NEW ROCHELLE, NY — In response to a New York State Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) audit of the City of New Rochelle’s policies and procedures for a background check of personnel involved with the City’s youth program, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Bill Zimmerman sent a letter to the OSC on July 17,
2012.
In the letter Zimmerman committed to developing written procedures to address concerns raised by the OSC.
“It is our intent, working closely with our local City Officials, Mayor and City Council to develop Administrative Regulations that create a written set of procedures to strengthen and insure a comprehensive background check and monitoring policy be implemented annually for all individuals to be
employed full·time, part·time, seasonal and on a contractual basis who will provide direct service to youth,” wrote Zimmerman.
Zimmerman said the goal would be that all youth related employment hires whether full-time, part-time, seasonal or contracted undergo background and reference checks, local drug testing, finger printing, and are cleared on the Division of Criminal Justice Services Sex Registry
In response to a request by for comment on the final version of the OSC report, Talk of the Sound was provided a copy of the Zimmerman letter dated July 12, 2012.
Reply to OSC on Youth Background Checks for New Rochelle.pdf
I think if a little checking
I think if a little checking was done, people would learn that the City spends little or no time screening its employees except for police and fire.
What about volunteers????
EVERYONE interacting with children should have a complete background check. Don’t allow unchecked volunteers to infiltrate the system to target at risk kids. If a librarian can openly seduce a child and security guards can have sex with students surely an unchecked volunteer can abuse the system.