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Commission outlines screening, reporting contacts and distribution plan for volunteer child-protection policy
Summary
Commissioners said the approved policy includes a mandated-reporting contact (Scott Roberts), a backup social-worker contact and requires screening against the national sex-offender registry for participating elected officials and board/commission members; town clerks will distribute materials this week.
After approving the child-protection policy, commissioners clarified how the town will implement screening and reporting steps for volunteers and elected officials involved in the Voices of Youth program.
The policy names the town administrative officer, Scott Roberts, as a mandated-reporting contact and lists the town social worker, Judy, as backup. Commissioners asked who would maintain and run the registry checks; the discussion concluded that town administration would take responsibility and that the new executive assistant to the first selectman could perform the task to avoid added work for department staff.
The commission also discussed the level of screening. One commissioner said they had "wondered why a fuller background check wasn't going to be required" and staff responded that the town attorney had advised the planned screening and reporting measures were sufficient. The commission planned to date the policy, prepare a cover letter from administration, and have town clerks circulate the finalized materials by the end of the week.
A commissioner noted the administrative burden of screening many volunteers across multiple boards; the commission did not adopt broader checks at this meeting but left operational details to town administration.
