Can a committee vote to remove its Chair for dereliction or negligence of duty

[Guest L.D.]

We are a small governing body and have several standing committees. Members are elected to serve set terms on these committees. It has come to the attention of the executive board that a member has blatantly violated the bylaws and approved procedures of this committee, which conducts highly-sensitive work involving confidential records. Our bylaws are silent on disciplinary action and default to RONR whenever that is the case. This person needs to at the very least be removed as chair, but should be removed entirely from this committee for the remainder of their term. My thinking is that because the committee is elected by the members the executive board can't do this, at least not neatly and quickly. Can the committee move to remove and replace its chair? 

[Gary Novosielski]

No.  That can only be done by the appointing authority, i.e., the parent body.  The committee, by majority vote can request that the parent body replace the chair, but can't do so on its own initiative.

[Josh Martin]

On 3/30/2024 at 10:41 AM, Guest L.D. said:

My thinking is that because the committee is elected by the members the executive board can't do this, at least not neatly and quickly.

I agree.

On 3/30/2024 at 10:41 AM, Guest L.D. said:

Can the committee move to remove and replace its chair? 

How are the committee chairs selected?

On 3/30/2024 at 10:51 AM, Gary Novosielski said:

No.  That can only be done by the appointing authority, i.e., the parent body.  The committee, by majority vote can request that the parent body replace the chair, but can't do so on its own initiative.

I am generally inclined to agree, but it's certainly possible that the parent body elects the committee members, but authorizes the committee to elect its own chair. That's not an unusual arrangement.

[Guest L.D.]

The parent body elects the committee members and authorizes the committee to elect its own chair. So the committee elected their current chair.

[Guest L.D.]

Committees are elected by the parent body and the committee is authorized to elect its own chair. So the committee has elected the current chair who has violated the bylaws. 

[Josh Martin]

On 3/30/2024 at 11:01 AM, Guest L.D. said:

The parent body elects the committee members and authorizes the committee to elect its own chair. So the committee elected their current chair.

In this event, I am inclined to think the committee has the authority to remove this person from the chair, however, only the parent body may remove this person from the committee.

Edited March 30, 2024 at 05:20 PM by Josh Martin

[Richard Brown]

On 3/30/2024 at 11:01 AM, Guest L.D. said:

The parent body elects the committee members and authorizes the committee to elect its own chair. So the committee elected their current chair.

In that case, the committee should be able to select a new chair, but only the parent body (the membership?) can remove or replace him as a committee member.

[Gary Novosielski]

On 3/30/2024 at 1:20 PM, Josh Martin said:

In this event, I am inclined to think the committee has the authority to remove this person from the chair, however, only the parent body may remove this person from the committee.

And I agree.

[J. J.]

On 3/30/2024 at 1:20 PM, Josh Martin said:

In this event, I am inclined to think the committee has the authority to remove this person from the chair, however, only the parent body may remove this person from the committee.

I am in agreement, but I suggest you read 50:14 as to the methods involved.