Board Members on Committees: Pros & Cons

Most governing documents and state statutes do not prohibit board members from simultaneously serving on a committee. In fact, the topic rarely is addressed. Is there a cause for concern  if a board member is on a committee?

Committee members are appointed by the board of directors and their function is to:

1. Serve as the voice of the community by being a conduit for two-way communication, conveying concerns and desires to the board and board responses and requests to the owners;
2. Act as an incubator for future community leaders;
3. Conduct surveys and investigations, and make recommendations to the board so the board can focus on making decisions based on the information provided by a committee, and setting policy

An acting board member who also sits on a committee with full voting power could easily corrupt or taint the committee, even if not done intentionally or purposefully. Ideally, a committee should act to further broaden the board members’ perspectives on ways to better the community, and perhaps even brainstorm ideas that are not necessarily on the board’s radar. If a board member also serves on a committee, the committee may become susceptible to “tunnel vision” in their approach to handling issues presented to them by the community or the board.

One good way for the board to keep a pulse on a committee is to appoint a board member to act as liaison to a committee. This simply means that the board member sits in on committee meetings, provides limited input and feedback, but does not hold a vote on any committee decision. The board member liaison would then report to the board regarding the committee’s ideas, focal points, progress, etc.

This alternative may be the happy medium for everyone involved: board members, active committee members and the community members themselves. The board member can stay involved on the committee level, and the committee may not feel the pressure or restrictions.

Vicki E. Eaton, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®
Portfolio Manager
Community Management Corporation, AAMC
Rockville, MD