Committee chair removing member

Can a committee chairperson remove a a committee member?

Generally, only the board of directors can appoint or remove committee members and chairs. But this depends on what your HOA's bylaws say. And any other board-approved documents. Our HOA, for example, has a Guidelines for All Committees document.

If your own documents are silent, you need to reply on CA. Corporations Codes. there also may be something in Robert's Rules of Order.

Can you tell us more? What kind of committee is it? Does it have decisionsmaking authority or a budget?

I agree, Tim, that there's variation among HOAs and even, perhaps among states.

But, at the end of the day (ugh, can't believe I wrote that!), the board is responsible for committees and their members/chairs' conduct. Committees should keep minutes of their meetings, and in our Guidelines & individual charters, they must. In CA are required to if they have decisionmaking authority or have budgets. Put another way, Owners have the right in CA to inspect minutes of such committees.

We have a lot of committees + an ad hoc committee. The President and our PM are ex officio members of all and often attend most meetings.

It's never happened here, but in the OP's case, the committee would vote to expel someone, and recommend that to the Board. Here, committee chairs have no authority over their members.

My apologies for the late response.
Below is a summary of emails. I need an opinion on whether or not to move forward on principal. Several as of this month former members would like no part in the "new"committee even the former chair whom led for a large number of years, and whom some would like reinstated.

Subject: New Social Committee
Date: June 27, 2016 at 2:16:28 PM PDT

Good afternoon members,

Since new committees are being formed to be approved by the board at the July 26th meeting, K and I wanted to check with all of you. We hope you will be remaining on the committee and continuing your excellent participation. Please let me know ASAP so we can count you as part of our group.
We’ll be having a meeting of the current committee sometime in July. I’ll let you know.

Re: New Social Committee
Wed, Jul 6, 2016 8:11 pm
Hello C,
I would like to be a participant in the new social committee. I do not currently have a lot of availability, however would like to attend meetings/gatherings and aid in whatever ways are cohesive to our community.

Thank you,
Y

Jul 7
Y, the new committee, which consists of mostly continuing members, will be submitted for approval by the board at the July 26th meeting. I have you down on the list.

C

Thu, Jul 7, 2016 11:29 pm
Social Committee

K and I want to thank you all for continuing with the committee. It will be approved by the board at the July 26th meeting.

We’ve decided to cancel the Wednesday, July 13 meeting as the next event that needs planning will be in October. We’ll meet in August in order to include any new members. That will give us plenty of time to plan for October. S K will be our board liaison.

C
Date: Fri, Jul 8, 2016 11:48 am
Jul 8

Hi C -

I am concerned that if we are not meeting until August, it might not be enough time for an October event. We want the event to be before daylight savings time goes off. It usually takes several weeks to prepare the invitations. If we decide to make this a catered event, we need to save the date. Even if it is not catered, it is a good idea to have a "save the date" to the Homeowners anyway.

Also, are we considering any "bring your food to the pool" during the summer? It seems like such a long time before a get-together (many new families moving in).

I would be happy to organize and prepare a Sunday morning (last minute) get-together at the pool when I know the weather will be advantageous. I would just need 1 or 2 people to assist me. It takes very little time and very little work. Just one shopping at Costco, some slicing and putting on plates, really no set-up at the pool, and I can prepare a simple flyer to be delivered 1 week before the event. The cost would be about $50 total. Any interest?

Just a suggestion. Perhaps we should meet later in July???

E

Fri, Jul 8, 2016 12:04 pm
I agree with E and would be happy to assist with a Sunday event.

B
Fri, Jul 8, 2016 5:38 pm
I think that is a good idea E for a Sunday event.
We can try one Sunday and see how it goes. For those who do not want to attend, do not have to.
You can count me in to help in anyway.
Best,
L

Fri, Jul 8, 2016 9:30 pm
Dear E,

Every year the idea of the Brunch by the Pool comes up in Social Committee as a possible event and every year it's voted down, including this year. However, if you want to go ahead and have a brunch on your own, of course that's perfectly fine but without using Social Committee funds.

All the best,

C, Co-Chair
K , Co-Chair

Sat, Jul 9, 2016 11:53 am
Hello All,
E, I am happy to help and help contribute my own personal funds if this is something you would like to pursue. Please let me know.
Thank you,
L

Jul 9, 2016, at 7:47 PM> wrote:
Hello E and All,
I too would like to be a part of helping you monetarily and otherwise E. Sounds like fun! Let's be social.
All my best,
Y
Date: 7/9/16 11:38 PM (GMT-08:00)

Hi Y,
I'll ask you what I asked Linda: in future please don't use the SC list to send out private emails -
Since we're not doing the Brunch as a Social Committee event, anything to do with that is your private business. Good luck and I hope it's a fun event for you.

Thanks,
K
Date: Sun, 10 Jul 2016 12:27:57 -0700
Subject: Re: RE:

Hello K and C, When you send an email to "all", proper email etiquette requires response to all. In the future if you "blind copy all" it will be responded to in kind.

Thanks,
Y

Jul 10
RE:
Thank you Y both for volunteering and for setting the record straight. The email list is not private. Anyone living here, who has not asked that their email not be used, can be emailed by anyone here provided it is not for business purposes. I chose not to get in the middle of another argument

In the future, if using the Social Committee list "as a guide", I would just suggest eliminating C and K since they have no desire to be involved.

Jul 11
Social Committee Problem

Hi Y

I'm sorry to tell you the list for the Social Committee was already
closed when you responded to C email. As you know the
list must be submitted to the board for approval in a timely manner
and your acceptance arrived too late. I'm sorry for the mix-up; I had
already submitted the list but I hadn't informed C.

Thank you for your help. You were always very generous with your time
and effort. If a spot opens up next year, we'll certainly keep you in
mind.

All the best,
K, Co-Chair
ETSC

RE: Social Committee Problem Tue, Jul 12, 2016 11:44 pm

K & C,

I'm sorry to hear that you've made the decision that my participation in the social committee is no longer wanted.

Does C's statement "We’ll meet in August in order to include any new members" no longer apply?

Yes, C sent out the communication a short time before the 4th of July holiday weekend (as I was out of town) after months of no contact. I was unable to respond until the 6th.

Your tactic as to why I've been excluded from the Social Committee as a member of our community is juvenile.

Y

Wed, Jul 27, 2016 5:49 pm
social committee

Y,
As of the July 7 email, new people were not on the list.

S R
L W
M Z

Our Bylaws say the BOD can appoint such committees as they deem necessary to help them. Though we have no committees, I assume the fact that the BOD can appoint them also means the BOD can un/appoint them and/or specific members as they appointed all.

To me this is common sense as the BOD, not committee members were elected to operate the HOA. The elected BOD rules the HOA, not some unelected committee.

Thank you for your responses. And yes a separate group comprised of some remaining members, new and anyone else who'd like to be neighborly has formed. We will look on the brighter side and move upward and forward!

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