DP3

DecisionPoint
http://proethica.org/ontology/cases#DecisionPoint

DP3

Should Engineer A concur with the grandfathering ordinance in exchange for the chairman's authorization to hire additional inspection staff?

The city council chairman presents Engineer A with a linked proposal: if Engineer A will concur with a grandfathering ordinance exempting specified buildings under construction from the newer, more rigorous code requirements, the chairman will authorize Engineer A to hire the additional code officials the inspection program desperately needs. Engineer A genuinely believes the additional staff would substantially improve public safety by enabling adequate inspections. He must decide whether to accept this quid pro quo arrangement.

Accept the chairman's linked proposal, providing professional concurrence with the ordinance exempting specified buildings from current code requirements in exchange for authorization to hire additional inspectors, reasoning that the net public welfare benefit of improved inspection capacity outweighs the safety reduction from grandfathered buildings.

Decline to concur with the grandfathering ordinance and insist, forcefully and persistently, that the chairman authorize additional inspection staff on the independent merits of the public safety crisis — without linking the staffing authorization to any concession on code enforcement standards.

Decline the quid pro quo arrangement entirely and pursue additional inspection staffing exclusively through transparent, institutionally sanctioned channels — including formal budget requests, written reports to city administration, direct advocacy to the full city council at public hearings, and formal documentation of the safety risk — without compromising code enforcement standards.

Engineer A Building Inspection Director Quid Pro Quo Non-Acceptance