Sub-Committee Responsibilities

[Guest Bill]

Hello, Our HOA board president appointed an ad-hoc sub-committee to obtain insurance quotes and determine the best course of action. The committee has been chosen and has four members. Do the same rules for a committee apply to sub-committees when it comes to allowing attendance by any member? If a member attends do they have a voice in the meeting? Thanks.

[Gary Novosielski]

Well, yes, the rules do apply just as with committees, but those rules say that non-members (of the committee) have no right to attend at all, at least if we're talking about the rules in RONR.  If your bylaws or special rules of order allow attendance of non-members, that would be a different story. 

However, the right to attend a meeting of a given body does not imply a right to speak at that meeting.  The body may allow a non-member to speak by majority vote, to speak in debate by a two-thirds vote (because it requires suspending a rule), but it cannot allow a non-member to vote under any circumstances.

 

[Guest Bill]

What if the person who wants to attend the meeting is a board member? Do they have a right to speak at the subcommittee meeting? We feel we have an adequate number of people for the sub-committee to make a decision. Thanks.

[puzzling]

On 7/2/2023 at 6:18 PM, Guest Bill said:

What if the person who wants to attend the meeting is a board member? Do they have a right to speak at the subcommittee meeting? We feel we have an adequate number of people for the sub-committee to make a decision. Thanks.

The same rules apply to all non members of the committee  whether they are boardmembers or ordinary organisation members.

I am a bit puzzling why it is a subcommittee and not a normal committee.

Also a bit puzzling if a committee of the board can be given power to decide anything else than their report,  and that report can only be an advice to ghe board.

[Bruce Lages]

No - the rules as stated by Mr. Novosielski apply to anyone who is not a member of the body that is meeting, regardless of what other body that person might be a member of.

[Josh Martin]

On 7/2/2023 at 11:59 AM, Guest Bill said:

Do the same rules for a committee apply to sub-committees when it comes to allowing attendance by any member?

I would first note that a subcommittee is a committee of a committee. A committee of a board is simply called a committee, not a subcommittee.

In any event, yes, the same rules apply. Only members of the (sub)committee have a right to attend meetings of the (sub)committee. The (sub)committee, at its discretion, may permit other persons to attend. Or the (sub)committee may be given direction in this matter by the board.

On 7/2/2023 at 11:59 AM, Guest Bill said:

If a member attends do they have a voice in the meeting?

Only members of the (sub)committee have a right to speak at meetings of the (sub)committee. The (sub)committee, at its discretion, may permit other persons to speak. Or the (sub)committee may be given direction in this matter by the board.

On 7/2/2023 at 12:18 PM, Guest Bill said:

What if the person who wants to attend the meeting is a board member? Do they have a right to speak at the subcommittee meeting?

It makes no difference. Persons who are members of the (sub)committee have a right to attend and to speak in debate. Persons who are not members of the (sub)committee have no right to attend or speak in debate. What other bodies the person is a member of is irrelevant.