The Camp Verde Town Council approved an ordinance to allow the town to conduct background checks on prospective volunteers by a 5-0 vote during its May 21 meeting.
Councilwoman Jessie Murdock was absent.
Camp Verde Town Code previously authorized staff to conduct background checks on prospective employees by exchanging fingerprint information with the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, but the provisions did not cover volunteers, who were instead vetted using an online platform to conduct criminal history checks.
According to Town Manager Miranda Fisher, that platform did not provide sufficient information to make appropriate vetting decisions.
“It will allow us to be more efficient with the criminal history background check for volunteers, especially those volunteers working with minors,” Fisher said.
“I’ve always felt that if the volunteers had to do something like this, so should the council,” Councilwoman Robin Godwin said. “I think across the board personally, I mean, I realize this only says volunteers, but I wouldn’t mind seeing something where even council would have to pass.”
Godwin asked town staff if there would be a legal problem with having background checks for potential council members. Fisher said that state law determines council eligibility and a failed background check for employment would not disqualify someone from standing for election.
“If you’re voted into office, you’re voted in, and if people aren’t happy, they can recall you,” Fisher said. “But other cities and towns do background checks just knowing they may not necessarily be able to do anything with that information.”
She added that Camp Verde could also choose to do so as a matter of policy that could be looked at in the future.
Godwin then made the motion for the ordinance’s approval. After a quick second by Councilman Brian Bolton, the ordinance passed unanimously.
