executive sessions

[Guest linda larson]

We had a board meeting to discuss and decide our budget in our church. The pastors did not attend. There were two people not present at this meeting. It was a majority vote to not give our pastors a raise this year. At the regular monthly board meeting a member brought up the discussion of giving the pastors a raise with the pastors present and became a discussion on negativity when we tried to explain why we did not give them a raise. I felt we should have gone into executive session to discuss salaries instead of discussing this in front of staff. What is the rule for this Linda K. Larsonb larsonsrv@hotmail.com

[jstackpo]

The basic RONR rule is that you, collectively (majority vote), can go into executive session, in a meetig or part of a meeting, at ANY time and for any reason, or no reason at all.

The only difficulty I see (maybe) is that if your pastor is, per the bylaws, a member of the Board then he (she?) has the right to stay in the meeting even though you are talking about him and his pay scale. He can excuse himself, but you can't boot him out - he's a member (if the bylaws say he is).

[hmtcastle]

At the regular monthly board meeting a member brought up the discussion of giving the pastors a raise with the pastors present and became a discussion on negativity when we tried to explain why we did not give them a raise.

Also bear in mind that, as far as RONR is concerned, only board members have a right to attend board meetings, whether they're held in executive session or not.

While it's a common practice (and not a bad idea) to go into executive session and exclude all non-board members, strictly speaking you can exclude them without going into executive session. What going into executive session does do is imposed confidentiality (aka "secrecy") on the members. For this reason, boards will often meet in executive session when discussing sensitive issues such as personnel. And, in fact, many boards meet exclusively in executive session.

As always, your rules may vary.

[Gary Novosielski]

I felt we should have gone into executive session to discuss salaries instead of discussing this in front of staff. What is the rule for this Linda K. Larsonb larsonsrv@hotmail.com

The rule is that you could have moved to go into Executive Session.

In a body larger than a small board, it would require a second.

It requires a majority vote for adoption.

[Guest sharon rose]

When a homeowners association board meeting goes into executive session, are they required to provide the minutes taken during the Executive Session to the property owners? What is the Roberts Rule

[hmtcastle]

When a homeowners association board meeting goes into executive session, are they required to provide the minutes taken during the Executive Session to the property owners? What is the Roberts Rule

The association can order the minutes of board meetings (whether held in executive session or not) to be read at a meeting of the association. If the board meeting was held in executive session, the association meeting where the minutes are read should be held in executive session as well.

But individual association members (who are not also board members) have no individual right to view the minutes of board meetings.

[J. J.]

When a homeowners association board meeting goes into executive session, are they required to provide the minutes taken during the Executive Session to the property owners? What is the Roberts Rule

No, under RONR, but the group may vote to order the minutes be read (p. 470). This requires previous notice, a 2/3 vote or a vote of the entire membership.

Your organization may have rules superseding these.