Host duties:

[Ms. Toad]

17. If there is going to be private discussion among hosts about banning people

It should be with the agreement of the group, and be clear from the SOP (or a pinned post) that it will be happening, the site for the discussion should be private (the one used previously was not), and there needs to be an agreement among the hosts (with the guidance of the group) as to what (if anything) will be disclosed once a decision is reached (Is each speaker in control of whether her/his comments may be repeated? Can anything other than the decision be reported? Can the sense (but not specific words or attributions) be shared?)

That would go a long way toward decreasing the likelihood that anyone will perceive the hosts as abusing power (or toward being able to make a clear case to the admins, if needed, that the lead host is not acting in accordance with the wishes of the group).

This is a good thread - by the way. I have suggested before (in the LGBT group) that the hosts exercise of their discretion should be guided by the group, to avoid the kind of rancor that has happened here the last few days.