Authority of President over Committee Chairperson

Recently, in small "under 30 membership" HOA (voluntary membership) here in East Texas, we were appointed by the President to Co-Chair a YARD
OF THE MONTH Committee to encourage beautification and improvement.
We met. President initiated the committee and appointed us; because we
did not approve of his "sign" suggestion, we had a sign to the committee's liking assembled. When we presented the sign panel, he said we didn't do it like he wanted. He left the meeting. We called to him, but he kept on walking away.
We suggested a few prospective recipients -- he said ONE was okay. We
said we'd get permission from that homeowner to put the sign in their yard.
We talked to the couple and they were thrilled. We erected the sign in their yard. You would not believe the SCATHING phone message we received on our message machine when he saw the sign in their yard.
"What the H - - - is going on?" was his last sentence. I"ve researched
different web sites searching for the protocal between the president and
appointed committee chair/chairs and committee members. I cannot find such codes.
Can you help me and point me to the correct site or resource? We received a letter in the mail yesterday stating that we were no longer involved with the committee. Our premise is NOT that we were ousted, but we don't believe this was protocal. Are we being pushed around by a "bully" president with self-imposed "authority" above and beyond his role?
We have been officers and committee chairs before, belonging to this HOA for 10 years. We have never experienced such conduct or been so humiliated.
This individual moved here 2 years ago. This is his first experience in such a high position.
Thank you for your response!

FrancesB:

First, review your Bylaws to learn if verbiage such as this...committees serve at the discretion of the Board...or some such thing implying the same is evident. Since you are a committee 'appointed by the President', I believe it is in your best interest to 'run things by the Board for an OK' before you go ahead on your own. To be a 'lone ranger' is not the best way to assist and serve.

Next, it is best, when a committee is to be established by the Board, to have its guidelines and purpose clearly defined so all know at the start what is expected and accepted. All that being said, the President also should not act independently and make decisions apart from the other Board members. It sends the wrong message.

Further, usually there will be a Board member to act as a 'liasion' on each established committee. Not to say the Board member would attend every time the committee persons meet to discuss, but once you arrive at decisions or a proposed plan, they should be presented to the Board.

In my experience, the Board has ultimate authority over committees and their actions unless your bylaws state otherwise. It may be well for the Committee
to work on 'a vision' of what the "Yard of the Month" could afford your community overall and request a meeting with the Board to discuss it. Much could be done with this to encourage resident participation and an overall neighborly atmosphere.

Try not to look at what has happened as a stumbling block, but see it as a challenge to you and the rest of the Committee to bring some comraderie to your community. Good Luck!

On the other hand, don't presume that because the president acted, that he was acting on his own, and not representing the board. Best to check out the lay of the land before throwing rocks at the natives.

Good luck.

Who attends Board meetings - 3 people? Double check on the size of your board. It will have officers and USUALLY has other board members, but does not have to.

Take down the sign. Attend the next board meeting and give your "report". The report will recommend the use of your committee's sign to use to designate the YARD . . .

Ask for a motion to approve the sign for the project.

Take your lumps. Your committee acted without getting approval for its decisions.