MECHANIC FALLS — Councilors authorized Town Manager John Hawley Monday to take steps necessary for the town to participate in a state program for conducting background checks on volunteers.
Prompted by the recent arrest of a now former member of the town’s Recreation Committee, Hawley told the council that he had learned that the state offers a program that can be used to check an individual’s criminal and driving records as well as whether the person is on the sex offenders’ list. He added that it appeared that some information on the person’s financial background might also be available.
“After consulting with many other municipalities, I have found that most are using a free service through the state of Maine,” Hawley said.
Councilman Bob Small said he supported the town taking advantage of the program but suggested it be used on a limited basis for specific positions. He was a little leery of anyone just fishing around.
Hawley agreed and noted that if the person was going to be a volunteer fireman, you might want to check his driving record as well as his criminal record.
Jim Marston, chairman of the Recreation Committee, wanted to know who would be subjected to the background check.
“Do we do background checks on assistant coaches?” Marston asked.
Council members agreed that anyone who volunteered regularly, and was around kids, ought to undergo a background check — and that would include assistant coaches.
The council also agreed that anyone the board appointed to a volunteer town position or anyone applying for a position where they would be paid would have their background checked.
Hawley was directed to write up a background-check policy to be considered at the council’s December meeting.
In other business, the council authorized Hawley to purchase a sander unit for the town’s new Bobcat sidewalk plow at a cost of about $3,400 — the money is to come from the Public Works equipment reserve account.
Hawley expected the sander could “pay for itself” in avoided Workers Compensation costs alone. He noted that the present method of sanding sidewalks requires a worker to stand on the back of a dump truck and heave sand is a accident waiting to happen.
The council also adopted a final version of an ordinance governing mobile and event vendors.
Hawley also advised the council that he had received the first quarter’s bill from the Sanitary District, which had been cut from the budget. The council suggested Hawley send a letter to the district to see how the needs of the town’s residents might best be served.
The council congratulated Hawley for his part in producing the town’s annual report, which was judged best for a community less than 5,000 in population by the Maine Municipal Association. The town of Mechanic Falls received the award at the MMA October convention.
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