Select board narrows children‑in‑workplace policy, approves amendment

The Brentwood Select Board approved an amended version of a workplace policy addressing children in the workplace, altering a draft that had expanded restrictions beyond employees.

Board members reviewed draft language that had added "elected appointed officials and committee members" to a sentence that previously applied only to employees. A member noted that the inclusion could be read as barring residents (including officials) from attending meetings with children, which prompted discussion. The chair proposed and the board approved an amendment to strike the phrase "elected appointed officials and committee members" from the third paragraph so the restriction applies only to employees; the subsequent paragraph retains a meeting‑time instruction that children who are present must not be left unattended and must be directly supervised.

A board member asked whether legal counsel had reviewed the change; the chair replied the draft had not been run by counsel but that the edits were intended to clarify intent and avoid restricting residents from attending meetings. The motion to adopt the policy as amended was made, seconded and carried by voice vote.

Board members said the language change is intended to protect meeting access for residents while ensuring supervision expectations during meetings. The approved amendment directs staff to circulate the finalized policy language to the handbook and maintain it in the town’s policy binder.