JHB;148429 wrote: I agree with the LuvMyKids. The biggest concern is potential misuse of funds/assets. Some might say it's also a concern to have too much weight/decision-making authority with a couple. That could be true, but frankly you'll find that same issue with close friends or sisters or other combinations.
The office of Parlimentarian wouldn't pose much of a conflict for me. Note - that office could actually manipulate things to the benefit of the chair in a very formal situation where Parlimentarian could control what motions are heard. But in a PTO setting, I don't see it as a risk.
One area to watch. You probably have situations where you want two Board members counting money or providing the primary and secondary signature for authorizing an expense. Even though these are both Board members, they should not simultaneously serve in the dual sign-off role.
I agree with the LuvMyKids. The biggest concern is potential misuse of funds/assets. Some might say it's also a concern to have too much weight/decision-making authority with a couple. That could be true, but frankly you'll find that same issue with close friends or sisters or other combinations.
The office of Parlimentarian wouldn't pose much of a conflict for me. Note - that office could actually manipulate things to the benefit of the chair in a very formal situation where Parlimentarian could control what motions are heard. But in a PTO setting, I don't see it as a risk.
One area to watch. You probably have situations where you want two Board members counting money or providing the primary and secondary signature for authorizing an expense. Even though these are both Board members, they should not simultaneously serve in the dual sign-off role.
For me it would depend on what positions they are in. In your case, I wouldn't see a problem, but I wouldn't want to see spouses as say, Pres and Treas. I say, wait and see how it works out. There may not be any problems at all, but if there are then that would be serve as a jumping off point for amending bylaws to cover the situation.
While I personally dislike the idea of spouses serving on the same board, there is nothing to prohibit it according to Robert's Rules of Order. Therefore, the only way to prohibit it is by amending the by-laws for your organization.
Since you state that your group has had difficulty finding a parliamentarian (other than the current one), perhaps the solution is having a term limit for officer positions (including the treasurer) and not allowing any one person to serve consequtive terms of any kind on the board (in other words, no hopping from one position immediately into another -- there has to be a break).
Is it a conflict of interest for a husband and wife to sit on the same PTC board? One as treasurer and one as parliamentarian? We have had trouble finding a parliamentarian that understands even the most basic Robert's Rules of order and our Treasurer's husband has sat on several of our region's non-profits over the years.
