The local fire chief of Penbrooke conducted an inspection of a small bakery in Penbrooke and found a violation of the Penbrooke fire code: the bakery did not have a commercial ventilator hood over its stove. The owner of the bakery asked where she could find a ventilator hood and someone to install it. The fire chief referred her to Chimney Specialists, another business in Penbrooke. The chief did not disclose that his son owns Chimney Specialists and that the chief had loaned his son money for starting the business in exchange for a percentage of the profits.
A) The fire chief has a conflict of interest.
B) The bakery owner has a conflict of interest.
C) There is no conflict unless the chief has fabricated the violation.
D) There is no conflict if the son has the only hood ventilator business in Penbrooke.

Question

The local fire chief of Penbrooke conducted an inspection of a small bakery in Penbrooke and found a violation of the Penbrooke fire code:   the bakery did not have a commercial ventilator hood over its stove. The owner of the bakery asked where she could find a ventilator hood and someone to install it. The fire chief referred her to Chimney Specialists, another business in Penbrooke. The chief did not disclose that his son owns Chimney Specialists and that the chief had loaned his son money for starting the business in exchange for a percentage of the profits.
A) The fire chief has a conflict of interest.
B) The bakery owner has a conflict of interest.
C) There is no conflict unless the chief has fabricated the violation.
D) There is no conflict if the son has the only hood ventilator business in Penbrooke.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fire chief has a conflict of interest because he did not disclose that his son owns the suggested business and that he has a personal financial interest in that business. This could influence his recommendation and potentially harm the bakery owner's interests.

The Local Fire Chief of Penbrooke Conducted an Inspection of a Small