Chair stepping down following a committee decision

[Guest Frank Johnson]

The chair of our meetings is also the head of the disciplinary committee for our group. The chair has included himself in discussion and voting during the disciplinary committee meeting and voted to discipline a member. If the member appeals the decision, does the chair have to step down due to their active participation in the committee decision including having a vote on record supporting this decision?

Committee is made up of 8 people while main body that would hear appeal has over 120 people that vote.

[Chris Harrison]

If the Chair believes that he can remain impartial when the Appeal is pending then there is no obligation under RONR for him to relinquish the chair. On the other hand if he believes that he cannot remain impartial then he should turn over the chair to the Vice Chair while the Appeal is pending.

[Tim Wynn]

The chair of our meetings is also the head of the disciplinary committee for our group. The chair has included himself in discussion and voting during the disciplinary committee meeting and voted to discipline a member. If the member appeals the decision, does the chair have to step down due to their active participation in the committee decision including having a vote on record supporting this decision? Committee is made up of 8 people while main body that would hear appeal has over 120 people that vote.

This appeal process is not found in RONR, so it must be a product of some higher rule specifically applicable to your organization. Therefore, those rules that govern should be carefully examined and must be followed. It should also be noted that this is not an "Appeal" as RONR uses the term.

As Chris H. has indicated, RONR does not prohibit an individual from presiding based on his vote regarding an earlier question, but it does require the chair to maintain a position of impartiality.