> Boston Region MPO Communication Norms for Board and Committee Members and Officers

 

 

 

 


DRAFT Boston Region MPO Communication Norms for Board and Committee Members and Officers

 

Introduction

The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) strives to offer inclusive forums for discussions that lead to transparent decision-making. In order to do so, the Boston Region MPO recognizes that all individuals, designees, and alternates serving on the MPO board and its committees should maintain respectful discourse with their fellow board members, staff to the Boston Region MPO, and members of the public.

 

This Communications Norms document provides a universal standard of conduct and framework for effective and respectful discourse. This document is supplemental to the Boston Region MPO Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Boston Region MPO Operations Plan, the Bylaws of the Advisory Council, as well as any other governing documents of the MPO or its committees. It is not a substitute for the Massachusetts State Ethics Law or the Open Meeting Law.

 

Norms

Members or representatives of the Boston Region MPO and its committees shall conduct their communications related to the activities of the board and committees in the following manner:

 

Reporting

Board and committee members should report observed violations of these communications norms made by any board or committee member toward each other, staff, or a member of the public.

 

Concerns regarding potential violations may be reported to the chair or vice chair of the Boston Region MPO. The executive director will investigate any accusation of a violation related to staff.

 

The chair and vice chair shall review reports of observed violations of these norms, and will proceed with the following steps:

 

If the chair or vice chair or their designees are observed violating the norms, the chair of the Administration and Finance Committee shall be sought to confer on reported violations and next steps.

 


 

Certification

I certify that I have received the Communications Norms for the Boston Region MPO.

 

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Board or Committee Member Signature                          Date