[Board] board operation question from the incubation list

[Jody Garnett]

The following questions on board operation is from Vicky on the incubation
list:

Hello all

*As member of the PSC of OSGeo-Live, I am glad to read that the motion of
considering OSGeo-Live for incubation has passed.*

*I am concerned because the the incubator committee has a member that has a
conflict of interest because is also a member of the PSC of OSGeo-Live
project, and he voted +1.*
*I expressed my concern in the "Juez y Parte" thread of [1], where is
"clear" that there is no guideline of the action to be taken on a committee
member when there is a conflict of interest. (the thread has a link to the
incubator committee guidelines [2])*
*I must say that, at least, the committee member with the conflict of
interest, mentioned his involvement when voting, but he didn't step down
from the committee, or voted in such a way that his vote would not
influence the over all result like a (+0)*

*So, The next step is for the board for approval.*
*And my concern grows thinking on how the board with two board members also
on the PSC of OSGeo-Live, so more conflict of interest.*

*I was doubtful of which was the correct mailing list to make this post.
(Here or Discuss) but having Jody as part of Board, I leave the decision to
him if this new concern of mine "Juez y Parte" but for board making
decision on projects they belong to.*

*I want things made done right. Our project application, as far as I can
see, can  be used to make more precise written rules/policies about
conflicts of interest.*
*But what I would not want is someone else in the future, to notice and
make a big fuss/attack of "how bad X person acted when having a conflict of
interest".*

*I wonder if there is a guideline equivalent to the incubator committee
guideline but for board.*

*Regards*
*Vicky*


And the following answer from myself:

*Thanks Vicky, motion is not quite passed yet (waiting on 100% response for
the electronic voting).*

*I note that the board-priv at osgeo.org <board-priv at osgeo.org> list is
available if you have any questions you would like to raise privately.*

*You can see a couple of approaches in play here:*
*- Earlier on the incubation thread I asked the incubation committee to
consider my early involvement with OSGeo live and if it would be a
hindrance to acting as mentor.*
*- During MOT1 voting I responded with +1, noting my role as incubation
chair*
*- During MOT1 voting you can see Angelos abstain with a +0 vote, noting
his role as PSC chair*

*The board has addressed these kind of tensions previously, asking
directors to acknowledge if they are affected by the matter at hand - but
still vote in a responsible fashion as a director of OSGeo. This issue
comes up a lot for directors, because they are part of OSGeo and are
affected by most decisions.*

*With your permission I would like to pass your question and the above
answer to the board email list. I try not to cross post since that leads to
madness.*


Checking the wiki we do have a policy -
https://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Conflict_Of_Interest_Policy
--
Jody Garnett
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