To make our 208 Planning Agency a better Association, built on mutual respect and trust. To promote and maintain the highest standards of personal and professional conduct among all members involved. This policy applies to all elected officials, town or special district councils and boards, officers, committees, and members of the North Front Range Water Quality Planning Association (the Association), herein called members or membership for this policy.

The proper operation of a democratic government requires that decision-makers be independent, impartial, and accountable to the people they serve. NFRWQPA has adopted this Code of Ethics & Values to promote and maintain the membership’s highest personal and professional conduct standards.

All elected and appointed officials, volunteers, members, and others who participate in the Association must subscribe to this Code, understand how it applies to their specific responsibilities, and practice its core values in their work. Because we seek public confidence in the Association’s services and public trust of its decision-makers, our decisions and work must meet the most demanding ethical standards and demonstrate the highest achievement levels in following this Code. At the center of this Code lies the Association’s Mission and Vision Statements.

Core Values:                                                                                      

As a designated management or operation agency (DMOA) representative of the Association, I will be ethical according to the Association’s Mission and Vision Statements. In practice, this value looks like this:

1. I am trustworthy, acting with the utmost integrity and moral courage.
2. I do what I say I will do. I am dependable.
3. I make impartial decisions being fair and equitable, independent of personal interests or judgment consistent with the 208 Areawide Water Quality Management Plan.
4. If I engage in unilateral meetings and discussions, I do so without making voting decisions.
5. I show respect for members, persons, confidences, and information designated as “confidential.”
6. I use my title(s) only when conducting official Association business, for information purposes, or as an indication of background and expertise, carefully considering whether I am exceeding or appearing to exceed my authority.
7. I will avoid actions that might cause the public or others to question my independent judgment.
8. According to the Association’s DMOA’s responsibilities outlined within the 208 Areawide Water Quality Management Plan, I will be professional and service-oriented.
9. I will be responsible for the Association’s DMOA responsibilities outlined within the 208 Areawide Water Quality Management Plan.
10. I will provide prudent consideration in decisions considering the long-term financial needs to maintain, protect or restore regional water quality according to a DMOA’s responsibilities outlined within the 208 Areawide Water Quality Management Plan.

As a DMOA representative of the Association, I will collaborate according to the Association’s Mission and Vision Statements. In practice, this value looks like this:

1. I positively convey the Association’s care for and commitment to its regional citizens to preserve, protect, or restore water quality and wastewater services for regional residents considering the Association’s decisions and issues’ broader regional and statewide implications.
2. I will communicate in various ways, being approachable, open-minded, and willing to participate in the dialog.
3. I engage in effective two-way communication by listening carefully, asking questions, and determining an appropriate response that adds value to conversations.
4. I act cooperatively with groups and other individuals, working together in a spirit of tolerance and understanding.
5. I work towards consensus building and gain value from diverse opinions.

Enforcement:

NFRWQPA’s primary objective is to create a membership of competent decision-making DMOAs to work together to achieve local, regional, and state water quality objectives at the lowest economic, social, political, and environmental costs.  

Membership found to violate this Code of Ethics and Values may be subject to censure, guidance, and mentorship by the Association. Any DMOA of any advisory Committee found in violation may be subject to dismissal from the Committee. In an Executive Committee member case, appropriate action shall be taken by the Executive Committee and the General Manager or by an authorized designee.

The above and preceding Resolution of Code of Ethics and Values was motioned and seconded by the Executive Committee Officers adopted on the 2nd day of September 2021.