Other situations, such as participating in a vote related to the hiring of a family member, may have the appearance of impropriety, but are not necessarily a legal conflict of interest. In some instances, an action of a board member constitutes a conflict of interest and breach of an ethical obligation not many people would disagree with the position that a board member should not be voting on decisions relating to litigation to which he or she is an adverse party.

A trustee’s husband is being considered by the board as a township employee, and the trustee votes on his appointment instead of abstaining.A citizen involved in litigation with the township wins election as a township trustee, and then votes in favor of stopping the litigation, instead of abstaining from the vote.Newspaper headlines sometimes highlight public board members doing wrong, injuring the public or creating the appearance of impropriety. Adhering to these standards of conduct can avoid political turmoil, legal proceedings and civil or criminal liability. Violations of these standards of conduct may have civil or criminal consequences. Michigan law imposes some clear standards and other less-defined standards of conduct for township officials.

What does a township trustee do