There Are Degrees Of Conflict Of Interest

To the editor: I used to joke that Nantucket was one big conflict of interest but what I was referring to, somewhat paradoxically, was that on a small island with a small year-round population conflict of interest was unavoidable. I take Sam Parsons’ point.

But I also had to laugh when she stated that hard-working folks like those who do the
landscaping and clean the houses have the time to serve on the boards, commissions, committees, and councils that represent an extension of town government. Do they — usually people of color — really have the time to serve on these bodies or is that, too, a problem?

Nantucket Current's recent story brought attention to the fact that most of town government and, by extension, its multiple advisory and decision-making bodies, are white. Many are mostly male and white, even though we regularly hear about the powerful women of Nantucket, both current and historic.

There are also degrees of conflict of interest. Certain members of consequential boards and commissions base their business on representing clients who have business before the boards and commissions they serve on. Yes, they typically recuse themselves from the decisions affecting their clients but there is a direct line between making money from so-called volunteering.

And there is the whole recusal process. Is that underused? The island’s main business is not tourism but development and real estate, all tied to the invaluable land of Nantucket. A great deal of money has been made from this enterprise, and it
is not surprising that those who have profited would want the money train to continue and in fact go full speed ahead even if it means that, at some time in the nebulous future, the whole thing comes to a crashing halt.

Each person who serves on the numerous advisory and decision-making bodies has to ask themselves honestly whose financial interests they are principally serving. Is it their own? Is it their families? Is it a relative who has a business that is affected by their decision? There are certainly degrees of conflict of interest. But when that conflict threatens to jeopardize the quality of life of the larger community, then the conflict rises to the level of legitimate concern and perhaps even legal action.

Maureen Searle