New Business Topic Board Prez Refuses to Discuss

[Guest Pam]

At a regularily scheduled executive session of the Board of Directors, one member asks to discuss a topic not on the agenda which the Board President feels is completely inappropriate and refuses to allow the discussion. The other 4 members indicate they DO want to disucss it. In a show of distaste, the Board Prez leaves the meeting. The remaining members continue on with the discucssion of the new topic against the President's wishes. Does the Board Prez have the authority to disallow a topic to be discussed? And, do the remaining members, while a quorum, have the right to pass a motion on this matter that the Chairman instructed them not to discuss?

[George Mervosh]

Based upon your facts:

1) No.

2) Of course.

And see this http://www.robertsru...com/faq.html#14 (edited to add in the FAQ)

[David A Foulkes]

At a regularily scheduled executive session of the Board of Directors, one member asks to discuss a topic not on the agenda which the Board President feels is completely inappropriate and refuses to allow the discussion. The other 4 members indicate they DO want to disucss it. In a show of distaste, the Board Prez leaves the meeting. The remaining members continue on with the discucssion of the new topic against the President's wishes. Does the Board Prez have the authority to disallow a topic to be discussed? And, do the remaining members, while a quorum, have the right to pass a motion on this matter that the Chairman instructed them not to discuss?

Nothing in RONR would give the President such unilateral authority. It would have to come from the bylaws or other governing rules.

But the information provided is still vague. What was the topic? Why did the president feel so strongly against even allowing informal discussion on it that he would leave the meeting? Seems like there might be more to it yet.

[Steven Britton]

At a regularily scheduled executive session of the Board of Directors, one member asks to discuss a topic not on the agenda which the Board President feels is completely inappropriate and refuses to allow the discussion. The other 4 members indicate they DO want to disucss it. In a show of distaste, the Board Prez leaves the meeting. The remaining members continue on with the discucssion of the new topic against the President's wishes. Does the Board Prez have the authority to disallow a topic to be discussed? And, do the remaining members, while a quorum, have the right to pass a motion on this matter that the Chairman instructed them not to discuss?

Under certain circumstances according to pg 268 ll. 21 - 30 the presiding officer could on his own initiative Object to Consideration of the Question. However, two-thirds of the members present and voting would need to agree with the president and vote against the question's consideration.