All members of the Clean Water Services (CWS) Board of Directors are committed to being good stewards of public resources and trust. We take seriously the issues highlighted by The Oregonian and are firm in our commitment to hold CWS accountable for improving its processes. This includes implementing and enforcing policy changes that apply more stringent food, travel, and executive spending guidelines. Some of this work has already been completed with the introduction of a new food policy.
Moving forward, the Board directed CWS to contract an external auditor, then address findings, and provide reports to all Board directors that ensure travel and meal expenditures align with best practices, demonstrate responsible financial stewardship, and maintain public trust.
In addition, the Board is enlisting the oversight of an outside third-party auditor to review the last three years of records that led to recent media coverage and recommend further steps to solidify the organization’s accountability to ratepayers, public officials, and the communities CWS serves. Further, we have directed CWS take steps to curtail future executive spending, including removing executive purchasing cards and implementing robust processes for prior approval and documentation to support necessary spending.
While increased accountability and oversight are needed, the CWS Board stands behind the hard work and dedication of the almost 450 CWS employees, as well as the innovative techniques CWS uses to protect public health, the environment, and ratepayer investments in the uniquely challenging Tualatin River Watershed.
CWS employees do some truly extraordinary and physically challenging work to ensure operations continue 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to protect public health and the environment. CWS is also recognized as a leader nationally and internationally for the groundbreaking research and innovations that have developed from operating under some of the most stringent water quality compliance standards in the nation.
Additional Resources
Statement by CEO Diane-Taniguchi-Dennis
CWS Board Resolution & Order
Recent Media Coverage FAQs
About the CWS Budget
CWS Board of Directors
CWS Executive Leadership
Who & Where We Serve
