<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0F5ba5_1H1jPb8k00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0F5ba5_1H1jPb8k00" width="1280" height="960" >Saline City Council passed a new background check policy for the city after several rounds of revision brought on by concerns about the language used in the document. The current policy now includes a decision matrix for the hiring of individuals with a criminal background, and only convictions will be taken into consideration, not charges.“The city’s legal counsel has signed off and has been very much involved in the process of making sure that not only the initial language, but the continued iterations of this policy fall within line with our state law, and also make sure that they are not in any way superseding or circumventing or deviating from any state laws,” council member Tramane Halsch said. “So, I’m pretty confident in the policy.”The policy requires the city’s HR Director, Police Chief and City Manager to be in agreement on the hiring of someone with a criminal record.“If not approved, the HR Director will send a pre-adverse action notice to the applicant and allow the applicant five (5) business days to respond,” the policy reads. “If the applicant responds, the HR Director will consult with the Police Chief and City Manager as to whether the application should be moved forward. All three (3) must be in unanimous agreement to move the application or reappointment forward.”This is, in part, to ensure that criminal background information is not handled by the Council, according to Mayor Brian Marl. Council members who are a part of applicable boards, commissions and committees will be held to the same standards as other applicants, though a criminal background check is not required to hold office.“Each person is going to get a packet in an envelope,” council member Janet Dillon said. “So, again, information is not free flowing, available to anyone for their eyes to see, and people will have to have that completed, including Council, to be placed onto committees moving forward for appointment in January.”Despite the rounds of revisions, concerns with the policy’s final draft were still raised at the Nov. 9 meeting.“I want to make clear that I certainly appreciate all the time that’s gone into the revising of this policy and the effort,” council member Jim Dell’Orco said. “Unfortunately for me, it’s still not in a place where I can support it.”Dell’Orco raised concerns that the policy would “impair our ability to recruit members of the public,” which is an issue the city is already facing. He also questioned the language used in the decision, which included the allowance for someone to be removed “without cause” and set standards for people with inaccessible criminal records.“Sealed records are done by the courts to protect people from this very thing we are trying to do,” he said. “It ensures the privacy of multiple parties involved.”Marl recommended moving forward with the policy as it was submitted at the Nov. 9 meeting to have the policies established and in place.“If there’s opportunities to improve or modify or amend in the future, this body should pursue those opportunities,” he said. “But I think making sure that we are reducing risk and liability and appointing people who hold themselves to a high standard of integrity and character is absolutely essential.”The Nov. 9 version of the policy passed in a 5-2 vote.Additional information on the decision process and Council’s discussion of the policy can be found at Saline Council Delays Background Check Policy Again.</div></body>

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Saline City Council passed a new background check policy for the city after several rounds of revision brought on by concerns about the language used in the document. The current policy now includes a decision matrix for the hiring of individuals with a criminal background, and only convictions will be taken into consideration, not charges.

Saline Passes New Background Check Policy

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Saline City Council passed a new background check policy for the city after several rounds of revision brought on by concerns about the language used in th

Saline Passes New Background Check Policy

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