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 ----------------------------------------------- FREE! The World's Best Email Address @email.com Reserve your name now at http://www.email.com ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes). ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).