City Council Discusses Changing Background Check Policy

City Council looks like it will be changing its policy per background checks for residents who serve on the city's many volunteer committees and commissions.

In March 2010, the majority of Council passed an ordinance that required all applicants of all the city's appointed commission and committee members to receive a background check.

After a discussion at a work session Tuesday, Council agreed to change it so only those committees where members are paid will require a background check. Those committees include the Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals and Civil Service Commission whose members each receive $50 per meeting.

Bucey, along with former Councilman Ronald Micchia, voted against the background check ordinance in 2010. She reiterated the points she made back then during the work session.

She said she was in favor of background checks and the reasons behind them, but the city needed a more specific policy than what is expressed in the city's ordinance.

She said she wanted to city to specify what information they would look for, what past convictions might exclude someone from serving on a committee and what measures would be taken to protect the committee members' privacy.

Councilwoman Janet Dowling echoed Bucey's concerns.

"We don't have any criteria set for what we would reject someone for," she said. "Is it arbitrary?"

Councilman Robert Shiner said he did not see the need to change the background check policy. He noted that the Planning Commission, BZA and CSC members are paid employees of the city.

When asked for his opinion, Mentor City Manager Kenneth Filipiak recommended that anyone who could be put in a position of trust should receive a background check. He also suggested Council establish the criteria upfront that would exclude someone from sitting on these committees.

In reference to the Planning Commission and BZA, Filipiak added, "There are potential big-dollar winners and losers here when we're talking about businesses and jobs."

Finally, Filipiak said it only costs the city $50 per background check.

Council polled itself and a majority agreed to continue checks for paid appointees. They also agreed to specifically to check for criminal and civil prosecutions.

The background checks would have to remain public records, Law Director Richard Hennig said.

Shiner disagreed with the majority. He said he preferred to keep the policy as it is. Councilman Bruce Landeg was not present at the work session and did not vote.

Before any changes in the policy become official, the city would need to craft legislation and Council would need to approve it.