Personnel committee to add youth abuse‑prevention policy and staff training

Staff member introduced two sample policies from insurance broker USI (and materials from Travelers) and said the city needs "to add something to our policies that covers the abuse and molestation" because city programs involve youth. The staff member recommended adopting the less‑intensive sample and tailoring it to local needs, and proposed employee training tied to the policy.

Committee members questioned which positions would be covered, noting lifeguards, pool managers and temporary recreation staff most often interact with minors. One member summarized the concern: the pool and tennis programs employ 16‑ and 17‑year‑old lifeguards, so younger staff both work with and are sometimes minors themselves. The committee discussed two insurer samples’ age definitions — one that treats anyone under 18 as a minor and another that separates children (up to 12) from youth (12–18) — and asked staff to consider using the state definition where suitable.

Members also debated training scope and format. Staff said Travelers offers an approximately one‑hour online training and suggested group viewings for new lifeguards followed by a Q&A. Some members favored requiring training only for staff who are likely to work with minors; others argued for broader coverage to ensure anyone who witnesses misconduct would know how to report it. Concerns included the burden on low‑contact employees and the risk of uneven enforcement if managers exercise too much discretion.

After discussion, the committee agreed to discard the more detailed insurer sample, have staff tweak the remaining draft, compare insurer language with relevant state law and return a revised handbook draft. Staff said they would aim to finalize the policy language by the next meeting and to begin employee training in February (timeline approximate). The committee did not take a formal vote on adoption; it directed staff to revise the draft and bring it back for further review.