Ethics Committee Formal Opinion #1984/5-18

April 9 , 1985

ANNOTATIONS:

An unpaid appointee to a town committee having no decision making responsibility and limited scope would not be barred from representing clients before the town’s boards on matters unrelated to those taken up by the committee.

QUESTION:

The inquiring attorney states that at a recent town meeting it was decided that a committee of seven persons would be appointed by the Board of Selectmen to review the feasibility and/or desirability of an expansion of the Town Hall.  The committee is to function for a year’s time, formulating a report for submission at the next town meeting in March of 1986.  The inquiring attorney questions whether or not participation on this seven-member committee would preclude appearances before any town board such as Zoning Board of Adjustment, Planning Board, etc., or the participation of any other attorneys in his office.

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