Organization: Policies

CONFLICT OF INTERESTS

Prohibited Actions:
No Trustee shall:

  1. Knowingly, serve as an attorney, architect, engineer, accountant, corporate officer or trustee, or in any other professional capacity for any client concerning a cause of action relating to damage to wood pile building foundations caused by lowered groundwater in Boston unless they have received the approval of their appointing authority.
  2. Act as an expert witness in any litigation or adjudication concerning damage to wood pile building foundations caused by lowered groundwater without permission from the Trust.
  3. Have a financial interest in any contract with the Trust.
  4. Accept a fee for trying to influence legislation or administrative rule making concerning damage to wood pile building foundations caused by lowered groundwater.
  5. Be an owner of real estate being developed with a controlling interest therein in the City of Boston, unless the Trustee in good faith believes that the project is in full compliance with all City requirements about the installation, use, and disposition of groundwater observation wells or unless there is a good faith dispute between the owner and City about this subject.
  6. Be a property owner or manager with a controlling interest therein in the City of Boston, unless the Trustee in good faith believes that he or she is in full compliance with all legal requirements about pumping groundwater into public sewers or storm drains or otherwise removing groundwater from property or unless there is a good faith dispute between the owner and any public agency about this subject.

Reportable Situations:

If a Trustee is involved in any of the following events, that Trustee must make a written report thereof to the Trust. The Trust Secretary shall keep such reports in the permanent records of the Trust, available to anyone who wants to see such reports.

  1. Having an ownership interest in any real estate in Boston that will benefit directly from any facility or improvement discussed at a Trust meeting, such as a recharging program or located near a Trust owned facility, such as an observation well.
  2. Being a party to any litigation concerning Boston groundwater.
  3. Any dispute between a Trustee as owner of property in the City of Boston about compliance with all City requirements about the installation, use, and disposition of groundwater observation wells, shall be reported to the Trust.
  4. Any dispute involving a Trustee acting as a property owner or manager in the City of Boston or acting in a professional capacity as an engineer, architect, accountant, or attorney, about full compliance with any legal requirements about pumping groundwater into public storm sewers or drains or otherwise removing groundwater from property, shall be reported to the Trust.