I'm on BOD, a committee is out of control , Pres condones

We have a newly formed "beautification committee". They volunteered to create this committee, and came to the BOD. The purpose of these three non board members is to plant flowers around the common area. November's BOD meeting we voted to give the committee $1,000 to "beautify" the common areas around two pools and three culdesacs which have center islands, meaning plants and flowers. They have taken this full steam ahead. They decided they wanted to reduce the size of our three culdesac islands by three feet interior diameter, and replace with asphalt, rip out the existing mature palm trees/shrubs and plant new flowers and palms. They contacted DOT- who said they would pave the inside diameter of the culdesac islands w/asphalt at no charge to the association, but they had to have approval of the owners living on our culdesac. Keep in mind that I am on the BOD, and a neighbor is on the BOD, and we live on one culdesac in question. Of the seven owners on our culdesac, no one signed an approval letter when the committee came around with an approval sheet of paper. There was no line to sign for "no" approval. Though I am on the BOD, our President is in full knowledge and has given them permission to continue to pursue this. The approval letter for signature said this approval was needed due to easier access of emergency vehicles,( which is not true, as only an exterior paved widening of road on culdesac would assist emergency vehicles in a wide turn, and the culdesacs have been here 30 years with no issues). They are presenting this as if the county needs this done, and creating a sense of fear due to our 55+ status and the word emergency vehicles. I have read that committees must report to the board, but our President says that since we gave them $1,000, they can do what they want. Please help with guidance under 720, when I contacted the leader of the committee and explained that our culdesac did not want this, she hung up on me. Another dysfunctional community at work with several self interest groups at play.

Other posters may disagree with me on this one, but I think a lot of us agree that a charter charter or agreement (signed by the committee member)is in order. We like for the committees to do the research and legwork, but they work in an advisory capacity for the most part and the board makes the decisions. In the past, we've had problems with Committee members entering into contracts or agreements and it's just better to put everything in writing.

Asphalt is a bit permanent and I don't know anyone that considers it beautiful. Therefore it wouldn't be a material the "beautification committee" should be concerning themselves with. Why can't they use decorative gravel or bark or something at least more aesthetically pleasing?