[Community-Discuss] Bylaws changes

[Alan Barrett]

> On 14 Nov 2016, at 18:42, Owen DeLong <owen at delong.com> wrote:
>> > > How about this:
>> > >
>> > > 11.5  Ratification of policy adopted by the Board:
>> > > (a) Any policy adopted by the Board under the provisions of Article 11.4 shall be submitted to the community for ratification at the next public policy meeting.
>> > > (c) Unless the PDWG chairs determine that there is consensus by the community to reject said policy, the policy shall remain in force or be put in force as directed by the Board.
>> > >
>> > > Would that work?
>> >
>> > Sorry, no, that doesn’t work, because the Bylaws have no concept of a PDWG chair or a rough consensus process.  The Bylaws say that there must be a Policy Development Process, but give no details about how it works.  The concept of a PDWG chair or co-chair, and the requirement for (rough) consensus is a construct of the PDP, and can be changed by adopting a new version of the PDP.  It would not be appropriate for the Bylaws to rely on something that can be changed outside the Bylaws.
>> 
> 
> I see. In that case, I think the concept remains sound, but that the wording is flawed. 
> 
> How about:
> 
> Any such policy instantiated by the board shall be subject to review through the PDP at the next meeting. Such review shall be treated in the PDP as a proposal to remove the changes enacted by the board. Unless the proposal to remove the changes is adopted through the PDP, the changes enacted by the board shall remain in force until later appealed or amended through the PDP or by the board under this process.
> 
> In any case, actions taken under the policy in question between the time instantiated by the board and the review under the PDP shall remain valid. 
> 
> ----
> 
> Does this provide a way of codifying my idea which is compatible with the existing structure and interrelation of bylaws and PDP?

Yes, I think that works, but the notice of meeting needs to be sent tomorrow, with final text for all proposed changes to the bylaws, and I am not comfortable making such a change without time for comments from others.  It can always be proposed in the future.

Alan Barrett