Record checks will be conducted for volunteers

SAYREVILLE — If you want to volunteer for the recreation program here, you’ll soon have to pass a record check.

Last week, the Borough Council agreed to allow record checks to be conducted on volunteers to recreation department. The ordinance was introduced at the Borough Council’s meeting last Wednesday.

Under the proposed ordinance, anyone who has been found guilty of certain offenses will be prohibited from volunteering. Those offenses include charges such as murder, sexual assault and robbery.

Convictions from traffic violations do not count, officials said.

The record checks will be generated from the state and FBI starting next year, officials said.

The borough has been looking into requiring the checks for some time now.

Last year, a borough man who volunteered as an umpire was arrested on charges that he propositioned a 14-year-old girl for sex.

The incident allegedly occurred after a baseball tournament held by the Sayreville Athletic Association.

The weeklong police investigation prompted the recreation board to begin looking into requiring reference and background checks on all volunteers for recreational programs.