The Orillia Police Services Board is trying to make life easier for its crossing guards.
At its meeting Wednesday in the mayor's office, the board passed a motion to require crossing guards to obtain criminal record and vulnerable sector checks (CRC-VS) every three years instead of two.
“Crossing guards have expressed concern about the cost of obtaining a CRC-VS every two years, particularly substitute crossing guards who typically work only a few hours per week,” a report stated.
“However, full-time crossing guards with limited income have also expressed this concern. Notably, these concerns were raised when the cost for a CRC-VS ranged from $25 to $75.”
Recently, the overall cost for the two checks, as well as additional fees when required, has increased to $131. Crossing guards must pay for those checks.
The original motion called for crossing guards to obtain the checks every two years, but that caused some concern.
Crossing guards would be required to sign a declaration, each year after having the record checks completed, stating they have not since been convicted under the Criminal Code of Canada.
“It is a risk. The declaration is our attempt to verify that there hasn’t been a change in their status,” said Kristine Preston, the city’s assistant clerk and the executive assistant to the police board, adding the city has to take the crossing guards' word for it until another record check is due.
Insp. Veronica Eaton, commander of Orillia OPP, was asked about any liability concerns related to the declaration.
“If they’re signing that declaration, my instinct would be to get some legal advice on the liability of that,” she said. “It would be someone’s declaration you’d be relying on.”
The board has not sought legal advice on the matter.
It was board member Margaret Speranza, feeling “uncomfortable” with extending the renewed record checks to every four years, who convinced the board to change it to three.
