The Wareham Appointing Authority, a group of officials empowered by the town charter to place members on municipal boards, made a conflict of interest ruling on Thursday, Jan. 11. 

It determined Sam Corbitt, Planning Board member and a realtor with Jack Conway, is not in violation of Massachusetts conflict of interest laws regarding the Bay Point Club, a developer that Jack Conway represents. 

Bay Pointe Club proposed a multi-phase housing development, dubbed Windward Pines, in the mid 2010s, and the Planning Board approved plans for the project in August 2017. While some houses have been built, further phases of the project remain under construction. 

Corbitt joined the Planning Board in April 2021. He works as an independent contractor for Jack Conway, a real estate firm that represents Bay Pointe selling houses in the Windward Pines development. 

Corbitt said "at the onset" he told town officials and the Planning Board about his connection to Jack Conway and its connection to Bay Pointe. He said he never sold property from Windward Pines or communicated with potential clients. He has also never set foot on the property — to keep his connection from tainting the board's appearance, he said. 

Recently, after talking about Bay Pointe with his manager and with a fellow agent, Corbitt decided to send a letter to the town and formalize his "word of mouth" approval to participate in Planning Board business regarding Bay Pointe. 

"I just wanted something official on record. That's why I called for that whole thing to happen," Corbitt said. 

Margaret Ishihara, town moderator and dissenting vote in the Authority's decision, said she had some issues with Corbitt's participation. "I understand what you're saying. You have not been involved as a broker on this particular project. But you are still a broker with Jack Conway. … That's my concern with that." She did not elaborate on her concerns. 

Mike King, chair of the Planning Board and member of the Appointing Authority, said Corbitt's vote on the board helped the town keep control of Bay Pointe's project. 

"I think in what seems to be 100 years that we've been dealing with Bay Pointe, Mike Baptiste and Sam Corbitt have been the most critical of the project, as far as how it's built [or] the quality of the build. So there's certainly not what I would consider favoritism, or trying to better his position, that I've witnessed or has anybody else witnessed."

The Appointing Authority voted 2-1 in favor of writing a letter stating Corbitt was not in violation of Massachusetts conflict of interest laws and that Corbitt's conduct has been such that the town can rely on his services.