The examiner shall not conduct or participate in any hearing or decision in which the examiner has a direct or indirect personal business, financial or other, which might exert such influence upon the examiner that might interfere with the examiner’s decision making process. Any actual or potential conflict of interest shall be disclosed to the parties immediately upon discovery of such conflict. Participants in the land use regulatory process have the right, insofar as possible, to have the examiner free from personal interest or prehearing contacts on land use regulatory matters considered by the examiner. It is recognized that there is a countervailing public right to free access to public officials on any matter. If such personal or prehearing interest contact impairs the examiner’s ability to act on the matter, the examiner shall so state and shall abstain therefrom to the end that the proceeding is fair and has the appearance of fairness, unless all parties agree in writing to have the matter heard by said examiner. (Ord. 692-80 § 8, 1980.)