Conflict of Interest

[ddomin4360]

So I'm moving on from a local non-profit to the a local municipality as a planning assistant. I like a lot of what the organization does and wanted to volunteer for some of the things they like housing construction or helping to select applicant families into the program. The non-profit does 99% of its work within the city I'll be working for and I wonder if it might be a conflict of interest issue, especially since they develop low income housing.

[Raf]

So I'm moving on from a local non-profit to the a local municipality as a planning assistant. I like a lot of what the organization does and wanted to volunteer for some of the things they like housing construction or helping to select applicant families into the program. The non-profit does 99% of its work within the city I'll be working for and I wonder if it might be a conflict of interest issue, especially since they develop low income housing.

Yes their is a conflict of interest. APA (specifically the AICP code of ethics) recommends you notify your boss of your conflict, and you should not touch any permits, entitlements, code enforcement, or anything remotely attached to the organization that comes through your department if you continue to have a working relationship.

From there volunteering for things like construction shouldn't be an issue, but select families might get into territory you don't want to head down.

Kuddos for keeping up with a good thing.

[DetroitPlanner]

Will you be paid?
Will you be working in betterment of your community?

I can't offer you much advice as each situation is different, I do suggest that you check out the AICP ethics codes.

http://www.planning.org/ethics/

[dvdneal]

I'd also talk to your boss to make sure there is no city policy about second jobs or volunteering.