This last message (below) is baloney.
The recommendation not to hire a spouse as contractor or whatever really is
ludicrous. Where will it stop? At third cousins? or fourth cousins? Will
we begin to require DNA tests to prove that no serving board members are
related to any of the museum staff or museum consultants?
What about members of local School Boards who are married to teachers in the
district? Are teachers more trustworthy and museum folk less so? If we
follow the reasoning below, then no school board member should be related to
any of the district teachers. baloney!
If a spouse offers a necessary service to the museum, at the required
quality and price, and the BOARD votes to employ the spouse or purchase the
product or service of the spouse, then there should be no problem. The
board member married to the consultant or contractor would, of course,
recuse him/herself from any voting related to the employment of his/her
spouse.
If the board agrees there is no conflict or appearance of conflict, and if
the staff of the museum has recommended the purchase or hiring of the
spouse, then all involved should proceed as well-informed, honest adults
normally would.
Why can't a small museum utilize the talents of a married couple (one a
board member, the other a knowledgeable professional with a needed skill)
without all of you Pollyannas screaming "DANGER!! Conflict of Interest"??
jim (a board member--married to a museum staff member).
-----Original Message-----
From: Laura Petznick [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, August 14, 2000 2:04 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Ethical question
TO HIRE A BOARD MEMBER'S SPOUSE???
In response to Ms. Koomler's question, I am not aware of any law that would
prevent a spouse from being paid as a consultant or external contractor.
Nevertheless, as married couples legally share financial resources, the
board member would benefit indirectly from his or her spouse's paid
commission. Consequently, the fiduciary role of the board member would be
compromised (even if he/she abstained from the voting process), if not
directly by the law certainly indirectly in the eyes of the public.
I vote no to spouses being awarded contracts.
L.W.S. Petznick, Ph.D.
Historic House Museum volunteer
seeking curator/educator position
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