By Brad Bryan
Anyone wishing to work for the town of West Salem, even on a volunteer basis, must now consent to a full background investigation.That decision comes after last week’s West Salem Village Board meeting at which trustees adopted village ordinance No. 427. No one attended a public hearing regarding the ordinance, held prior to the regular meeting on Aug. 5.
Language in the ordinance states: “Submission of an application for employment, paid or unpaid, appointed positions with the village, volunteer positions, all liquor license applications and/or renewals shall constitute consent to a background investigation (including a criminal history and traffic history) by the village.”
In an interview conducted prior to the meeting, Village Administrator Teresa Schnitzler said the village has always done full background checks in such instances and the requirement to adopt the ordinance came from the Crime Information Bureau, which the city uses to conduct background checks.
She added that past violations turned up by background investigations aren’t an automatic denial in all instances.
The motion to pass the ordinance was approved by a vote of six to one, with Trustee J. Terry Hanson dissenting.
Hanson questioned the cost to enact the ordinance. No estimate was provided at the meeting. Schnitzler said the cost would be considered in the upcoming budget.
“We have ideas on how to fund it,” Schnitzler said.
“I’m going to vote against this because I’d like to see how it’s funded,” Hanson said.
“We don’t have a choice, Terry,” Schnitzler said. “We need this ordinance to conduct the background investigations.”
West Salem Police Chief Charles Ashbeck said the ordinance was necessary to comply with existing Crime Information Bureau policy.
Posted by Pebi Services President Tyra Hearns
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