City Administrator Dale Neiman took the council a proposed resolution that added volunteer workers to the city's personnel policy, which didn't previously mention them.
The resolution stated that the rules “are needed so both the city and the volunteers know the procedures and rules for helping the city.”
The new rules state that all volunteers are “at-will,” and they serve at the pleasure of their department head and/or the city administrator.
Volunteers will be required to submit an application, and all will be subject to background checks. They only would be allowed to use vehicles if authorized to do so, Neiman said.
He added that he wasn't proposing to require physicals of volunteers unless there was the potential for workers compensation issues.
Police Chief Allan McClain said his department requires fingerprints and background checks for all of its volunteers. If anything in a background check poses a possible concern, they sit down with the individual and discuss the situation.
Usually, issues he watches for include moral turpitude – which can include a wide number of crimes ranging from fraud to assault, to conspiracy and manslaughter, according to a definition of the term – and violence.
McClain told the council that state law will require all volunteers go through a similar process.
Neiman noted during the meeting that the city would cover the charges for the background checks.
Community member Estella Creel asked why they needed to do a credit check on volunteers. City Finance Director Michael Vivrette said credit checks are standard. He said it's prudent in cases where people could be working with assets like cash, because credit and money problems can present motives for theft.
Some city residents who spoke to the council voiced concerns about volunteers with the city's public access television station, TV8, being targeted for special rules, but Council member Joyce Overton said the rules are for all city volunteers, not just the station.
Neiman said the city owns the station. “The city has certain responsibilities it needs to follow to manage the station,” he said.
Station volunteer Allen Markowski asked how long the city has had volunteers. Mayor Judy Thein said since 1983.
Markowski asked why the issue was suddenly coming up. “Who had this put on the agenda?” he asked.
“I did,” said Neiman.
Markowski implied the matter arose because of recent issues with TV8; the station was essentially closed to everyone, with Neiman's approval required to enter the station office in city hall, over programming and management issues.
Thein said they needed to get the issue back on track. When Markowski persisted in his questions, Thein gaveled him down.
McClain said the conversation isn't a new one; he, Neiman and City Clerk Melissa Swanson have had ongoing discussions over the last few years about upgrading personnel rules and making them more uniform throughout the city's government.
“We're trying to do one thing at a time,” he said.
Some changes already have been implemented, McClain added. “This isn't something that just came out of the blue.”
Overton said the rules are a good thing, and the city has an opportunity to use more volunteers, which she credited Markowski with bringing to the station. She said they need written rules to get everyone on the same page, and pointed out that Markowski had asked for everything in writing.
Another station volunteer, Dante DeAmicis, asked if there is an appeal process if a potential volunteer is turned down for service. Neiman said any decision he makes can be appealed to the council.
In response to further questions from community members about the plan, Neiman said only people who have access to city hall and are physically in the building would be subject to the checks.
Hiram Dukes, another station volunteer, said he fully supported “the higher standard” with regard to volunteers and offered to be the first one checked.
Businesswoman Jeri Spittler suggested that, in the middle of a recession, many peoples' credit has been affected, and at this time such credit checks are a waste of money.
Councilman Chuck Leonard moved to approve the new rules, which Overton seconded. The council approved the rules 5-0.
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