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Board Governance Committee amends policy to allow vice chair to assume chair authority when chair is unavailable
Summary
The committee approved a general amendment to the board governance manual clarifying that the chair’s delegated powers may be exercised by the vice chair if the chair is unavailable; the motion passed by roll call.
The Board Governance Committee voted to amend the board governance manual to clarify that powers delegated to the chair may be exercised by the vice chair when the chair is unavailable.
Committee members discussed existing provisions that allow the chair or vice chair to act in certain policies and said a simple, general provision would reduce confusion in emergency or absence situations. Legal counsel said the amendment should not be interpreted to limit the board’s plenary constitutional authority.
Trustee Steve moved the item; another trustee seconded. A roll-call vote followed. Votes recorded in favor were: Miss Pearl, Mister Chang, Miss Yamamoto, Miss Bradford, Mister Ruffino, Mister Juarez and Chairperson Gunning. The committee secretary announced: “Thank you. Motion passes.”
The committee noted the change would align governance manual language across policies that already include chair-or-vice-chair provisions and would make emergency delegations clearer (for example, cyber or other declared emergencies). Staff said the amendment is ministerial and intended to improve operational clarity; they will circulate the exact amended language for board review.
The motion passed; staff will incorporate the language into the governance manual and report back as part of routine policy updates.
