Patch Poll: Should Committee Members Undergo Background Checks?

After Deputy Mayor Carolann Garafola said she thought Township Committee members should undergo the same type of background checks now required of school board members during Thursday's committee meeting, Committeeman Vic Sordillo seconded her idea.

"I personally don't want to be up here with somebody who's going to be injecting themselves with heroin," he said.

Garafola asked to have attorney Jeffrey Lehrer look into preparing an ordinance to require criminal background checks, a requirement now mandatory for members of school boards. She also suggested members undergo credit checks because of members' fiduciary responsibilities.  

The ordinance could be based on Assembly Bill 444, which was signed by Gov. Chris Christie in June and requires the background checks. 

Sordillo noted many school board members around the state did not seek re-election this year in anticipation of the checks, as well as some cases where members were forced out of office after the checks.