Parliamentary Procedure Q&A

Q: We have a battle going on right now in our association. We have five board members. Two are against a thread mill in our club house; two are for it. The fifth one was absent today. It is very clear that the president is against the thread mill. So we had two for and two against. He quickly called the meeting to adjourn even while the meeting was going on. Some people were still arguing that the president can't vote on this. I am for the thread mill, but can't believe he isn't entitled to vote. Does he have a say in this matter? - Sam Latino, Dec. 15, 1999

A: Yes, unless your board's rules or custom forbids it, the chairman of a small board can make motions and vote. Regardless, he may always vote if the method is by ballot.

He may not, however, unilaterally adjourn the meeting. He may adjourn it if the board votes to adjourn, or if there's no objection to its adjournment, or if a special order to adjourn at a particular time exists and that time arrives.

Do remember that a tie vote fails, but that the motion may be renewed at the next meeting.

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