GOVERNANCE POLICY: GP-5  Chairperson's Role

In this and other Council policies the Chairperson is generally the President. “Chairperson” also refers to another person who assumes the responsibility of President based upon the President’s delegation of the role of chairperson to the Vice-President or other member of the Executive Committee, or the Vice-President’s assumption of the role of President due to the absence of the President or the inability of the President to act.

 The Chairperson assures the integrity of the Council’s process, and, secondarily, represents the Council to outside parties.  The Chairperson is the only Councilor authorized to speak for the Council (beyond simply reporting Council decisions), other than in specifically authorized instances.

  1.   The outcome of the Chairperson’s activity is that the Council behaves consistently according its own rules and those legitimately imposed upon it from outside the organization.

 1.1. Council will only discuss those issues which, according to Council policy, clearly belong to the Council.

 1.2. Deliberation will be timely, fair, orderly, thorough, efficient and kept to the point.

 1.3  All Councilors will participate appropriately in the Council’s decision-making process.

 1.4. The current version of Roberts’ Rules of Order will be the parliamentary authority in cases of dispute.

 1.5  Councilors will participate appropriately in furthering the Ends of the College and will participate in the Council to achieve those ends.

 2.   The authority of the Chairperson is limited to making any reasonable interpretation of Council policies on Governance Process and Council-Registrar Relationship, except where the Council specifically delegates portions of this authority to others.

 2.1. The Chairperson is empowered to chair Council meetings with all the commonly accepted power of that position (e.g. ruling, recognizing).

 2.2.The Chairperson has no authority to make decisions about policies created by the Council within Ends and Executive Limitations policy areas.  Therefore, the Chairperson has no authority to supervise or direct the Registrar.

 2.2.1.The Chairperson may authorize the Registrar’s education benefit within the terms of the Registrar’s employment contract.

 2.3. The Chairperson may represent the Council to outside parties in announcing Council-stated positions and in stating Chairperson’s decisions and interpretations within the area delegated to the Chairperson (consistent with policies in Governance Process and Council-Registrar Relationship areas).

 
 2.5.The Chairperson will ensure that appropriate orientation is provided to new Councilors and will lead the orientation.

 2.6.The Chairperson may delegate this authority, but remains accountable for its use.