Parlimentary procedure: Board member uncomfortable voicing dissent

Question on parliamentary procedure:

We have a good system where Board members are invited to participate in verbal discussions at each Board meeting and we can discuss things as a group before making a decision. We have one Board member who appears to be uncomfortable expressing vocal dissent, but does get on his keyboard a few days later and expresses his dissent post-meeting. I find he is very comfortable sharing his opinion via keyboard, not comfortable via voice in real time. He speaks just fine, he just appears to be shy, uncomfortable, or unwilling to disagree in person.

Should we modify our parliamentary procedure in any fashion to be more inclusive of this board member?

Unlawful......says who......you?

This has nothing to do with parliamentary procedure, MichaelT and I think you know that. This is a question I think you've asked previously?

anyhoo, perhaps you can ask him by name to speak first on an agenda item.

When. he sends his disagreement via email (to all directors?), remind him that there was discussion time on the topic AT the meeting and that is the only time any director may make remarks about an agenda item. Remind him he may vote no. Although not required, if he'd be more comfortable, inform him he may have his BRIEF reason for voting no placed in the meeting minutes. This might help. If able to state his reason(s), I don't think he'd even try to complain the next day as he's on record.

Alternatively, and here's where Robert's does come in handy. Say, "if you feel the Board neglected an important point or that you have new information to cast doubt on the decision we made, place the following on the next agenda: 'Request to rescind the decision made on xx/xx/xxx concerning forbidding water balloons in the parks.'"

Then, at the meeting, he makes a motion to rescind that decision. the Board votes and if th majority say yes, the decision is rescinded. If no, it is not. If yes, , he makes a new motion as an alternative if he wishes on that topic., etc. since he agenda item was already prevuulsy decided, this item to rescind would be under New Business.

Our Board has an understanding that if you do not agree with a vote and have voted against what was proposed, then the expectation is that voicing your view outside of the board meeting is not acceptable.

No need to modify anything, unless your style of arriving at a decision is to steamroll opposing thoughts/views or you are not being totally truthful with how your decision-making actually occurs.

Let all Board Members know that if there is an agenda item for decision, then discussion and debate happens at the meeting prior to the decision being made. If the amount of discussion, debate, and/or info presented is insufficient to make the best, most informed decision (in the opinions of enough Board Members), then decision on the item can be tabled until the next meeting. Board Members can research and think about their position prior to the subsequent meeting and then discussion and debate may happen again at that meeting prior to the decision being made.

Once the item is officially brought up for decision, then a vote is taken that determines the Board's decision. While a decision was reached, the same item could be brought up again at a subsequent meeting for reconsideration and re-decision (and this should be allowed); however, this should be the exception and not the norm, and if the same decision is arrived at, then any dissenting Board Member(s) should take that as a sign that their opinion is not shared by others and they should let it go.

I do have a feeling though that your process probably doesn't go exactly as described. You likely bring up some random item for decision out of the blue and catch everyone off guard. You generate an elaborate presentation of the item in an attempt to steer everyone in the direction you want things to go. You don't allow enough time for different/opposing thoughts, ideas, opinions to be generated or discussed. Most of your Board Members are probably content with you having done all the work, making their decision easy, and allowing them to vote and move on the next thing. But there is probably this one Board Member (who you have referenced before similarly) that doesn't think all of your ideas are great and need to be implemented. However, since he's not really given enough time prior to the decision being made to formulate his own thoughts, opinions, and proposal, the only way he may have enough time to formulate and present thoughts is to do so after the meeting where the decision was forced through. You've pegged him as this 'post-meeting dissenter' where really he's probably one of the only real-thinkers on your Board, he just can't compete during meeting with your powerpoints. Further, as you are the 'keeper of the agenda', you likely don't allow an item that was already decided (because the decision was what you wanted) to be added again to the agenda and reconsidered.
(Or maybe I'm way off base.)

Since you do allow agenda items to be added AT the open meeting, MichaelT, ND's point that some might be sort of blindsided is possible.

Also note that ND & I both point out this Monday-AM dissenter can put the item back on the next agenda to "rescind" it as detailed in my above.

So....you've received a lot of sound advice. What do you think you'll do next time he so tardily dissents??