Dedham to do background checks
By Lindsey Parietti
DAILY NEWS STAFF
DEDHAM - Following the June arrest of a Department of Parks and Recreation employee, the town is implementing a new policy requiring that all prospective employees undergo criminal background checks.
The arrest of seasonal maintenance worker William Luciano, 38, of 2 Taft St., Walpole, revealed to acting Parks and Recreation Director Bob Stanley that the department had not been uniformly requesting the criminal records of all employees.
Although the town had an informal policy of running background checks, after the arrest and Stanley's investigation, Town Administrator William Keegan drafted a formal written policy, which the Board of Selectmen unanimously approved during a meeting Thursday.
"It was something that really needed to be done, not only for the safety of the kids but also just putting people on notice that this is a requirement," said selectmen Chairman Jim MacDonald. "As (Selectman) Paul Reynolds said, we understand that people in their lives make mistakes."
Not all job applicants with criminal records will be denied employment, Keegan has said, but the town will consider the relevance of the crime to the position, the length of time since the conviction, the nature of the work and the seriousness and number of offenses, among other factors, according to the policy.
The policy, which is based on the policy Norwood approved in May, also requires that applicants for liquor, taxi, pawnshop and other licenses undergo background checks in compliance with the state Criminal Offender Record Information law.
At the request of Selectman Sarah MacDonald, the board also amended its policy for notifying prospective volunteers about vacancies on town committees. In an effort to increase awareness of open positions and attract new volunteers, selectmen voted to require the town administrator to send the board any potential candidates and a description of the position and its responsibilities 30 days before the incumbent's term expires.
Residents must send the Board of Selectmen a resume or statement of qualifications within 10 days of the posting.
"The idea was to give people additional notice that a vacancy happens," MacDonald said. "Currently, it's a 10-day posting and by the time people find out, the 10 days has passed."
MacDonald said most committee members choose to stay in their positions when their terms expire and that the town isn't usually short of volunteers.
Selectmen also approved liquor licenses for the Legal Seafoods restaurant that is coming to Legacy Place and the Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge on Lower East Street.
Daily News staff writer Lindsey Parietti can be reached at lindsey.parietti@cnc.com.
