Select Board approves workplace violence policy and labor‑law compliance statement for counsel review

The Carlisle Select Board voted July 22 to approve two personnel items — a Workplace Violence Policy and an expanded General Labor Law Compliance statement — and to forward both to Town Counsel for legal review.

Assistant Town Administrator and HR Director Aubrey Thomas said the Workplace Violence Policy is intended to protect employees, volunteers and visitors from harassment, bullying and threatening behavior that falls outside the town’s anti‑harassment policy. Vice Chair Barney Arnold asked how nonemployees would receive education about the policy, whether the policy’s language covered violence arising from personal relationships, and whether the reporting procedure should avoid the term "victim." Thomas agreed to consult with legal counsel on those points. Town Administrator Ryan McLane cautioned that enforcement with respect to elected officials will be limited because elected officials are accountable to voters rather than the town administration.

On a separate item, Thomas presented a General Labor Law Compliance statement to make explicit reference to state and federal laws that the town must follow. The board voted to approve both documents for review by Town Counsel: the Workplace Violence Policy (motion by David Model, seconded by Scott Triola) and the labor‑law statement (motion by Barney Arnold, seconded by David Model). Both motions carried 4‑0.

The board’s votes authorized staff to seek counsel input and return updated language; no final policy implementation or enforcement action was taken at the meeting.