Board Liaisons to Committees

Started by MaureenW • 3 replies • 1496 views

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MaureenW (North Carolina)
Posts: 1

Posted:

Does anyone have any rules concerning the duties of a board-member liaison to various committees such as Landscape, Architectural Review, etc. One of our HOA board members thinks that a liaison has the right to vote in committee decisions and express personal opinions.
My thought is that the liaison helps set up committees by recruiting members and assisting (but not voting) in the election of the chair, secretary, etc., and helps to set guidelines as to the purpose of the committee. The Liaison then acts as "messenger" between the Board and the Committee; makes certain deadlines are met; and follows through with any recommendations the committee might make to the Board. Am I wrong?
I don't believe there is any legal ruling or precedent here, but that it should be more in line with better busiess practices. It further seems to me that the presence of a board-member-liaison at all meetings tends to intimidate the committee members. Am I wrong?
Maureen W

SusanW1 (Michigan)
Posts: 5,202

Posted:

First, I think it's a great idea for EVERY board member to be doing something additional to sitting on the board- and that includes being a member of a committee. That does not necessarily mean chairing or being responsible for getting members for the committee. In fact, the "hat" that is worn by the board member at a committee meeting is as a member of that committee, first and foremost. There is no special or additional status, just because he/she is a board member.

The liaison to the board does not have to be a board member, either.

The bylaws may be very directive (like saying that the president appoint all members of the committees, or just the chair) or very vague (like just saying that committees are or may exist)

IN GENERAL, Committees meet and make decisions and then bring their recommendations to the Board for approval. The board has final say in budgeting of any project. NOTE: some states set up differently, and in Florida, (as explained by Donna) the ACC is an independent entity and can make its own rules. I find that unusually powerful that it can make decisions on its own without oversight of the board, but that's they way it is.)

KirkW1 (Texas)
Posts: 1,665

Posted:

Unless specified in the documents, the BOD would decide if the liaison is an active member, or simply there to be a messenger.

DonnaS (Tennessee)
Posts: 5,671

Posted:

Susan,

To clarify the Fl Statute a little,
Yes, the ARC can write it's own rules but they are required to follow the CCRs and other documents already governing the community. BUT they are adopted and voted upon by a vote of the Board. Ours were voted upon only after a review by the membership just in case there is any major problem, the membership did have the right to address an issue but not every community does so. That doesn't mean the the Board will do anything about any complaints but members do have the right.

Any decision made by the ACC,in which the application is denied, can be appealed to the Board. It is ALWAY the Boards final decision, not the ACC.

Our Board always had one of it's members act as a liason to each committee. That is the best way to insure that the Board is fully aware to what committees are doing. The Treasurer was to the Budget committee and so on.

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