OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES

Denver City Charter subtit. B, art. I, pt. 2

in effect

Denver City Charter, art. I, § 1.2.1 General municipal policy.

§ 1.2.1 - General municipal policy. The administration of the City and County of Denver shall be nonpolitical, with economy and good service as its aim and purpose. All appointments are to be made solely upon merit and ability. 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. (Charter 1960, C6.8; amended May 17, 1916; Ord. No. 427-02, § 1, 6-3-02, elec. 8-13-02; Ord. No. 136-03, § 1, 2-24-03, elec. 5-6-03)

Denver City Charter, art. I, § 1.2.2 Oath of office.

§ 1.2.2 - Oath of office. Before entering upon the duties of office, every officer elected or appointed shall take and subscribe before a Judge of a Court of Record, and file with the Clerk of the City and County, an oath or affirmation supporting the constitutions of the United States and of the State of Colorado, the Charter and ordinances of the City and County, and indicating that the officer will faithfully perform the duties of the office. (Charter 1960, C5.2; Charter 1904, § 151; Ord. No. 428-02, § 1, 6-3-02, elec. 8-13-02)

Denver City Charter, art. I, § 1.2.3 Officer becoming ineligible.

§ 1.2.3 - Officer becoming ineligible. In case any officer of the City and County shall become ineligible during the officer's term of office, the office shall thereby become vacant. (Charter 1960, C5.11; Charter 1904, § 180; Ord. No. 428-02, § 1, 6-3-02, elec. 8-13-02)

Denver City Charter, art. I, § 1.2.4 Bonds of officers.

§ 1.2.4 - Bonds of officers. Except as otherwise provided in the Charter, official bonds shall be given by officers and employees in such amounts and under such conditions as may be provided by law or by ordinance. (Charter 1960, C5.3, C5.3-1; Charter 1904, § 152; Ord. No. 426-02, § 1, 6-3-02, elec. 8-13-02; Ord. No. 428-02, § 1, 6-3-02, elec. 8-13-02; Ord. No. 676-02, § 1, 8-26-02, elec. 11-5-02)

Denver City Charter, art. I, § 1.2.5 Bonds required in civil actions.

§ 1.2.5 - Bonds required in civil actions. When in any action in a court of the City and County of Denver officers of the City may be required to give any bond in their official capacity, such bond shall be accepted without sureties if subscribed by the Mayor or other officers, with the seal of the City and County, and attested by the Clerk and Recorder. (Charter 1960, A10.13; Charter 1904, § 339; amended September 9, 1980)

Denver City Charter, art. I, § 1.2.6 Services required by ordinance.

§ 1.2.6 - Services required by ordinance. All officers, boards and commissions in addition to their specified duties, shall render such other service as may be required by ordinance. (Charter 1960, C5.4; Charter 1904, § 155)

Denver City Charter, art. I, § 1.2.7 Reserved.

Denver City Charter, art. I, § 1.2.8 Holding other office or employment.

§ 1.2.8 - Holding other office or employment. (A) Employees and Appointed Charter Officers. No employee or appointed Charter officer shall have other employment or hold any public office that is incompatible with his or her duties. Every employee and appointed officer shall notify his or her appointing authority in writing before accepting any other employment or public office; newly hired employees and appointed officers shall report any outside employment or office immediately upon being hired or appointed. (B) Elected Charter Officers. Elected officers of the City shall not hold any other public elective office or any employment that is incompatible with their duties. Elected officers shall not hold any other employment with the City. Elected officers shall waive any additional compensation when they serve upon the governing board or body of any public body or any municipal or quasi-municipal corporation within which or part of which the City or a part of it is located, or of which the City is an interested or constituent member. (Charter 1960, C5.13; amended June 5, 1962; Ord. No. 428-02, § 1, 6-3-02, elec. 8-13-02; Ord. No. 136-03, § 1, 2-24-03, elec. 5-6-03)

Denver City Charter, art. I, § 1.2.9 Ethics and Conflicts of Interest.

§ 1.2.9 - Ethics and Conflicts of Interest. (A) No officer or employee shall have any interest arising by contract or other relationship that creates a substantial conflict of interest with respect to his or her duties, unless the conflict can be avoided by abstention or disqualification from participating in a transaction without adversely affecting the interests of the City. Every employee and appointed officer shall report promptly in writing to his or her appointing authority any business activity or situation that may be or may become a substantial conflict of interest. (B) No officer or employee shall have a direct interest in a contract or similar instrument with the City if he or she participated in approving or establishing the contract or instrument or its terms or conditions; provided, however, that subject to the conditions that may be established by ordinance or other applicable law, any officer or employee may purchase City property or financial instruments in a public sale at a fixed price or a public auction. (C) The City Council shall establish by ordinance a Code of Ethics for officers, employees, and members of boards and commissions relating to the use of public office for private gain, employment and supervision of family members, gifts, conflicts of interest, prior employment, outside employment, subsequent employment, and other ethics matters not inconsistent with the Charter. The Code of Ethics shall also establish a Board of Ethics to inform and assist officers, employees, and members of boards and commissions in interpreting the provisions of the Code of Ethics, investigate complaints, issue advisory opinions and waivers, assist agencies in conducting ongoing ethics programs, and perform other duties, not inconsistent with the Charter, as may be provided by ordinance. The Mayor and the Council shall each appoint an equal number of members of the Board of Ethics, and if the Board consists of an odd number of members, one member shall be nominated by the Mayor and confirmed by ordinance. If there is a conflict between the Code of Ethics and another rule or regulation, the Code of Ethics shall prevail but nothing herein shall be construed to impair the power of appointing authorities to adopt standards of conduct more stringent than the Code of Ethics for employees under their control. (Charter 1960, C5.13; amended June 5, 1962; Ord. No. 428-02, § 1, 6-3-02, elec. 8-13-02; Ord. No. 136-03, § 1, 2-24-03, elec. 5-6-03)

Denver City Charter, art. I, § 1.2.10 Contributions for political purposes.

§ 1.2.10 - Contributions for political purposes. No officer or employee shall initiate any disciplinary action against, discharge or change the rank or compensation of any officer or employee, or promise or threaten to do so for giving, withholding or neglecting to make contributions or any service for any political purpose. No person shall, in any room or building occupied for the discharge of official duties, solicit or receive any contribution for political purposes. (Charter 1960, C5.74; Charter 1904, § 205; amended November 4, 1986)

Denver City Charter, art. I, § 1.2.11 Appointment and compensation of employees.

§ 1.2.11 - Appointment and compensation of employees. All persons in the employ of the City and County of Denver, other than appointed officers, are hereby declared to be employees and shall be appointed by the Mayor, Department Head or, other appointing authority subject to any applicable merit system requirements and their compensation shall be fixed by ordinance or in accordance with collective bargaining contracts. The heads of the various departments and all commissions, boards, and officers shall appoint all necessary help and employees under their control, subject to the requirements of Article 9 of this Charter. (Charter 1960, C5.17; amended May 17, 1916; amended June 15, 1971; amended September 14, 1982; amended March 20, 1995; Ord. No. 428-02, § 1, 6-3-02, elec. 8-13-02; Ord. No. 676-02, § 1, 8-26-02, elec. 11-5-02)

Denver City Charter, art. I, § 1.2.12 Officials or employees confined to lawful salary.

§ 1.2.12 - Officials or employees confined to lawful salary. No official or employee shall solicit or receive any pay, commission, money or anything of value, or derive any benefit, profit or advantage, directly or indirectly for the performance of official duties except lawful compensation or salary as such officer or employee. No officer or salaried employee of the city and county shall accept or use, unless authorized by law or ordinance to do so for some public purpose, directly or indirectly, from any railroad, telegraph, telephone company, or from any owner of any public utility franchise in the city and county, any pass, frank, free ticket, free service or other services upon terms more favorable than those granted to the public generally. Any violation of this section shall ipso facto work a vacancy in the office or employment of such persons so offending. (Charter 1960, C5.14; amended February 14, 1913; Ord. No. 428-02, § 1, 6-3-02, elec. 8-13-02; Ord. No. 676-02, § 1, 8-26-02, elec. 11-5-02)

Denver City Charter, art. I, § 1.2.13 Reserved.

Denver City Charter, art. I, § 1.2.14 Reserved.

Denver City Charter, art. I, § 1.2.15 Pay periods.

§ 1.2.15 - Pay periods. All salaries and compensation of all officers and employees shall be payable at periods of time as may be provided by ordinance or in accordance with collective bargaining agreements. Any Charter or ordinance changes relating to pay schedules shall not affect any rights or benefits that have vested prior to the enactment of such changes, even if that should require the maintenance of dual payroll systems by the City. (Charter 1960; C5.16, C5.17; amended February 17, 1914; amended November 3, 1998; amended November 7, 2001; Ord. No. 676-02, § 1, 8-26-02, elec. 11-5-02; Ord. No. 0716-24, § 1, 7-15-24, elec. 11-5-24)

Source: City and County of Denver, Revised Municipal Code and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/co/denver/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIHORU_SUBTITLE_BCH_ARTIGEPR_PT2OFEMFetched: 10/27/2026