Staff and members of the Aurora Regional Economic Alliance (Alliance) Board shall, at all times, abide by and conform to the following code of conduct in their capacity as representatives of the Alliance:
- Each employee and member of the Board of Directors will abide in all respects by the Alliance Code of Ethics and all other rules and regulations of the organization (including but not limited to the Alliance’s by-laws). Board members will ensure that their membership in the Alliance remains in good standing at all times.
- Alliance representatives will conduct the business affairs of the Alliance in good faith and with honesty, integrity, and due diligence. They will lead by example in serving the needs of the Alliance and its members and in representing the interests and ideals of the Aurora region at large.
- Except as Alliance representatives may otherwise require or as otherwise required by law, no one shall share, copy, reproduce, transmit, divulge, or otherwise disclose any confidential information related to the affairs of the Alliance. Employees and Board members will uphold strict confidentiality of all meetings and other deliberations and communications of the Board of Directors and the CEO.
- Association representatives will exercise proper authority and good judgment in their dealings with members, suppliers, and the general public and will respond to the needs of members in a responsible, respectful, and professional manner.
- No representative will use any information provided by the Alliance or acquired as a consequence of employment and/or service to the Alliance in any manner other than in furtherance of his or her duties. No representative will misuse Alliance property or resources and will at all times keep the Alliance’s property secure and not allow any person not authorized by the Board of Directors to have or use such property.
- Each Alliance representative will use his or her best efforts to regularly participate in professional development activities and will perform his or her assigned duties in a professional and timely manner pursuant to the Board and CEO’s direction and oversight.
- Upon termination of service and/or employment, a retiring Board member or employee will promptly return to the Alliance, or properly destroy, all documents, electronic and hard files, reference materials, and other property entrusted to him or her for the purpose of fulfilling job or Board responsibilities.
- Each Alliance representative shall provide full disclosure of any business or financial enterprise or activity in which he or she is involved that might influence, or appear to have the capacity to influence, his or her official decisions or actions regarding the Alliance. Disclosure is required of representatives concerning all relationships and business affiliations that reasonably could give rise to a conflict of interest involving the Alliance. This disclosure shall be continuously reported and kept current if the employee or Board member or member of their families is: an officer, director, trustee, partner, employee, agent, or substantial stockholder (5% or more of voting stock or control interest) of a for-profit organization doing business with the Alliance and materially benefited through substantial receipt of cash or other property (exclusive of dividends or interest) from such organization. Transactions involving apparent conflict of interest may be to the benefit of the Alliance and need not always be avoided. Nevertheless, to ensure unbiased evaluation of such transactions and to avoid the appearance of impropriety, such transactions must be approved by the CEO. All Alliance representatives shall disclose in written form any potential transactions involving a possible conflict of interest. No such approval will be granted unless it is fully disclosed and adequate controls are implemented to protect the Alliance’s interest.
- Employees who have, directly or through family connections, an interest in suppliers of goods or services shall not undertake to act for the Alliance in any transaction involving that interest.
- Alliance representatives will refrain from personal activities, including but not limited to the purchase or sale of real property or other goods or services in which they could use, or might appear to have the opportunity to use, confidential information or special knowledge gained as a result of their relationship with the Alliance for personal gain.
- It is sound practice to discourage personal gifts and favors from people with whom the Alliance has a business relationship.
- Alliance representatives are prohibited from voting on any matter(s) from which they may benefit personally or professionally.
- In any case in which an employee or Board member believes that his or her conduct or activities may conflict with these guidelines, may appear to conflict with these guidelines, or may otherwise create a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest, he or she must disclose the details of the situation to the CEO.