This perceived conflict of interest situation was avoidable. In retrospect, the County Commission is clearly to blame for placing Matthews and Parkinson in this uncomfortable situation. Since opposition to this site development was foreseeable, an effort should have been made to advertise the Planning Committee positions prior to making the appointments. If no other qualified applicants were found, the claims made by the Barker Township residents would not be quite so convincing. By acting as they did, the County Commissioners have ensured that the Barker Township residents have a distrust, not only of Matthews and Parkinson, but of the entire County Board and its process of making appointments.
Avoidance is clearly the best way to deal with foreseeable conflict of interest situations.
Davis, Michael 1982. Luebke, Neil R. 1987. Martin, Mike W. and R. Schinzinger 1989. Simmons, A. John 1987. An important difference for ethics and public policy arising from this distinction is that no easy, automatic solution is available in apparent 'conflict' cases, if one accepts my view.