Complaint Review Committee reports caseload rise; board retains five‑member composition and debates anonymous complaints

The Complaint Review Committee reported a rise in complaints and board members discussed CRC composition and the complaint-submission process at the July 28 meeting.

The CRC representative reported that the committee received 242 cases in fiscal year 2025, an increase of about 17.5% from the prior year; a 10‑year chart was presented for historical context. Executive Director David Fye and multiple members credited investigators’ work and said CLEAR training for investigators and staff was planned to help meet growing caseloads.

The board considered whether to keep a five‑member CRC (social worker, licensed psychologist, public member, a profession not already on the CRC, and a fifth position that may be a second public member or another professional) and concluded the odd-numbered five‑member composition helps with tie-breaking and recusals. Jim Kilmartin volunteered to step off the CRC midterm, and Laura Shaughnessy accepted appointment to fill his seat.

Members also discussed the board’s current policy of not accepting anonymous alleged‑violation forms; staff said the paper form with a signature permits verification and that switching to an electronic form would be possible but would still require identifying the complainant or implementing safeguards. Staff placed the question on the agenda for further discussion at an off‑site planning meeting.

The board accepted the CRC report with no formal vote recorded beyond the routine consent to proceed.