Executive Session

Started by NancyB11 • 4 replies • 1602 views

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NancyB11 (Washington)
Posts: 11

Posted:

I can't seem to find it in Roberts Rules so I'm hoping to find the answer here.

Is there any reason why an executive session cannot be held before a meeting rather than after?

I realise you must go out of open meeting into ES then when finished go back to open meeting, but it would be less time consuming to do it first and also the members wouldn't have to wait half the night to come back into the meeting.

Thanks...Nancy

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

Since you know that an executive session must be entered from and returned to an open meeting, the Board can certainly schedule the session anywhere in the agenda (at least for sessions you know will be needed ahead of time). This could be at the 1st item on the agenda (after calling the meeting to order and verifying a quorum), the last item (just prior to adjournment) or anywhere in between.

CarolR11 (Colorado)
Posts: 2,563

Posted:

This also might be guided by WA laws. In Calif., for instance, we are permitted to hold an executive session whenever we need to. So, this also is in our Bylaws. We do hold ours before our monthly open board meeting.

LarryB13 (Arizona)
Posts: 4,099

Posted:

Executive Sessions are an inconvenience to members who attend the board meetings, so holding an ES before or after a regular board meeting might seem like a good idea. The problem is that an ES before or after lacks the transparency that the board should strive for.

Ideally, there should be something on the agenda, such as "employment matter," so the attendees are not completely taken aback by the ES. Hold the executive session then return to an open meeting and announce whatever action is being taken as a result of the session. Then go on with the regular meeting.

You might consider adding some boilerplate at the bottom of the agenda to remind the attendees that certain specific matters may be discussed in executive session.

CarolR11 (Colorado)
Posts: 2,563

Posted:

We on our Board like transparency too and the CA Davis-Sterling Act requires it re: executive session. Unless an emergency, our executive session agenda--with appropriate redactions--is posted in our mail rooms two days ahead of the meeting. At any subsequent open meeting, at the beginning, the topics covered in the immediately preceding executive session are announced by the presider and are placed in the minutes.

Since Davis-Stirling permits executive session at any time needed, it trumps Robert's.

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