All current Township employees and successful candidates for
employment by the Township of West Milford in the Health Department
or the Department of Community Services and Recreation or any such
department that is or shall be charged with providing services to
minors, the elderly, persons who are physically or developmentally
disabled or those who are infirm shall be the subject of a background
investigation by the West Milford Township Administration Department,
subject to the limitations as hereinafter stated. The background check
shall be required upon all current Township employees as well as successful
candidates, 18 years of age or older, for paid positions with the
Township of West Milford, which employment regularly involves contact
with minors, the elderly, persons who are physically or developmentally
disabled or those who are infirm. This section shall also apply to
those individuals, 18 years or older, who contract with the Township
to perform work which regularly involves contact with minors, the
elderly, persons who are physically or developmentally disabled or
those who are infirm.
If this criminal history record may disqualify an individual
for any purpose, the Department of Administration shall provide the
applicant with an opportunity to challenge the accuracy of the information
contained in the criminal history record. The applicant shall be afforded
a reasonable period of time, not to exceed 14 days, in which to correct
the record. A person is not presumed guilty of any charges or arrests
for which there are no final dispositions indicated on the record.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if such current
or prospective employee's criminal history record background check
reveals a disqualifying offense, but such person has affirmatively
demonstrated rehabilitation, such rehabilitation may be considered
as a factor in the determination of whether or not to disqualify such
individual from service.
The Township shall only permit the following exemptions under
this article:
A. Any person who, by virtue of his or her occupation, is required by statute to undergo a federal and state criminal history record background check similar in nature to the requirements contained herein, and who can provide proof of the results of such background check, is exempt from the requirement hereunder until three years have elapsed since the most current background check. Thereafter, those individuals shall be required to submit to additional background checks in accordance with §
33-27C. This section would apply to members of the Township Police Department.