Board Liaisons Needed?

Started by CarolR11 • 9 replies • 1781 views

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CarolR11 (Colorado)
Posts: 2,563

Posted:

Until we "good guys" became a majority on our board, previous boards had virtually ignored committees here. They wouldn't attend committee meetings, wouldn't provide guidance of any kind, so committees' reports were often misguided or discussed the wrong topics. At that time, no committees contained board members.

Now we're much more structured; committees have charters, which they helped craft. Our policy for the past few years also includes a board liaison for each committee. Liaisons attend most committee meetings, act in an advisory capacity, e.g., offer the HOA's perspective regarding, say, budget matters or interpretation of governing docs relevant to the committee's work, etc. Committees now accurately feel as though they're part of the governance here instead of just nuisances. they submit monthly reports to the board, which they summarize at our regular meetings.

Directors have a lot of work here, and a couple actually refuse to serve as liaisons. And some have suggested that if a committee has one or more directors as a member, they don't need a board liaison. The director/committee member possesses the knowledge to guide the committee. We have two such committees out of a total of 5 committees.

Anyone have an opinion or experience that might help me think about this?

SusanW1 (Michigan)
Posts: 5,202

Posted:

I personally feel that being on the board means to take an active part in what goes on in the HOA. I think every member should be involved in one committee, as a general member, not necessarily as a liaison. They would wear their "general member" hat in the committee, having no special role or power in the committee.

The president can also assign tasks for board members, too, including chairing an ad hoc committee for a special reason.

In other words, not just sit there like a bump on a log, attending meetings once a month and having no other input or insight on anything else.

FionaC (California)
Posts: 212

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By SusanW1 on 11/16/2011 12:23 PM
I personally feel that being on the board means to take an active part in what goes on in the HOA. I think every member should be involved in one committee, as a general member, not necessarily as a liaison. They would wear their "general member" hat in the committee, having no special role or power in the committee.

The president can also assign tasks for board members, too, including chairing an ad hoc committee for a special reason.

In other words, not just sit there like a bump on a log, attending meetings once a month and having no other input or insight on anything else.

I theoretically like this idea of a board liaison. But, I feel that board members should serve on a committee and in fact act a liaison in such a role.

Our HOA is small. I have found.. the more cooks in the kitchen, the more fuckass (not mispelled either ) comes around. The more involved, the more potential issues.. KISS. Keep is simple ??

CarolR11 (Colorado)
Posts: 2,563

Posted:

You make a good point, Fiona! Not only would a non-committee board liaison attend, our president as an ex offcio member also attends. Soon, it would not feel much like the committee members' committee. It would feel like "supervision" of children.

Btw, the liaison has no vote.

Susan, I agree with you that directors who do not serve on committees, only two as of today, should be board liaisons to committees without a director. One of these directors was just elected and has a lot to learn. A Committee role will help.

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,046

Posted:

The Chair of the committee should be the liaison with the Board and attend all board meetings (if possible) to make a written or verbal committee report to the whole Board.

CarolR11 (Colorado)
Posts: 2,563

Posted:

Thanks, Tim. Our committee charters permit the comm. chair to present verbal recs to the board based on the committee's written reports. If the comm. chair prefers, the Board Liaison can fill this role. We have a couple of excellent comm. chairs who aren't directors. They're willing to serve on committees but not on the board (sound familiar in your case, Tim?) So, I feel certain that our board wouldn't want to step on these chairs' toes by appointing Board Liaisons as comm. chairs. The chairs do attend all board meetings when possible.

As of a couple of days ago, 3 or our 5 committees have directors on them--the Finance Comm has 3 directors on it. As a comm. member, I do serve as chair of one committee as no comm. member wants that role.

But it does seem silly to me to require a Board Liaison for committees when directors serve on them. That's my question.-- does it seems necessary?

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,046

Posted:

Carol,

A Board Liaison is just a go between for the committee and the Board. Let the chair, whoever they happen to be, be the liaison. There is no reason why it has to be a member of the Board filling this role.

CarolR11 (Colorado)
Posts: 2,563

Posted:

O, I see that I missed your earlier point. Tim. We do have a Board Liaison Policy here designed by our M.C. & approved by the board quite some time ago. It makes clear that the Board Liaison must be a director.

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,046

Posted:

Well, a policy can be amended or abolished.

CarolR11 (Colorado)
Posts: 2,563

Posted:

I'm going to place the review of the Liaison Policy on our next agenda and seek a revision of it so that there need be no additional director serving as a Liaison to a committee so long as a director serves on the committee. Thanks, Tim.

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