Paragraph 5.2 of the By-Laws is an important factor in the operation of the cooperative. This paragraph defines the power of the Board of Directors to use Committees to help carry out the activities of the business. Here is the text of this paragraph in its entirety.
“Committees of the Board. The Board of Directors shall have the power to designate Committees, including the appointment of chairpersons and members of said Committees, to advise the Directors; to assist in day-to-day operations of the Park; to assist in preparation of Park Budgets; and to assist in other matters deemed necessary by the Directors. Committee members and chairpersons appointed by the Board do not have to be Shareholders in the Corporation or residents of the Park. Meetings of Committees of the Board at which the Committee does not take final action on behalf of the Board or make recommendations to the Board regarding association budget shall be exempt from §719.106 (1)(c), Florida Statutes, and shall not be required to issue 48 hour notice, or be open to all Members.”
It is important to note a couple of things in the preceding paragraph. First, the Board of Directors appoints all committee members and committee chairpersons. No Member, resident, or non-resident is on any Committee of the Board unless and until the Board of Directors appoints that person.
Second, committees are put in place to advise and assist the Board of Directors. Committees are not independent entities and have no powers other than those specifically delegated to them by the Board.
Committees generally take one of two forms: Special committees (often called ad hoc committees) and Standing committees. The Board of Directors has the power to establish and dissolve both forms of committee solely at its discretion.
Special committees are organized to carry out a specific task or project. They are automatically dissolved when their work is completed.
Standing committees continue to exist unless and until they are dissolved by the Board. Standing committees are appointed to deal with on-going issues, tasks and projects that span longer periods of time. Standing committees may, on occasion, appoint Special sub-committees to assist them with shorter term tasks. For example, a Buildings and Grounds Standing Committee might appoint a Special sub-committee to develop a recommendation for the landscaping of a certain portion of the common areas.
Serving on committees is a powerful way for Co-op Members and park residents in general to help make Tropical Isles a better community for all its residents. The Board is anxious to have residents (Members and non-members of the Co-op) volunteer to serve on Committees.
Volunteering does not in and of itself make an individual a member of any Committee of the Board. The power to appoint persons to a committee is vested solely in the Board of Directors.