Town of CBS adopts vulnerable sector check policy

By Craig Westcott

Workers with the Town of CBS who interact with children, seniors and anyone who is physically or mentally vulnerable will now have to obtain a Certificate of Conduct and Vulnerable Sector Check every two years.

Deputy Mayor Andrea Gosse, who introduced the policy at council’s last public meeting, said in an interview afterwards there was no particular event or incident that sparked the new rule. 

“Not to my knowledge,” she said. “There was nothing that came up. It was just in a (human resources policy) review that perhaps we should put this in place. And it came from staff, which is great.”

Gosse was unsure how many workers will be affected by the policy, but reckoned most of the Town’s recreation workers, at least, will have to abide by it, as that is the department most often in contact with seniors and children.

Under the policy, workers who are required to have the check performed every two years will be reimbursed by the Town for the fees associated with the criminal record check. Employees will also be required to immediately notify their supervisor of any changes to their criminal record or vulnerable sector status.