As a Board member, the responsibilities and tasks to keep the association running smooth can add up quickly. And as a leader, the art of delegation is incredibly important. Committees can be a great resource to, and outlet for, the Board of Directors. The goal of this article is to understand the roles and responsibilities of committees, define the types of committees, and to provide some keys to successful utilization of them.

Types of Committees

• Mandatory
• Boards should check their governing documents to find out if they are actually required to have committees. Typically, this can be found in the ByLaws. It is not uncommon for an association to be surprised that they are, indeed, required to have some type(s) of committee(s). Some fairly common mandatory committees include Elections, Nominations, and Architectural.

• Standing
• A Standing committee is one appointed by the Board to handle categorical type of initiatives and responsibilities of the Board. These committees are often established by the Board and should be noted in meeting minutes. Some example committees might include Budget, Finance, Grounds, Social, Welcome, and Rules.

• Ad Hoc
• Exploratory committee on a singular issue. These committees should have a very specific goal/ purpose and include an end date. Examples of this type of committee include a traffic safety study, neighborhood awareness, new governing documents or amendments, reserve study, or decorating projects.

Role of a Committee
The primary function of a committee is to assist the Board in meeting their many responsibilities. Committees can do this by performing specific tasks (such as the things mentioned above) and performing research. The end goal of the work of a committee is to prepare and make recommendations to the Board. It is imperative to remember that committees (unless governing documents give it with a mandatory committee) are advisory and have no authoritative power. Power in decision making and action remains with the Board.  Other benefits include broadening community input and contributions to the Association.

Tips for Successful Committees

• Reminder - committees serve at pleasure of the Board - & are advisory groups
• Any committee that does have independent authority, should have detailed processes & an appeal process to the Board.  Ex: architectural control committee
• Appoint a Board Liaison
• Detailed job descriptions which outline roles & responsibilities
• Keep Minutes 
• Submit official recommendations to Board in writing
• Motivate & Empower - but Manage Authority 
• Give meaningful tasks
• Give recommendations serious consideration
• Give public recognition for performance
• Committee meetings should be open to members

One of the great construction debates is to sealcoat or not to sealcoat asphalt pavement. Let's review the primary purpose of sealcoating and then the common complaint. Sealcoating asphalt (usually driveways or streets) provides a thin layer of fine aggregate, oil and minerals to help protect and "seal" the aggregate asphalt materials that make up the pavement. It protects it from environmental factors that breakdown asphalt such as water/moisture, UV rays, and temperature change.  Sealcoating is similar to painting. It protects the surface, while at the same time giving it an aesthetically pleasing and uniform appearance.

Which brings us to the primary criticism of sealcoating. Everybody loves a freshly sealcoated driveway. It looks all shiny and new! But after one plow season, you're left with blade marks and tire tread patterns. After a year or so, light spots start appearing from areas that hold water or are exposed to heavy traffic. What a waste of money that sealcoating was!  After a couple of years the asphalt blends back to that uniform gray look.  Did it really matter or make a difference spending the money to sealcoat?

Yes, it did! Unprotected asphalt will undoubtedly break down sooner than asphalt that has been sealed. This is a similar process to what happens with exterior wood surface. If left unprotected by paint or stain, fibers will break down and rot away. The secret to sealcoating is having realistic expectations on how long that shiny new looking driveway will last.