Lackawanna County Prison Warden Tim Betti will delay his retirement and remain in the prison’s top post for at least the next 18 months or so, he confirmed Wednesday.
Betti, who replaced five-year Warden Robert McMillan in that role when he was appointed in June 2016, informed the county prison board in November that he planned to retire in early 2025. Officials launched a search for his replacement and were seriously considering hiring Bucks County Corrections Director David Kratz as Betti’s successor before Kratz withdrew from consideration in May.
The prison board tabled last month a vote to hire a new warden pending further discussion. Officials announced at the time plans to hold a special meeting to vote on Betti’s successor, but that meeting never happened.
Instead, Betti decided to rescind his retirement letter and continue his decadeslong county career. In addition to warden, he previously served as director of the county’s since-shuttered juvenile detention center, resident manager of the county’s work release program and as the prison’s population control officer, director of records, director of clinical services and assistant warden for treatment. Economic and other considerations informed his decision to stay, he said.
County Judge James Gibbons, the chairman of the prison board, noted Betti’s decision Wednesday during the board’s monthly meeting.
Betti said he’ll reconsider retiring when he turns 62 in about 18 months, but also left open the possibility that he’ll remain in the role beyond that point.
“Tim Betti has graciously agreed to stay on and I think we’re really thankful for that, because he does a good job,” Commissioner Bill Gaughan said.
Commissioner Chris Chermak agreed, also expressing confidence in Betti as warden.
The county would likely relaunch a search for Betti’s successor four or five months ahead of his eventual retirement, county Chief of Staff Brian Jeffers said. The annual salary for the warden’s position is $89,378.
Gibbons, meanwhile, also announced Wednesday that he’ll vacate the prison board position he’s held for seven years as the county judiciary’s representative. He appointed Judge Michael Barrasse as his successor on the board, the county said.