Ethics and conflict.

We are familiar enough with the conflict of interest dilemma faced by public officials; there are many examples in the news of public figures being accused and convicted of conflicts of interest. Perhaps a most sensitive position is the professional in private practice who also serves in an official position for a local government. To their credit, many surveyors contribute their time and energy to their communities as elected or appointed members of planning commissions, boards of appeals, conservation commissions and so on. For them the conflict will come (sooner or later) when a project appears before their board in which they have had some past connection. The connection need not be professional-a family connection is enough to create a conflict. The issue becomes a dilemma when the connection is distant and obscure. If a project proponent's partner is the surveyor's second cousin twice removed, the professional may honestly believe that he or she has no bias, but is well-advised to make full disclosure of the connection before consideration of the project begins. There may in fact be no bias on the part of the surveyor/board member, but the mere possibility of bias may be enough to create an appearance of a conflict of interest.