Adjourn without a vote

[Tomm]

Can the Chair (in a small board) simply call the meeting adjourned without making a motion or asking for a vote?

[Josh Martin]

On 9/13/2021 at 5:40 PM, Tomm said:

Can the Chair (in a small board) simply call the meeting adjourned without making a motion or asking for a vote?

The chair may declare a meeting adjourned without a vote (or unanimous consent) only in the following circumstances:

• When the assembly has previously established a time for adjournment and that time is reached.
• When the assembly has completed its full order of business and, when the chair asks if there is any further business, no member responds.
• When there is an emergency (such as a fire) and it would endanger the members' safety to take the time for a motion and vote.

[Tomm]

On 9/13/2021 at 3:46 PM, Josh Martin said:

The chair may declare a meeting adjourned without a vote (or unanimous consent) only in the following circumstances:

• When the assembly has previously established a time for adjournment and that time is reached.
• When the assembly has completed its full order of business and, when the chair asks if there is any further business, no member responds.
• When there is an emergency (such as a fire) and it would endanger the members' safety to take the time for a motion and vote.

So I'm assuming the flat answer is NO?

There was no previous time set for adjournment.

The order of business was not completed.

There was no emergency!

The Board Chair simply did not want to answer controversial questions and accusation that were about to asked from the general membership who were in attendance! 

[Josh Martin]

On 9/13/2021 at 5:54 PM, Tomm said:

So I'm assuming the flat answer is NO?

There was no previous time set for adjournment.

The order of business was not completed.

There was no emergency!

The Board Chair simply did not want to answer controversial questions and accusation that were about to asked from the general membership who were in attendance! 

Based upon these additional facts, there appears to have been no grounds for the board chair to unilaterally declare the meeting adjourned.

[Weldon Merritt]

On 9/13/2021 at 4:56 PM, Josh Martin said:

Based upon these additional facts, there appears to have been no grounds for the board chair to unilaterally declare the meeting adjourned.

I agree. But if no one raised a timely Point of Order and everyone (or at least enough to break the quorum) left. The meeting is effectively over. 

[Atul Kapur]

On 9/13/2021 at 6:54 PM, Tomm said:

The Board Chair simply did not want to answer controversial questions and accusation that were about to asked from the general membership who were in attendance! 

Was this a meeting of the board or the general membership?

If the former, then the general membership has no right to speak or ask questions, under RONR. Your governing documents may give them that right.

Is there a place in your board's order of business for questions from the membership?

[Tomm]

On 9/14/2021 at 1:34 PM, Atul Kapur said:

Was this a meeting of the board or the general membership?

It was a meeting of the Board where the General Membership is allowed to attend.

On 9/14/2021 at 1:34 PM, Atul Kapur said:

If the former, then the general membership has no right to speak or ask questions, under RONR. Your governing documents may give them that right.

The Bylaws allow Member comment during Board meetings in 2 places.

On 9/14/2021 at 1:34 PM, Atul Kapur said:

Is there a place in your board's order of business for questions from the membership?

Two places. The General Membership in attendance can comment on agenda items (those motions that will be offered) but only before the Chair states the motion.  And there is a second Member Comment section allowed at the end of the meeting where Members can comment on anything.