Ethics & the Planning Commission A commissioner's greatest asset is credibility; once damaged, that credibility may be impossible to restore. -- Gregory Dale, from "Behind the Scenes Advocacy" Short articles offer advice and caution about the ethical situations planning commissioners and other citizen planners (and governing body members) often encounter, including ex-parte contacts, bias, accepting gifts, political influence and more. Written in jargon-free language for citizen planners, this collection of articles previously published in the Planning Commissioners Journal will be especially useful to new members of planning commissions and zoning boards, providing essential information about an important subject. Order all of the following articles for delivery by first-class mail, as a bound 54-page reprint collection ($23.50); note: $5.00 flat shipping/handling regardless of number ordered. -- individual articles can be ordered & downloaded, just click on the article titles below -- note: if you want all the articles, please order the full reprint collection for delivery by mail & use the Shopping Cart button on the left. Planning Comm'rs Journal subscribers take 25% off the price of your order. Activate your discount, then use your browser's back button to return to this page.

illustration by Paul Hoffman, © Planning Comm'rs Journal

Articles	Summary
Setting the Stage
Welcome to the Commission: A Roundtable Discussion	Members of the PCJ's Editorial Advisory Board discuss ways in which planning commissions can help orient new members ... and ways in which new members can start to learn the ropes. Then six planning commissioners from across the country offer their thoughts on the most important things for new commissioners to keep in mind.
What is Your Planning Commissions Role? by Elaine Cogan	Elaine Cogan considers three basic variations in the role planning commissions and commissioners can take.
Controversial Issues Are Natural in Planning by Edward McMahon	As a planning commissioner, how do you deal with controversial projects. Some ideas on how to be more proactive, and less reactive.
Public Perceptions
Conflicts of Interest: A First Look by C. Gregory Dale, FAICP	Your spouse hopes for work from a developer, and guess who's before you for a permit? What should you do?
Caution: Conflicts of Interest by C. Gregory Dale, FAICP	Imagine the lead story in your local newspaper reading "the recent upheaval in the town planning department can be linked to one former planning commissioner whom critics say guided town zoning laws in a way that benefited at least one of his development proposals." Greg Dale takes a closer look.
Ex-Parte Contacts by C. Gregory Dale, FAICP	When should you refuse to discuss a matter before your planning board?
Site Visits: Necessary But Tricky by C. Gregory Dale, FAICP	In order to evaluate a permit application, it may be necessary to go out and visit the site. Yet site visits can result in "ex-parte" contacts, tainting a commissioner's ability to render a fair decision (or, creating the perception that this is the case).
Are Your Procedures Fair? by C. Gregory Dale, FAICP	Why fairness may require more than the legal minimum.
The Commissioner as Applicant by C. Gregory Dale, FAICP	How to handle the situation of a commissioner appearing as an applicant.
Getting Even by C. Gregory Dale, FAICP	Planning Commissioners sometimes feel the urge to "get even" with a developer who has "burnt" them in the past.
Who Shall Serve? by C. Gregory Dale, FAICP	Is it appropriate for citizens who have represented "special interest" groups to serve on local planning boards?
Commissioners as Neighborhood Advocates by William M. Harris	A planning commissioner offers his thoughts on the commissioners who act as advocates for their own neighborhood.
When Major Players Come to Bat by Elaine Cogan	How do you deal with the major players in your community when land use issues are at stake?
Personal Responsibility
The Ethics of Bias by C. Gregory Dale, FAICP	On planning commissioners and bias.
Who Do You Work For? by C. Gregory Dale, FAICP	When the Mayor sees you as his voice on the planning commission, what should you do?
Behind the Scenes Advocacy by C. Gregory Dale, FAICP	When planning commissioners become "behind the scenes" advocates; some cautionary advice.
When Information Is In Question by C. Gregory Dale, FAICP	What do you do when you don't believe what you're hearing?
Bending Your Ear by C. Gregory Dale, FAICP	What do you do when you're asked, confidentially, for advice about a possible rezoning request?
No Strings Attached? by C. Gregory Dale, FAICP	Has anyone ever offered you a gift or favor because you're a planning commissioner?
It's All Relative by C. Gregory Dale, FAICP	Greg Dale explains why "it's all relative" in this article on conflict of interest situations involving family members.
Making Your Opinion Known by C. Gregory Dale, FAICP	Are there constraints on when a planning board member can speak out publicly as an individual, rather than as a representative of the board? A look at some political and ethical considerations.
Independent and Informed by C. Gregory Dale, FAICP	Why it's critical that planning commissioners be independent and informed.
The Commission & the Community
"J" is for Justice by Laurence Gerckens, FAICP	Planning historian Laurence Gerckens writes that justice involves consideration of whether an action is both constitutional and fair. From Gerckens' Planning ABCs publication.
Our Cities are Home to Great Diversity by William M. Harris	Our cities are home to great diversity. But too often our cities have failed. What are we to do, planning commissioners? asks Professor (and former planning commission chair) Harris.
Habla Usted Espaņol? by Elaine Cogan	Ways of reaching out to citizens when English is not their first language.
Homogeneous Commissions in Heterogeneous Communities by Elaine Cogan	In increasingly diverse communities it is essential that planning board members reach beyond their ordinary circle of relationships.
When Labels Can be Counterproductive by Elaine Cogan	Elaine Cogan considers the wisdom of labeling planning board members by their characteristics.
	Take a look also at our other "Taking a Closer Look" reprint sets