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Professional Planners' Responsibility

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Each professional recommendation made to the city must be in accordance with the planner’s professional responsibility and Code of Ethics. A planner should not make recommendations to the city based on the personal preferences of one or a small group of people. A planner must consider the wishes of all the elected officials, the citizens of the municipality and apply their knowledge of proper planning, state laws, county regulations, and our local land development ordinance before any recommendation is made.

A planner should take their responsibility as a professional very seriously. A planner’s primary obligation is to serve the public interest.

A planner must:

· have special concern for the long range consequences of present actions;

· pay special attention to the interrelatedness of decisions;

· strive to provide full, clear and accurate information on planning issues to citizens and governmental decision makers;

· strive to give citizens the opportunity to have a meaningful impact on the development plans and programs. Participation should be broad enough to include people who lack formal organization or influence.

· respect the rights of others and, in particular, must not improperly discriminate against persons;

· systematically and critically analyze ethical issues in the practice of planning;

· strive to contribute time and effort to groups lacking in adequate planning resources and to volunteer professional services.

A planner should strive for high standards of professional integrity. A planner has the responsible to provide diligent, creative, independent, and competent performance of work in pursuit of the city’s interest provided such work is consistent with the planner’s service to the public interest.

As a planning consultant to the Planning Board a planner should encourage economic growth. A planner should utilize their experience to assist applicants through the land development approval process and make every effort to provide each applicant with an expeditious review.

Every recommendation made to city officials must be based on service to the public interest. In performing their duties a planner must always take in consideration the interest of the entire community, which includes City Council, the Planning Board and its citizens.

A professional a planner has an obligation to give back to the community. Time should be donated to the community to help improve the quality of life.