Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Use of a m can greatly facilitate meetings. It can allow a board or group to
consider the things that matter most, while not forgetting routine matters.
A consent agenda is a bundle of items that is voted on, without discussion, as a package. It
differentiates between routine matters not needing explanation and more complex issues
needing examination.
What belongs on a consent agenda? Common items are minutes of the previous meeting;
confirmation of a decision that has been discussed previously; the chief executive͛s report;
correspondence. Items that do not belong on a consent agenda are the annual audit, financial
reports that cover important new issues, or executive committee decisions. These items should
be discussed by the entire body in open session. !! use the consent agenda to hide
Using a consent agenda requires that the meeting coordinator and members follow seven
steps.
!"!#!!$%&&!%' The board chair and the executive director identify together
what issues should be at the heart of the meeting and what other items need to be
addressed. Then, they assign routine items to the consent agenda and create adequate
documents that enable board or group members to make informed decisions. These
materials must be supplied sufficiently in advance for board members to have time for
review. This may require that committee reports, etc. are submitted a week or two
group to use the consent agenda. Board members must read the materials submitted so
that they are prepared to ask questions about items or determine whether to vote
approval of the agenda. This may require more preparation time on the part of
members, but can greatly reduce the time used in meetings for routine items.
item on the meeting agenda. The board chair enumerates the items on the consent
agenda and asks if any board member wishes any item to be removed. This is the final
/ !#.!%0$!#!1)!!'.(!'$+)!'2.#"!+.%!%&!%'%'3*+!$%
recommendation or report, he or she should request that the item be removed from the
consent agenda and placed on the regular agenda. Without question or argument, the
meeting chair is to move the item to the meeting agenda. ͞Just a quick question͟ is not
appropriate. If there is %0 question about an item, it must be removed and placed on
the meeting agenda for discussion. If a member has a simple question of clarification, it
would be appropriate to call the chair or chief executive before the meeting for simple
facts of clarification.
4 33.!"!+.%!%&!%' After removal of any items, the chair asks for a motion to
approve the consent agenda in its entirety. The motion requires a second and a
unanimous vote, since anything less than unanimous would mean something needs to
be removed. The board votes approval on the consent agenda items as a group.
agenda was approved unanimously and indicate which, if any, items were removed and
placed on the meeting agenda. Additionally, the minutes should itemize the specific
resolutions included in the consent agenda so that future board considerations will have
a complete record and so the permanent records of the organization will faithfully
Using a consent agenda requires true collaboration between the board and the chief executive.
Both must be willing to do their homework and preparation before the meeting. The
efficiencies of a consent agenda give board members more time to engage in thinking and
talking about the organization͛s mission, programs, and impact. The main purpose of a consent
agenda is to liberate board meetings from administrative details, repetitious discussion, and
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