Can the HOA president deny a motion

We have a rather weak president this year and the other board members are taking advantage of her. I've suggested that she stand up to them, take control of the meeting, etc. I'd like to tell her that she alone controls the agenda and can, if she chooses, deny motions that in her mind are not in the interest of the association.

I gleaned this from another blog site:

Don't underestimate the power of running board meetings. “There are really two powers the president has,” says Zifrony. “The president sets the agenda for the board meetings and runs the board meetings, and if you're following Robert.s Rules, the president is the only person who can make a motion. If the president knows how to use his power properly, the power to set the meetings allows him to control what's done.”

Steve H
Mesa, AZ

The president can rule a motion out of order (deny a motion) if it is apparent the motion violates a provision in the bylaws or a provision in some law, or if it violates accepted parliamentary procedure (such as Roberts Rules). Otherwise, no. However, the president's ruling can be appealed to the membership who, by a majority vote, decides whether or not the president's ruling stands. In a deliberative organization, the assembly that is meeting ultimately decides what takes place; not the president.

I've been learning Robert's too, and do not see where the president is primate to stifle motions by others. Per Robert's, the president proposes the agenda and the Board approves the agenda. See RONR in Brief, 11th ed., p. 120.

I would be very worried about the president having complete control of the agenda and especially of motions.

Thanks Folks. Guess I'll just wait for the next election. Perhaps someone with better leadership skills will rise to the occasion. As a past president and secretary i'm just troubled by meetings with an agenda turned to shambles in the first 15 minutes.

Your counsel is wise.

Thanks much for the help
Steve

In the first line of my 1st post, I wonder what I even meant when I typed "primate"!

Steve, sounds like you're still on the Board. Maybe you can offer the president guidance about a few fundamentals, especially if they're backed by state laws or your own docs.

IMO, a clear cut well organized agenda is crucial. I also think that especially in your case, the agenda items should be quite specific so that some directors don't try to tie their pet ideas into them

In CA, per Civil Code, agenda items must be posted for owners to see 4 days before an open meeting. No additional items may be added at the meeting (w/very few exceptions). I don't know if AZ has such a law. What I've seen in 6 years on the board and two previous years attending most meetings is that directors stray from the agenda even during the debate portion by claiming their point is "related," even when not. That's when things fall apart. They must stick to the pro's & con's of the motion.

Perhaps, Steve, you can write a sort of outline for her to distribute to directors stating that only one agenda item may be discussed at a time, directors must take turns speaking. Ideas not persons must only be debated. Make it short & sweet.

You also could become familiar with Robert's Rules and learn when to state "point of order," when protocol is not being followed. I'm probably not stating this correctly, but Bruce can help!

Or, perhaps the president would like to resign? This might be simply not a suitable role for her.

Steve:
Be kind. Buy the new president a CAI book on "How to Run a Meeting" and/or "The Role of the President."
And, as another poster said, help her to do her job better.
Jeanne