[Osmf-talk] clarification of the AoA amendment on board committees

Allan Mustard allan.mustard at osmfoundation.org
Sun Dec 6 13:42:46 UTC 2020


This amendment would give members of the community an even closer look
at the budget formulation and fund-raising processes by having non-Board
members involved. 

On 12/6/2020 7:38 AM, Jean-Marc Liotier wrote:
> On 12/5/20 11:58 PM, Allan Mustard wrote:
>> I don't see what's controversial about asking for the ability to enlist
>> volunteer assistance in carrying out the functions the Board already
>> carries out.  It's not like the Board is proposing to take on new
>> functions.  Specific functions are not listed in the AoA amendment
>> because the AoA itself is unspecific on Board functions.  In that
>> regard, if the Board wanted to expand the scope of its functions, it
>> could legally do so even without this amendment.
> I had not considered that possibility - though the amendment makes it
> a little more practical.
>> It has not, and I predict it will not, simply because the Board is made
>> up of community members who believe the substantive work of the
>> community and project properly is the remit of the Working Groups, not
>> with the Board.  As long as mappers form a majority of the Board
>> membership, that attitude will prevail.
>>
>> As for your statement, "both of you plead that the Board won't extend
>> the committees' scope beyond those lines but we have to trust the Board
>> on that," as I said, the Board isn't looking for additional work.  The
>> Board is looking for a community-approved mechanism for getting help
>> from the community to carry out the Board's housekeeping tasks.  If you
>> distrust the Board so much that you cannot abide by that, I cannot help
>> you.  I think the Board shows good faith in the discharge of its
>> responsibilities to the community and the project.
>
> A good faith board with mapper ethos is indeed the best guarantee, but
> the hypothetical worst case is what we legislate for.
>
>
>>
>> On 12/5/2020 4:56 PM, Jean-Marc Liotier wrote:
>>> On 12/5/20 1:42 PM, Mikel Maron wrote:
>>>> Jochen, you make good points about clarity on overall structure, and
>>>> I agree with you about how working groups are situated in osmf. I’m
>>>> just going to speak very specifically to “why committees” and why the
>>>> change. There are a few specific things which are and will remain
>>>> board responsibilities. Compiling and preparing overall budget.
>>>> Fundraising. Looking after personnel. This is currently individual
>>>> responsibility (treasurer and secretary). We want to formally spread
>>>> the load. And if there’s someone outside the board that can provide
>>>> expertise and effort, we want to be able to work with them. That’s
>>>> the entire purpose of the AoA change in my opinion. They’ll remain
>>>> small groups, and won’t operate in the same way as working groups.
>>>> They report back to board directly, don’t have expanding membership.
>>> You imply that the committees domain would be restricted to HR
>>> administration, budget administration and fundraising. But the
>>> resolution does not mention such scope restriction.
>>>
>>> To Allan I said "Your clarification express pragmatism and prudence,
>>> but unless a Board-endorsed policy draws a line between Openstreetmap
>>> Foundation Board business and the Working Groups, fears of Board scope
>>> creep will fester." to which he replied "That should not be difficult.
>>> The Board is not looking for more work. More work would interfere with
>>> mapping"
>>> (https://twitter.com/allan_mustard/status/1334581812903997453).
>>>
>>> So, both of you plead that the Board won't extend the committees'
>>> scope beyond those lines but we have to trust the Board on that.
>>>
>>> Even if one accepts the controversial position that considers HR
>>> administration, budget administration and fundraising and special
>>> cases unfit for working groups, scope creep is a risk - it may be
>>> theoretical but it is not mitigated in any way by the resolution as is.
>>>
-- 
-------
/Allan Mustard, Chairperson/
/Board of Directors/
/OpenStreetMap Foundation/
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