Perception often overcomes reality on matters related to public officials. This has once again been proven in the case of Joseph D. Feaster Jr., who was recently removed from his post as chairman of Boston’s Zoning Board of Appeals by Mayor Thomas Menino.

His departure comes after news reports surfaced that he provided legal services to a developer who regularly appeared before the board and received numerous zoning variances. Feaster claims he did the right thing by recusing himself from votes pertaining to his client’s matters, and he admits he chose not to seek guidance from the state Ethics Commission about how he was handling disclosure and about the relationship itself. Feaster, who has earned a worthy reputation in Boston, now finds himself under a cloud that may be caused more by the perception of wrongdoing rather than actual misdeeds.

This brings to the forefront the precarious nature of stewardship of public trust every elected and appointed official maintains. Public perception about honesty can often be colored by the slightest event, damaging reputations and eroding confidence in the effectiveness and fairness of government. And, as Feaster is bound to discover, setting the record straight after the fact never fully restores a person’s reputation.

The perception, and the reality, of conflict of interest can arise around any public official at any time. Use of the state’s Ethics Commission to sort through an issue and make a ruling is a safe and appropriate way to identify and avoid committing an unethical act and eliminating even the perception that one has done so.