Committee members want legal counsel to sign off on some proposed updates

By Sam Richards

Staff writer

Thursday, September 25 (4:30 p.m.): The RWC Policy Committee last week considered recommending updates to Rossmoor’s policy to protect residents, staff and vendors from various forms of harassment, and asked that legal counsel review several suggested changes before making a formal recommendation to the RWC Board.

The committee is expected to decide at its October meeting whether to recommend changes, after Rossmoor legal counsel Jeff Beaumont reviews a handful of prospective adjustments to three separate Rossmoor policies that General Manager Jeff Matheson said are “intertwined.” One is the harassment policy itself; another outlines how it’s determined whether a violation occurred; and the third covers how disciplinary hearings are called and conducted.

The harassment policy, including proposed changes to be reviewed, includes the following behaviors directed toward residents, guests, staff or vendors that qualify as harassment:

• Verbal or physical violence, implied or actual, including physical intimidation
• Personal insults and yelling
• Unwanted/offensive physical contact, filming, photography, recording and/or infringement on personal space
• Threatening to damage someone else’s property
• Stalking or following someone to intimidate
• Disruptive behavior or personal attacks during Rossmoor Walnut Creek meetings
• Creating a hostile work environment for staff or hired outside vendors

“Anyone within Rossmoor has the right not to be subjected to harassment of any kind,” Matheson said.

The harassment policy says suspected harassment should be reported to RWC senior staff and/or the RWC Board. All reported incidents will be initially reviewed by the general manager (or his/her designee) to decide whether there should be an investigation. If the harassing behavior in question persists, or if there is a second violation, or if potentially unlawful conduct occurs, a hearing will be scheduled, in front of the RWC Board during closed session.

If the accused member appears at their hearing, they could make a statement on their behalf. If the accused doesn’t appear, the RWC Board can simply decide on a penalty, which could include taking away amenity privileges for a short period of time.

Also to be taken up again by the Policy Committee in October is a policy that would treat rule violations at all Rossmoor amenities, including golf, the Fitness Center and others, consistently. Currently, amenities’ rules and penalties differ slightly.