Guest Bill R Posted March 23, 2012 at 02:01 PM Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 at 02:01 PM What are the rules for taking a vote in executive session? Here is the situation:We need to take a vote on a budget item, which involves compensation of the pastor of our church. We have called a special meeting and intend to discuss the issue in executive session. There are those who believe only the governing board (those who have actual vote) should be present in the executive session - this would exclude the secretary and treasurer. The questions that have been raised are: (1) Can we vote on the issue in executive session or must we go into regular session to vote on the matter in order for the vote to be binding? (2) If we vote on the issue in executive session can someone other than the secretary record the vote? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Harrison Posted March 23, 2012 at 02:34 PM Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 at 02:34 PM !) As far as RONR is concerned you can conduct the same business in Executive Session as you can in Open Session.2) Yes. However the assembly controls its own hall so if they want the Secretary to stay nothing in RONR would stop them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shmuel Gerber Posted March 23, 2012 at 03:26 PM Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 at 03:26 PM What are the rules for taking a vote in executive session? Here is the situation:We need to take a vote on a budget item, which involves compensation of the pastor of our church. We have called a special meeting and intend to discuss the issue in executive session. There are those who believe only the governing board (those who have actual vote) should be present in the executive session - this would exclude the secretary and treasurer. The questions that have been raised are: (1) Can we vote on the issue in executive session or must we go into regular session to vote on the matter in order for the vote to be binding? (2) If we vote on the issue in executive session can someone other than the secretary record the vote?You can vote on the motion in executive session. See FAQ 17.Since the secretary is an essential officer of the assembly, he or she would remain during the executive session unless specifically ordered to leave. Also, I would assume that you wish to keep only the discussions secret, rather than the actual decision. It would be strange to keep the actual budget a secret to the treasurer. And unless the organization has some very specialized rules, I don't see how you could keep the minutes a secret to the secretary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev Ed Posted March 23, 2012 at 04:10 PM Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 at 04:10 PM Page 95 line 31 to Page 96 line 5 of RONR states: "Whenever a meeting is being held in Executive Session, only members of the body that is meeting, special invitees, and such employees or staff members as the body or its rules may determine to be necessary are allowed to remain in the hall. Thus, in the case of a Board or Committee meeting being held in Executive Session, all persons - whether or not they are members of the organization - who are not members of the Board or Committee (and who are not otherwise specifically invited or entitled to attend) are excluded from the meeting."So, the Secretary, who is one of two people required to run the meeting (along with someone to chair the meeting), should be allowed to remain. The Treasurer, who presumably an officer of the organization and who is responsible for the funds that will be used to pay the paster, should also be allowed to attend to provide his/her opinions with regards to the financial side of the decision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bill R Posted March 25, 2012 at 12:45 PM Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 at 12:45 PM Thank you for taking the time to respond, you were all very helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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