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Personnel Board approves townwide driver-verification policy with clarifying edits
Summary
The Personnel Board approved PPP 40, a policy authorizing daily license-status checks via the Massachusetts driver-verification system for employees who drive on town business, while clarifying the policy will not monitor employees’ driving infractions and asking HR to refine the authorization form.
The Town of Concord Personnel Board voted to approve PPP 40, a new personnel policy that authorizes HR to register town drivers in the state’s driver-verification system and receive daily updates on license status.
The board approved the policy after HR agreed to two clarifying edits: the authorization and policy text will state explicitly that the system checks license status (valid/expired/suspended/revoked) rather than monitoring full driving histories or routine traffic violations; and the policy will acknowledge processes to handle changes in licensure or added endorsements.
Jess (interim HR director) framed the change as a safety and liability measure, explaining the system stores a driver’s license number, birth date and name and “does a real time update every day at midnight to flag anything that’s come up in terms of an expiration, a revocation, a suspension.” She told the board the intent is to ensure employees driving town vehicles have valid licenses rather than to surveil day-to-day infractions.
Several employees and board members pressed for stronger language in the authorization so that employees are reassured the town will not access detailed driving histories. One town employee who drives on-duty commercial vehicles, Joel, described the burdens that CDL holders face getting and renewing DOT medical certificates and urged the town to consider on-site exams or a streamlined reimbursement process. Joel said he has paid and used personal time for the exams and asked for a practical way for the town to support compliance.
Board members agreed HR should revise the release form and policy wording before widespread rollout. A motion to approve PPP 40 with the two clarifications passed on a roll-call vote; board members recorded their support verbally during the vote.
HR said it will update the authorization form and policy language and begin collecting signed releases. The board also directed staff to take a more comprehensive look at licensure and certification supports (reimbursements, on-site medical certification or occupational-health arrangements) and report back in January to ensure equitable implementation across departments.
