Board Transparency And Accountability

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

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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