STALL TACTIC?

[Guest A Visitor]

Our board took a vote at its September meeting requiring the president to request a vendor to attend our next, October meeting, to answer some questions about business dealings. The president didn't, and now wants a new vote at the October meeting to rescind the old one. Since the president didn't follow the board's request in the first place, should his request for a vote to rescind be allowed?

[Guest Edgar]

Since the president didn't follow the board's request in the first place, should his request for a vote to rescind be allowed?

No, but not because he didn't do what he was instructed to do.

Once the October meeting takes place, there's nothing left to rescind. In other words, the time for inviting a guest to that meeting has passed.

However disciplinary action against the president remains an option.

[Guest Guest]

If there is still an opportunity to invite the guest to the November meeting, is it possible to proceed with the vote to rescind anyway?

[dglynch]

No, because the vote would be meaningless. The decision has essentially "expired" and is no longer doing anything. To rescind it would be a waste of time.

If the board wishes to retroactively approve the president's decision not to invite the guest, the appropriate motion would be to ratify his action, not to rescind the previous decision.

If the board wishes to invite the guest to the November meeting, a new motion to that effect would be appropriate... though it may be wise to give the task to a more reliable officer this time.