Anyone wishing to work for the West Salem, even on a volunteer basis, must now consent to a full background investigation.

That decision comes after last week’s West Salem Village Board meeting at which trustees adopted village ordinance No. 427. No one attended a public hearing regarding the ordinance, held prior to the regular meeting on Aug. 5.

Language in the ordinance states: “Submission of an application for employment, paid or unpaid, appointed positions with the village, volunteer positions, all liquor license applications and/or renewals shall constitute consent to a background investigation (including a criminal history and traffic history) by the village.”

In an interview conducted prior to the meeting, Village Administrator Teresa Schnitzler said the village has always done full background checks in such instances and the requirement to adopt the ordinance came from the Crime Information Bureau, which the city uses to conduct background checks.

She added that past violations turned up by background checks aren’t an automatic denial in all instances.

The motion to pass the ordinance was approved by a vote of six to one, with Trustee J. Terry Hanson dissenting.

Hanson questioned the cost to enact the ordinance. No estimate was provided at the meeting. Schnitzler said the cost would be considered in the upcoming budget.

“We have ideas on how to fund it,” Schnitzler said.

“I’m going to vote against this because I’d like to see how it’s funded,” Hanson said.

“We don’t have a choice, Terry,” Schnitzler said. “We need this ordinance to conduct the background checks.”

West Salem Police Chief Charles Ashbeck said the ordinance was necessary to comply with existing Crime Information Bureau policy.

Sirens

Village residents will again hear the sounds of the 6 p.m. siren following a motion to resume the practice.

Trustee Jim Leicht brought the motion forward after a cessation in the practice that occurred after a new siren was installed.

“I was a little bit surprised that there was decision made that we didn’t need that 6 o’clock whistle even though it was in a motion,” Leicht said.

He called the matter of sounding the siren one of safety and tradition. “It should be a board decision on whether we continue it, that’s why I brought it up,” he said.

Hanson’s question of who made the decision to stop sounding the siren was not answered during the course of the meeting.

“The monthly testing is useful, yes, but we did have tests where that one did not go off,” Schnitzler said, referring to the siren next to Village Park on the fire station, which under a previous motion was to be tested monthly. “And, of course, this one hasn’t worked since late January.”

The motion to resume test sounding the downtown siren for a period “as short a period as practical” passed unanimously.

Trustee Diana Engel recommended the use of a Code Red system for emergencies. Code Red and similar systems place automatic warning phone calls in the event of emergency.

Hanson also advocated using Code Red, noting, however, that it was never meant to replace emergency sirens.

Other business

STREET DANCE: A motion to approve a Labor Day street dance, slated for Aug. 31, was eagerly approved. Bar owner Dave Hundt said proceeds from the event will go toward improvements to the baseball field. The event will be held from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.

“I think it’s kind of nice to come and tell (the board) what we’re doing and who we’re raising the money for,” Hundt said. “I think over the years we’ve raised a lot of money for a lot of good causes.”

SIDEWALK ASSESSMENTS: Greg Mooney speaking on behalf of other Wagon Drive residents and himself, asked to the board to review assessments imposed on homeowners to pay for sidewalk improvements. Board members agreed to review the assessment in committee and provide a written response.

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