Informal Opinion No.

Gale L. Foster, Esq. Town Attorney, New Paltz

You have indicated that it is your understanding that a town engineer is prohibited from representing developers in the town where he serves as town engineer. You inquire whether it is proper, in place of the town engineer, for the town to employ by contract a consulting engineer and to allow the consulting engineer to represent private clients in the town. The consulting engineer is used by the town whenever the need for engineering services arise.

You informed us that the town's consulting engineer has responsibility for the inspection of roads…