I again, I will have to follow-up.
1:12:43
But my info what I've been informed is that it was just very simply, supplier issues that they had gotten
Diana I. Ayala
1:12:50
From Keefe.
James Conroy
1:12:51
From Keefe.
1:12:52
And then we've taken those items off the menu.
1:12:54
We found comparable items to put on at, again, the same price comparisons so as not to you know, which was really our main concern, to disrupt the the customary commissary for the person to custody because it is something that they, you know, they request and and and appreciate.
Julie Won
1:13:11
It's extremely concerning that we went from a monthly cost of 583,000 to now 2,750,000.
1:13:16
And we even this past year in 2024, you chose to continue to do business with them even though they were selling expired items or just not delivering at all.
1:13:28
So what has what was the consequences of them giving us expired items or not having packages delivered at all?
Nell McCarty
1:13:36
People receive refunds.
1:13:38
And just to highlight, of all of the commissary that was provided throughout, an example, in 2024, 56 items were refunded because they were expired.
1:13:51
There are, refunds that are provided to people when, commissary items are out of stock.
1:13:56
If something comes and it appears damaged, like the packaging, they also receive refunds.
1:14:02
If somebody indicates that they feel, the like, for example, the ounce or the amount that's in there, it's not, what was requested.
1:14:11
That could also be refunded as well.
1:14:13
Or if the order was wrong, that can be refunded.