In a board meeting can a person not on the board be asked to leave?

Answer 1

Usually board meetings are open meetings, unless the board is discussing executive matters, such as staff payroll, or delinquent owners, by name, then only board members should be present. This means that owners, residents and prospective buyers should be welcome at open board meetings.

This does not mean that someone can step off a bus at random and sit in on an association board meeting. Such a person should be challenged, and when unable to produce a valid reason for attending the meeting, be asked to leave.

Board meetings that are run following Roberts Rules of Order -- and some governing documents require this paradigm -- can minimize disruption by disrupters.

Most board meetings, although they are open meetings, can minimize participation by non-board members by structuring the agenda to handle the business at hand. When comments by non-board members are to be heard, a time limit can be set.

Uninvited participation can be curtailed by the simple statement, "You are out of order."

If a disrupter cannot be encouraged to participate under the conduct guidelines established by the board at the meeting, it's possible that the disrupter could be asked to leave.

This request, however, should not be used to help a board resolve an outstanding issue that the disrupter has brought forward according to the board's business process.