Motion tabled in Committee then appears in Board meeting and approved

[Guest TCC2]

A resolution to approve a purchase is in the agenda for a committee. The committee wants more information and tables the motion. A week later the resolution appears in the Board meeting agenda. The Board is aware of the committee's tabled action and decides to vote in favor of the resolution despite the committee having tabled it. Committees make recommendations to the Board. Can't a Board ignore the committee's decision and vote.  Is it improper?

[J. J.]

On 3/20/2024 at 11:26 AM, Guest TCC2 said:

A resolution to approve a purchase is in the agenda for a committee. The committee wants more information and tables the motion. A week later the resolution appears in the Board meeting agenda. The Board is aware of the committee's tabled action and decides to vote in favor of the resolution despite the committee having tabled it. Committees make recommendations to the Board. Can't a Board ignore the committee's decision and vote.  Is it improper?

The matter may reached by using the motion Discharge a Committee (36). 

[Greg Goodwiller, PRP]

RONR 36:1 and 36:2 state:

By means of the motion to Discharge a Committee from further consideration of a question or subject, the assembly can take the matter out of a committee’s hands after referring it to the committee and before the committee has made a final report on it, and the assembly itself can consider it.

So long as a question is in the hands of a committee, the assembly cannot consider another motion involving practically the same question.

So if the assembly wants to act on a matter that is before a committee, , it has to first vote to take it out of the committee's hand by means of the motion to Discharge a Committee.

[Gary Novosielski]

If the Board wishes to decide on a matter that is before a committee, it may move to Discharge  (§36) the committee from further consideration of that question.

Discharge requires:

• a two thirds vote; or
• a majority vote with previous notice; or
• a vote of a majority of the entire membership,

any one of which will suffice, except that if the committee has not reported by its assigned due date, only a majority vote is required.

 

 

 

[Rob Elsman]

On 3/20/2024 at 10:26 AM, Guest TCC2 said:

A resolution to approve a purchase is in the agenda for a committee.

We're off to a bad start.  Committees ought not have agendas.