Richmond board discusses stronger outreach, tracking or policy changes to raise ethics‑training compliance

Deputy Town Manager Duncan Wardwell updated the Select Board on municipal ethics policy implementation, reporting that staff reminders improved compliance but that some volunteers and part‑time employees remained out of compliance.

Wardwell relayed guidance from the state’s ethics office that the state provides no automatic enforcement for missed training or acknowledgements and that municipalities may design local enforcement for noncompliance. "The state doesn't have any enforcement policy," he said, summarizing the state official’s response, and added that the town could consider an amendment to its policy if it wanted to create enforcement consequences for noncompliance.

Board discussion focused on how to increase completion rates without undermining volunteer participation. Suggestions included targeted one‑on‑one outreach by committee chairs, using a simple web form to make signing easier, scheduling training at department meetings (for fire and other volunteers), parsing out who is statutorily required to complete training versus those required only by town policy, and considering a phased approach before imposing suspensions. One board member cautioned that punitive measures could drive away scarce volunteers in critical services such as fire and police.

Next steps: Staff said it will try more personalized outreach, produce a clearer breakdown of who is statutorily required versus required only by policy, and return with recommended process changes, including a possible web‑based acknowledgement mechanism and proposed timelines.