Board of Ethics - Welcome Message

Welcome to the site of the Board of Ethics for the City and County of Denver. The Board of Ethics administers the Denver Code of Ethics, which regulates the employees, elected officials, appointed officials and board and commission members of the Denver city government. The Board gives advice about ethics issues and investigates complaints submitted by city employees or citizens about ethics issues regarding Denver city government personnel. The Board also works with the Career Service Authority to provide ethics training to city personnel.

There are five members of the Board, appointed by the Mayor and by City Council. Members are all unpaid volunteers and meet monthly. The Board has one full-time employee, Staff Director Michael Henry (720-865-8412).

Denver has had a Code of Ethics for city officers, employees and officials since at least 1965. The City Council strengthened the Code of Ethics in 2001 and 2004. Both the Denver City Charter and the Code of Ethics provide “it is the intent of the City and County of Denver that its officers, officials and employees adhere to high levels of ethical conduct so that the public will have confidence that persons in positions of public responsibility are acting for the benefit of the public.”

Click here to read more about the Board Ethics in the article published in Spotlight Magazine, March 2006.

How to File a Complaint

The Code of Ethics and the Rules of Procedure for the Board of Ethics describe the process for filing a complaint with the Board of Ethics concerning a city employee, officer or official.

Complaint Form
If a person wishes to file a complaint, he or she must fill out and sign and submit a written form. Click here to download the form.

Please note that the Board of Ethics is not able to accept complaints about actions that took place more than two years before the date of filing the complaint.

The Board of Ethics is required to send a copy of the complaint to the person who is the subject of the complaint. The Board of Ethics will then screen the written complaint and determine whether a public hearing is warranted to consider the complaint.

Before deciding whether or not to file a complaint, you are welcome to discuss the issues and the process with the Staff Director of the Board of Ethics, Michael Henry.

How to Request Ethical Advice

The Board of Ethics, if requested, gives official written advisory opinions to city employees, elected officers and board and commission members about Code of Ethics issues and also considers whether waivers should be given if an action would violate the Code of Ethics but the action would be in the city’s best interest.

Click here to read more.

Announcements

Current Digest of Opinions

The Board of Ethics has just released a digest of its opinions for the first 6 months of 2009. The opinions may provide useful guidance regarding gifts, conflicts of interest, subsequent employment, supervision of family members and outside employment. Click here to read the current digest.

New Meeting Time for Board of Ethics Meetings

PLEASE NOTE: Effective June 25, 2009, the Board of Ethics has moved its meeting time to 3:30pm in an effort to be more convenient for city personnel and citizens wishing to attend Board of Ethics meetings.

Ethics Handbook is Updated in 2008

The Board of Ethics updated the ethics handbook for all city elected officials, employees and board and commission members. The updated, new and improved 2008 Denver Ethics Handbook includes the most recent version of the Code of Ethics (including the latest amendments from 2007), the CSA Rules pertaining to ethics, sections of the Charter related to ethics, the Whistle-Blower Protection Ordinance (passed in 2007), summaries of many opinions by the Board of Ethics and questions and answers.

The earlier handbook updated in 2003 is now outdated and should be recycled.

Click here for access to the new Ethics Handbook.

Changes to Code of Ethics

On July 30, 2007 City Council passed several minor changes to the Denver Code of Ethics, which governs all Denver elected officials, city employees and board and commission members.

The last major revision to the Code of Ethics was made in 2001 and a number of smaller changes were made in 2004.

The current changes were recommended by the Denver Board of Ethics based on its experience in interpreting and administering the Code for the purpose of clarification and filling in gaps.