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Roles and Responsibilities 

The CML Executive Board consists of 21 municipal elected and appointed officials elected by their peers at the CML Annual Conference in June. 

 

CML general governance overview

  • CML works with Colorado cities and towns to develop and improve municipal government.
  • CML provides services that increase the efficiency of Colorado cities and towns.
  • CML assists in securing legislative enactments that benefit municipalities while opposing injurious legislation.
  • CML acts at all times in the best interest and for the benefit of all Colorado municipalities and their citizens.
  • CML conducts all business while adhering to the highest legal and ethical standards

 

Role of the Executive Board

General expectations of the entire Board
  1. Develop, articulate, promote, support, and implement CML's vision, mission, goals and strategic plan.
  2. Frame and focus policy discussions to implement CML’s mission.
  3. Monitor, assess, modify, eliminate and strengthen, as appropriate, CML policies and programs that advance CML’s mission.
  4. Articulate CML’s mission, accomplishments, and priorities to the membership.
  5. Establish and implement robust processes to maintain oversight of the budget, finances and operations of CML.
  6. Create, eliminate, monitor, assess, and strengthen, as appropriate, committees and task forces in order to advance CML’s mission.
  7. Establish rules to assure legal and ethical integrity, to maintain accountability, and to assure effective fiduciary oversight.
  8. Provide for leadership succession on the Board.
  9. Evaluate the Board’s performance.
Oversight of executive director
  1. Recruit, select, hire, and determine compensation for the executive director.
  2. Ensure that the Executive Director has adequate funding, staffing, and facilities to fulfill CML’s mission.
  3. Establish policy and provide direction to the Executive Director to provide programs and services for advocacy, education, and training to members.
  4. Evaluate the performance of and set compensation for the Executive Director.
  5. Plan for leadership succession for the Executive Director.
  6. Authorize CML staff positions.

 

Role of individual Board members

General expectations
  1. Understand CML’s mission, purpose, goals, policies, programs, services, and finances.
  2. Represent and advocate for local control and other matters important to towns/municipalities of your size, as well as all Colorado towns and municipalities.
  3. Suggest changes, improvements, and additions to CML’s advocacy, education, and training programs that will strengthen and advance CML’s mission.
  4. Stay current and informed about trends in civic, state, and national affairs that may affect member municipalities and the organization.
  5. Engage with CML members to understand how best to represent member interests and to discuss CML’s positions on matters of local importance.
  6. Advocate CML legislative policies to the Board member’s state delegation and other policymakers as appropriate.
  7. Review and understand the organization’s financial statements and assist the Board in fulfilling its fiduciary responsibilities.
  8. Participate in CML Board training and develop the skills necessary to be an effective leader.
  9. Serve in leadership positions and undertake committee and task force assignments willingly and enthusiastically.
  10. Support and recognize the achievements of the Board, the Executive Director, and the CML staff.
  11. Perform duties of Board membership responsibly, with energy and enthusiasm.
  12. Bring good will and a sense of humor to Board deliberations.
  13. Conduct yourself in personal and professional life in a manner that reflect well on CML and its leadership.
  14. Disclose all conflicts of interest to the Board and Executive Director.
  15. Serve CML as a whole while maintaining independence and objectivity, and act fairly, ethically, and with personal integrity.
  16. Assist in identifying and recruiting strong candidates as new Board members.
Meeting expectations
  1. Attend CML Board monthly meetings in person, to the greatest extent possible, and the annual retreat. A vacancy will be created if an Executive Board Member misses three consecutive Board meetings held over any period of more than 60 days.
  2. Prepare in advance and participate actively in Board meetings.
  3. Attend district meetings for your district and other CML districts when possible.
  4. Attend the CML Annual Conference.
  5. Participate actively in Board and Committee discussions consistent with your knowledge, conscience and convictions.
  6. Maintain confidentiality of Board executive sessions and protect from disclosure private and confidential information.
  7. Provide the President and Executive Director, when possible, at least 10 days’ notice of any agenda item.
Decision making
  1. Members having a potential conflicting interest transaction proposed or pending before CML must disclose the interest to the Executive Board and recuse himself or herself from the discussion and vote and must refrain from influencing the decision of other Board members voting on the matter.
  2. Board members must share their opinions, listen to others, and strive to understand issues from the perspectives of other Board members. If a Board member holds an opinion that has not been voiced, it is his or her duty to share the opinion during Board deliberations – not before or after the meeting.
  3. In deciding how to cast a vote, Board members are expected support the mission of CML and the collective interest of all Colorado cities.
  4. After a Board vote is taken, unless the decision violates his or her fundamental values or position as an elected official, each Board member is expected to support the majority decision. In all events, Board members must fully describe and accurately characterize the Board’s discussions and reasons supporting the decision.
  5. If asked by the media or others to provide CML’s official position on an issue, Board members should defer to the President or Executive Director or refer to official CML policies and statements.
  6. Board members are expected to be available, within reason, to directly advocate for CML’s official position at the Colorado General Assembly. Board members should not actively speak against CML’s position, even when fulfilling roles as officers of other entities or organizations engaged in legislative advocacy.
Staff relations
  1. The Board focuses on policy, outcomes, and organizational oversight.
  2. The Executive Director is responsible for CML operations.
  3. Board members should ordinarily communicate with the Executive Director regarding CML matters, and advise, assist and support the Executive Director.
  4. The Board and Board members recognize achievements of CML staff.
Role of the executive officers
  1. Meet, as needed, to provide direction to staff on significant policy items and recommend, if deemed necessary, a special meeting of the Board.
  2. Interview and recommend for approval applicants for vacancies that may occur on the Board
Role of the president
  1. Work with the Executive Director to fulfill CML’s mission. Support and encourage the Executive Director and complete an annual review of the Executive Director’s performance. Serve as the liaison between the Executive Director and the Board.
  2. Chair meetings of the Executive Board. Ensure that Board members have an opportunity to be heard before votes are taken. Work with the Executive Director to prepare agendas.
  3. Ensure the optimal functioning of Board members and staff. 
  4. Preside at the Annual Conference.
  5. Serve as the principle spokesperson for CML and ensure that CML positions are effectively communicated.
  6. Ensure that processes are in place to effectively evaluate the direction and performance of CML.
  7. Ensure that Board policies and procedures are followed.
  8. Appoint members of the Board to committees and task forces.
  9. Facilitate leadership succession for the Board. 
  10. Represent CML to the National League of Cities.