SEEKONK - Selectmen want all appointed volunteers to be subjected to criminal background checks.

The action needs to be taken to guarantee the safety of children participating in sports programs and other activities, selectmen said Wednesday.

"Any volunteer actively working with kids needs to be CORI-checked," said Selectman Robert Richardson, noting sports leagues conduct their own CORI checks.

Currently, the town requires coaches and volunteers to be CORI-checked. The background checks will apply to all volunteers appointed by the selectmen.

Selectman Michael Brady said potential applicants may have disturbing information in their pasts which need to be uncovered. Screening will ferret out criminal offender records, incidents of domestic violence, etc. Brady noted the volunteers will have access to certain areas of town buildings. "We have a duty to know who's going in there," Brady said.

Town Administrator Michael Carroll intends to review the CORI policy to see the degree to which it can be expanded. The next step would be to put an article on the November town meeting warrant calling to amend the general bylaws.