Catalog of Sample Policies for Pennsylvania's Conservation Districts

Committee Principles Policy
(Stanford Community Cooperative)

The Board may establish committees to help carry out its responsibilities. Committees will be used sparingly and only when other methods have been deemed inadequate. Committees will never be used so as to interfere with delegation from Board to Executive Director.

Board committees are to help the Board do its job, not to help the staff to do its job. Committees will assist the Board chiefly by preparing policy alternatives and implications for Board deliberation.

Board committees are not to be created by the Board to advise staff and cannot exercise authority over staff. Further, the Board will not impede its direct delegation to the Executive Director by requiring the approval of a Board committee before an executive action. The Executive Director works for the Board, never for a Board committee.

Board committees may not speak or act for the Board, except when formally given such authority for specific and time-limited purposes. Such authority will be carefully stated so as not to conflict with the authority delegated to the Executive Director.

This policy applies only to committees that are formed by Board action. It does not apply to committees formed under the authority of the Executive Director.