Habitual Abstainers

I've been president of a 7-member board for several months now.

A director who was newly elected when I was appointed pres. by the board, has abstained several times. There was no conflict of interest involved in any of the votes.

I, and our PM, too, have explained to him that it's directors' jobs to make decisions. And that an abstention can have the effect of a "no" vote sometimes. But he keeps saying "I'm conflicted," or "I'm ambivalent." It seems to me, though, that he just doesn't want to support or oppose certain motions for fear of hurting anyone's feelings, or risk anyone becoming angry with him.

Advice appreciated!!

Parliamentary procedure states that it is everyone's duty to express their opinion by voting. However, also according to parliamentary procedure, no one can be compelled to vote, nor does anyone have to explain their vote or their reason for not voting. In other words, everyone has the right to abstain.

Normally, the only person who should routinely abstain is the president or chairperson, who votes only when his or her vote will affect the outcome (and therefore always votes last). This is done to preserve the neutrality of the chair.

It is unfortunate that you have this situation, but there is really nothing you can do about it. Hopefully, the association members will realize this board member is not really contributing to the decision making process and will not re-elect this person.

Perhaps he's the type that needs to study something before voting on it. Some people don't like to be blindsided with too much at a meeting.

Maybe the president could state there will be action on proposed motion XYZ at the next meeting, so everyone should come prepared to discuss and vote.

If he continues to abstain, ask him WHY. The people who voted him in need him there to represent their views. He is failing to do that.

He is "dead wood" as far as I am concerned.

Boards need active participants. There is work to be done and decisions to be made. The board should be made up of people who can do this.

Well, Susan, our PM gives us directors a binder a week before each meeting so that we can review the materials about each agenda item. The ones that require board action are starred. As president, for the first 2-3 months he was on the board I invited him to ask me questions about the items. He never did.

I think that your & Bruce's assessments of him as deadwood are correct!