Board Resolution - Plan Amendment

[waid10]

My company currently has several retirement and health plans. Whenever a change to a plan needs to be made, a board resolution must go to the Board of Directors. It is very difficult to get on the docket for the Board meetings. And the Board members often don't think they need to deal with certain ministerial plan changes. Most of our plans currently state that amendments to the plan are to be made by the employer. We have interpreted that to mean the Board of Directors. So all plan changes, major and minor, have been going to the Board for approval.

So I have been assigned to work on putting together a document that lists all types of plan changes and who has the authority to make them. Then we will try to get the Board to formally delegate authority to subcommittees or individuals (Finance Committee or VP of HR) to make those changes. Knowing our Board, my document and the types of changes permitted to be made by someone other than the Board will need to be finely defined.

Has anyone tried to put anything like this together? Any recommendations on sources or websites?

I know that if I say that "minor plan amendments" can be made by the VP of HR or Finance Committee, the Board will ask what "minor" means. So I will likely need to come up with a list of all types of plan changes. Has anyone seen this type of list?

Please help.

Thanks.