Dear All:

My proposal was for us to simply state our decision and the explain our rationale for the decision to the GNSO.  Here is some proposed text:

The SCI was asked to consider the current GNSO Council informal practice whereby a party may request the deferral of a motion to a later date.  The SCI discussed this practice and whether there was a need to create a procedure to formalize this informal practice.  After much debate, the SCI concluded that the current practice of allowing for the deferral of motions was done as a matter of courtesy at the discretion of the Chair of the GNSO Council.  For this reason, the SCI concluded that there was no need to create a formal procedure at this time.  However, the SCI felt that it was necessary to explicitly state that there is no rule that the Chair must always exercise his or her discretion in the affirmative.  Given that the current informal practice is at the discretion of the Chair, the Chair can exercise that same discretion in considering whether to grant or deny any request and can also exercise his or her discretion when determining how to handle any specific situation that may occur with regard to this informal practice. . . . 

We should probably add some language about the neutral position of the GNSO Chair and reference the provision that currently exist for dealing with a perception that the Chair is not acting in a neutral manner.  I just didn't have all those references handy, but I want to get this out to the list in time for everyone to consider before the next call.

J. Scott
 
j. scott evans -  head of global brand, domains & copyright - Yahoo! Inc. - 408.349.1385 - jscottevans@yahoo.com



From: "KnobenW@telekom.de" <KnobenW@telekom.de>
To: marika.konings@icann.org
Cc: gnso-improvem-impl-sc@icann.org
Sent: Thursday, September 6, 2012 7:35 AM
Subject: [gnso-improvem-impl-sc] AW: SCI

Thanks Marika, I just share it with the team.
 

Best regards
Wolf-Ulrich
 


Von: Marika Konings [mailto:marika.konings@icann.org]
Gesendet: Donnerstag, 6. September 2012 14:34
An: Knoben, Wolf-Ulrich
Betreff: Re: SCI

Hi Wolf,

Please see the transcript below.

With best regards,

Marika

Julie Hedlund:Hi Marika I just
  Julie Hedlund:joined
  Marika Konings:Hi Julie
  Marika Konings:Analysis is up now.
  avri:The opinion that says Avri can be marked as NCSG.
  J. Scott Evans:I think there has already been an issue, the problem was there was no formal process for considering the issue
  Ron A:@ Avri: ltd to one to ensure no stonewalling
  Ron A:BC supports status quo
  Ron A:Agree with argument; but safeguard the principle
  Ron A:My point Avri!
  J. Scott Evans:If we leave it as is, then I think we need be very specific in our reasoning by pointing out that we believe that the Chair  has the discretion to deny.  That needs to be clearly ennunciated.
  Ron A:What happens if the chair is biased for or against?
  Ron A:bias by way of affiliation
  J. Scott Evans:Good question Anne.
  J. Scott Evans:I thought Stephane clearly stated that he could NOT deny request because he had no process for doing so.  Hence, theis issue coming to the  SCIU
  avri:Except in PDPD's where it has been enshrined, it is just a priactice and practice belongs to the chair.
  J. Scott Evans:SCI
  avri:PDP's not PDPD's
  Anne Aikman-Scalese:Chair cannot choose without authority to do so in governance documents, I think.
  Anne Aikman-Scalese:Principle should not depend on which particular individual holds the position of Chair of the GNSO.  Authority to override a deferral should be clear if it is needed.
  J. Scott Evans:If you want to keep it as is, I think that we need to clearly state that the Chair has discretion to deny or to put to a vote.  
  Ray Fassett - RySG:agree with J Scott
  J. Scott Evans:In other words, clearly state that the request does not HAVE to be automatically granted
  Ron A:@ J +1
  Anne Aikman-Scalese:Agree with J. Scott and Ray but we should cite to the basis for this opinion by SCI.
  Ron A:8 days for larger institutions that make up the BC or ISCP need more than 8 days Avri
  Ray Fassett - RySG:Anne-perhaps can cite the rationale as the checks balances that exist in procedures for the chair to always act neutral
  Anne Aikman-Scalese:Yes, but overriding a deferral may not be seen as "neutral".
  Ray Fassett - RySG:in that situation, there are procedures for others to bring that complaint, I believe
  Anne Aikman-Scalese:Yes, but do we really want to put the GNSO Chair in that position in relation to complaints?
  avri:i disagree with coffying what the chair can and can't do.
  avri:coffying - codifying.
  Ron A:@ Anne: we are only giving recommendations back to council at teh SCI
  Ron A:SCI recommendations
  avri:each chair gets to interpret on her own.
  Ron A:Let the Chair's authority be challenged by test of the principle
  avri:and if she is deemd to have done wrong by the g-council, she can be removed or not re-elected.  Otherwise we will need 10 volumes of g-council rules.
  Ray Fassett - RySG:agree with ron and avri
  Ron A:@ J - fully agree with your summation
  avri:The working on this goes too far for me.  I do not think we should be offereing specific alternatives.
  Ray Fassett - RySG:agree with j scott
  Ron A:The reasoning doesn't havet to go to far into the weeds
  Anne Aikman-Scalese:J. Scott, Are you saying the deferral  practice itself is discretionary with the Chair so the denial of a deferral is also discretionary?
  J. Scott Evans:Anne:  Yes, picking up on Avri's point, the deferral practice is courtesy that has historically been extended at the discretion of the Chair.
  J. Scott Evans:And that there shoujld be no assumption that that disrection must be exercised in all cases.
  Ron A:Good bye all
  J. Scott Evans:or extended I should say
  Ray Fassett - RySG:thanks Wolf
  Wolf Knoben:Thanks all

From: "KnobenW@telekom.de" <KnobenW@telekom.de>
Date: Thursday 6 September 2012 05:53
To: Marika Konings <marika.konings@icann.org>
Subject: SCI

Hi Marika,
 
Could you please provide us with the chat of the last SCI meeting?
 
Thanks and
Best regards
Wolf-Ulrich Knoben