The Art of Abstaining

As we enter the third phase of the budget process, ( the presentation and the ), I took a moment to look at the Board of Finance April 18, 2012 meeting minutes.  While I was not there, I have to rely on what is presented here as factual.

The meeting was attended by all six members of the Finance Committee and a discussion concerning various funding measures was solicited by the Chairman.  Each of the five other members then made comments concerning a funding level for a program to be either cut (Wheeler – cut $300,000 from the fund balance) or additional funding (Grimes – more funding for ambulances and , no dollar amount was suggested).

When the motion was made by Committee member Rines and seconded by Chairman Frishman, the vote taken was recorded as 4 in favor (Chairman Frishman, Rines, Bentz, and O’Brien), one against (Wheeler) and one abstain (Grimes).

While I can understand the decision process of those that voted for or against the motion, what I can not put together is why Mr. Grimes indicated as abstaining. 

The art of using your vote in abstaining is a not to be used lightly.  Robert’s Rules states: “Whenever a director believes he/she has a conflict of interest, the director should abstain from voting on the issue and make sure the abstention is noted in the minutes. (Robert's Rules, 11th ed., p 407.) and from the law firm of Adams Kessler “The other reason a director might abstain is that he/she believes there was insufficient information for making a decision. Otherwise, directors should cast votes on all issues put before them. Failure to do so could be deemed a breach of their fiduciary duties.”

We elected our officials to make decisions in a fiduciary manner and if that person did not have sufficient information to make a decision after months of meetings, then one has to questions, what have they been doing all this time at the budget meetings?

Was there a conflict of interest? That would not seem to be the case as the only interest one who serves on the Board of Finance would be the interest of the Town.

I hope that at future meetings that one only uses the power of abstaining as truly a decision that is reflective of both their best interest and that of the board they serve on. 

Sources:

Stonington Board of Finance minutes  http://www.stonington-ct.gov/Pages/StoningtonCT_FinMinutes/04-18-12%20Draft%20Special%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf

Law Firm of Davis Stirling - http://www.davis-stirling.com/AbstentionFromVoting/tabid/1300/Default.aspx#axzz1uTn8gB2o