Well, I don't think he was there just to eat the chicken fingers. I presume he was there to actually be a two-way conduit for both what departmental policy is to make sure they are following the contribution agreements and to report back anything that the assistant deputy minister....
I have served on a number of boards, including one Crown board. I would expect that the department, the deputy and the minister would be informed. In fact, I know that in the case of the Crown board that I served on, the minister was very much aware of what went on at every board meeting.