Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn expressed frustration following the abrupt cancellation of a hearing intended to review the city’s policy regarding the hiring of ex-convicts, a decision he believes was aimed at evading scrutiny over the employment of a Level 3 sex offender.
The hearing was initially set for Monday and was centered around Flynn’s order to evaluate the impact of the city’s Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) policy on job access for individuals with criminal records. Flynn indicated he was informed of the cancellation late Friday afternoon.
The chair of the committee responsible for hosting the hearing attributed the cancellation to a prior family commitment. However, Flynn remains skeptical of this explanation, suggesting that the Wu administration wished to avoid discussions surrounding the recent hiring of a Level 3 sex offender by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department.
Flynn explained that city administration officials were slated to attend the Monday hearing, where councilors would have had the chance to ask questions about CORI reform and other pertinent issues related to hiring practices, particularly concerning Level 3 sex offenders.
He remarked, “I’m sure some councilors would ask about the recent hiring practices and background checks on Level 3 sex offenders.”
The councilor emphasized that hiring a Level 3 sex offender for a position involving direct interaction with children, as is the case in the Parks Department, was clearly inappropriate. “Many of these issues are controversial and often challenging and difficult to talk about,” Flynn noted. “However, that is not a reason to not have a discussion about them.”
Flynn championed the need for open dialogues on difficult subjects, stating that the City Council ought to address topics such as CORI reform and the implications of hiring certain ex-convicts, particularly those classified as Level 3 sex offenders who work in public parks and playgrounds.
According to reports, Robert M. Claud, a registered Level 3 sex offender with a history of multiple convictions for sexually assaulting a child, had been employed by the parks department for a year until his termination last Tuesday.
Claud, 37, of Dorchester, was hired last year as a heavy motor equipment operator and laborer, as indicated by city payroll records. His criminal background includes two convictions for indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 years old, along with a conviction for open and gross lewdness and lascivious behavior, all stemming from incidents in February 2013.
Level 3 is designated as the highest risk category for sex offenders, indicating they have a high probability of reoffending and pose significant risks to public safety, as outlined by the state’s sex offender registry board. The mayor’s office confirmed that Claud’s employment had recently ended, though it did not clarify whether he was dismissed or left of his own accord.
When questioned about the city’s approach to hiring individuals with a history of sexual offenses, Wu’s office offered the Herald a copy of its CORI policy.
Flynn indicated that while the original focus of the hearing was not solely aimed at the Level 3 sex offender issue, the recent media coverage called for critical inquiries. He had intended to explore the transparency of disclosure regarding the nature of convictions during the hiring process and whether any specific charges would disqualify an ex-convict from employment.
He also aimed to ascertain if a background check had been conducted on Claud, and whether his significant sexual assault convictions had been flagged during this process.
Expressing a balanced viewpoint on the employment of ex-convicts, Flynn stated, “I do believe they deserve an opportunity to be hired in appropriate positions, but a Level 3 sex offender working in the parks and playgrounds and schools should certainly disqualify anyone, in my opinion.”
He stressed the importance of discussing these critical issues, particularly in an election year, and criticized the decision to postpone the hearing. Flynn mentioned he has been informed that the hearing will be rescheduled for late September or early October, following the preliminary elections on September 9, which he interpreted as a politically motivated delay.
Flynn condemned this approach, stating, “It sends a signal that politics is more important than actually trying to help returning citizens and having a discussion about potential jobs that would preclude returning citizens from acquiring such as Level 3 sex offenders.”
In response to the cancellation, Councilor Benjamin Weber, who chairs the Labor, Workforce and Economic Development Committee, explained that the rescheduling was due to a conflict in the administration’s schedule. He noted that he requested alternative dates to better accommodate the Wu administration before agreeing to the postponement.
Weber indicated that both parties came to a mutual agreement on the new date of September 22 for the hearing. Meanwhile, he mentioned that he would be unable to attend the initially scheduled hearing due to personal family commitments, specifically helping his son start college.
Despite the postponement, Flynn remains committed to ensuring that pertinent conversations surrounding CORI policies and public safety continue, urging that such discussions are vital for informed and responsible governance.
image source from：bostonherald
