Tie breaker clarification

[letsroll911]

Hello; My wife and I are on the board of directors for a non profit community theater. we decided to put together a proposal to present to the board about putting on a show in the fall. I as the director, and my wife as the choreographer.

In the proposal, we also had a projected budget as well as a preliminary list of folks that were interested in other production positions. One of those folks is also on the board and had expressed initial interest in being our costumer. This person was sick and could not physically be at this meeting.

All of the above mentioned production positions are paid positions.

There was discussion and a vote. My wife and I were not allowed to vote and had to leave the room while voting took place.

The vote went to a 4 to 4 tie.

When it was suggested by a board member that the missing member could be contacted via text or call to break this tie, it was quickly squashed and the motion tabled until the next months board meeting.

My questions are as follows...According to Roberts Rules...

1. Should my wife and I be told to leave the room during the vote or excluded from the vote due to a conflict of interest?

2. Should the missing board member been able to vote via text or phone call?

3. Does a tie mean that the answer to the proposal should have been no and could not be tabled?

4. Does the missing member being interested in a paying production staff position automatically exempt her from voting if the motion was lawfully tabled until the next meeting? (She will be at the next board meeting)

Thank you!

[rthib]

1. Should my wife and I be told to leave the room during the vote or excluded from the vote due to a conflict of interest?

No. You could be asked, but are not forced. You "should" not vote on something that will benefit you, but it is your call.

See Faq#9 http://www.robertsrules.com/faq.html#9

2. Should the missing board member been able to vote via text or phone call?

No. You have to be there. Nothing allows this unless your bylaws allow.

3. Does a tie mean that the answer to the proposal should have been no and could not be tabled?

Yes. A tie mean motion failed. You can't table a failed motion. Also, doesn't sound like a proper use of the motion regardless, tabling a motion is almost always out of order, See http://www.robertsru...com/faq.html#12

4. Does the missing member being interested in a paying production staff position automatically exempt her from voting if the motion was lawfully tabled until the next meeting? (She will be at the next board meeting)

See answer to 1. http://www.robertsru...com/faq.html#9.

Not clear if she is just applying for a position or if the position will only exist if they vote yes. So how they apply this may be different than you.

In small groups, there are often "conflicts of interest" that if it was required you could not vote, in some organizations no one could vote.

I sat on the board of a community theater and almost everyone had a family member who would be cast or part of the crew or direct/stage manage/choreograph/Music direct etc.

For me the conflict question I would ask is - "Would I vote yes if I was told that I could not direct and my wife could not be choreographer?" or "Am I doing this play to advance the needs of the group or my personal needs?"

That said - Being a community organization, do you want this to be know as the play that was only put on so you could direct, your wife could be choreographer and another person could get a paid position?

I would work on changing minds then finding a way to vote.

[g40]

The motion failed because it did not receive a majority of those present and voting. There is no tie to break - the motion failed, the same as if the vote was 0-8.

[letsroll911]

Thanks everyone for the clarification!