The Rowland Water District (RWD) Board of Directors unanimously approved a new slate of ethics guidelines during a recent Board meeting on Aug. 13, 2012. The measure, which supersedes previous similar measures, demonstrates RWD’s commitment to operating in an open and transparent manner. The ethics guidelines require that the board and staff operate with “the highest of ethical standards in personal honesty and fairness” in carrying out their duties. This ensures that decisions and policies are made impartially and in the most responsive means possible to serve the public.
Initial guidelines, adopted in 2004, were based on those published by the Association of California Water Agencies, and the revisions most recently adopted further enforce a code of conduct that meets or exceeds other standards set by the Association. The new guidelines specifically address items ranging from responsibilities of office and use of District property and resources, to conflicts of interest and inter-agency relationships.
“We are simply building on the guidelines that were already in place, to ensure both confidence in the board and that future board members understand how important this is to the district,” says Szu Pei Lu-Yang, RWD board president. “We take adherence to these guidelines very seriously, and spell out what is expected of each Board member. We serve the public trust; that word is fundamental. Trust is what we must earn and keep in order to be effective.”
These guidelines are available for viewing at www.rowlandwater.com, under the “Governance” tab.
