Library board tables proposed volunteer waiver pending city-attorney guidance on liability and background checks

The Muskego City Library Board on Wednesday tabled action on a proposed volunteer/community-service waiver after trustees expressed concerns about legal exposure, insurance coverage and how the policy would apply to minors.

Trustees debated whether the library should require volunteers — including court-ordered community-service volunteers and Friends of the Library members — to sign a long-form waiver. Board members said the city attorney advised against shortening the template waiver because removing provisions could weaken its effectiveness in court.

Trustees raised a series of practical questions: whether volunteer medical coverage would cap at an amount cited by other municipalities, whether punitive damages would be precluded, how background checks would be performed for volunteers who work with children or other vulnerable populations, and how the Friends group would be handled when they sponsor off-site events.

Board members discussed available background-check services and local practice. Staff noted an option used by some organizations, described in the meeting as “Raptor,” that checks identification and prints photo badges; the finance/municipal contracts team also reported a state-level background-check service that costs roughly $5 per check.

Trustees unanimously voted to table the motion pending a written memo from the city attorney answering specific questions about liability, insurance coverage thresholds, which volunteer activities would trigger background checks, and whether event sponsorships by partner groups would shift liability.

The board filed these follow-ups as formal direction to staff; the tabling motion will return for reconsideration after the city attorney’s guidance is provided.