board transparency and accountability
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The University of Wyoming is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.
Board Transparency and
AccountabilityBill Taylor
Northeast Community Development Educator
UW Cooperative Extension Service
UW Community Development Education
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Legal and Ethical Integrity
“Since the board is ultimately responsible for ensuring adherence to legal standards and ethical norms, its members must collectively exhibit diligence, commitment, and vigilance to keep their house in order…The organization’s reputation and public standing require everyone to take three watchwords seriously: compliance, transparency, and accountability.” – Richard T. Ingram
UW Community Development Education
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TransparencyThe need to provide accurate information about an organization’s activities and how they are carried out, and about the organization’s revenue and how it is expended.
UW Community Development Education
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Why Transparency?Compliance with legal obligationsDemonstrate good willEstablish and maintain professional standards and ethicsThe board is what it is perceived to be in the eyes of the public
Demonstrate wise use of resourcesUphold the integrity of the board for the futureDemonstrate good board governanceDemonstrate prudent financial management
UW Community Development Education
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Three Areas
Organizational
Programmatic
Financial
UW Community Development Education
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Organizational Transparency
Process to identify who the board is and its purposeProcess to identify who the responsible officers are and what their individual responsibilities will be
UW Community Development Education
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Programmatic TransparencyIdentifies the activities and services of the boardMeasures the effectiveness and/or efficiency of the board
UW Community Development Education
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Financial TransparencyAccurately reporting the financial transactions and position of the boardAnalyze and report the general financial health of the organization in a manner that is easy to understand and will stand the test of accountability to the public
UW Community Development Education
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Wyoming County/City/Board Financial Statutes
http://legisweb.state.wy.us/titles/statutes.htmConstitution:
97-16-006,007Statutes :
6-5-101 to 6-5-118 9-3-427 9-4-806, 817, 831 16-4-101 to 16-4-124 38-2-101
UW Community Development Education
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Boards should:Have clear policies and procedures to safeguard against premature destruction of documents
See p. 6 of Board Member HandbookEnsure all records and documents (except those which would be properly handled in an executive session) are available for public review
Minutes Legal documents Financial documents Transactions Audits
UW Community Development Education
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Boards should (cont):Follow spirit and letter of the Open Meetings Act
Board Member Handbook – p. 31Use executive session only for reasons allowed in act
Little to no basis for advisory boards to use executive session
Enact and enforce a conflict-of-interest policy
Signing of conflict-of-interest policy form by each member is a good idea
Publish annual public summary reports of their activities and finances
UW Community Development Education
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ScrutinyPublic and legal scrutiny of all types of boards continues to increase, due to many legal and ethical infractions by appointed, elected, nonprofit, and corporate boards
Consequently, you must do everything possible to present your board to the public and legal authorities as being open to examination – examination which will prove you are properly executing your duties and upholding the public trust