Dear SCI members,
Please see below the notes/actions captured from the SCI meeting held on 24
March. Please let us know if you have any questions or comments.
During today’s call it was agreed that discussion could continue on the list
concerning these notes/actions. I’ve included the suggestions provided by
IPC, as these were included in today’s discussion. The suggested changes
for your review are in red/brackets as indicated below.
Staff will separately send a notice for a call in two weeks on Thursday, 07
April at the usual time of 1800 UTC.
Notes/Actions re Remaining Issue on Chair/Vice Chair
Elections:
ISSUE 2: Is there a
gap to be addressed when the Vice Chairs' terms end at the same time as that of
the Chair, and no Chair is conclusively elected by that
time?
SCENARIO
1: A new GNSO Council Chair is not elected, but both Vice Chairs are
continuing on the Council.
Suggestion: “In the case where no
Chair is conclusively elected, the two Vice Chairs shall jointly oversee the
Chair election and conduct Council business until such time as a new Chair is
elected.”
Cons: Are
there concerns with the Vice Chairs conducting Council business?
Notes: There were
no objections to the Vice Chairs conducting Council business.
**ACTION ITEM: The suggestion above is accepted.
SCENARIO 2: A new
GNSO Council Chair is not elected, but one Vice Chair is continuing on the
Council, while the other Vice Chair’s term on the Council is ending.
IPC suggestion: If one
Vice Chair seat is being vacated, the relevant House should appoint an Interim
Vice Chair to work with the continuing Vice Chair in the other House to conduct
Council business.
Suggestion: “In the
case where one of Vice-Chair's terms on the Council ends at the same time as the
Chair, and no Chair is conclusively elected, [OPTION 1:
the remaining Vice Chair shall oversee the Chair election and conduct
Council business until such time as a new Chair is elected]
OR [OPTION 2: the House with a vacant Vice-Chair position shall designate an
Interim Vice Chair to join the continuing Vice Chair would to
oversee the Chair eletion and conduct Council business. The deadline for
the vacant House to designate its Interim Vice Chair is 10 calendar days
following the Council meeting at which no Chair was conclusively elected [OR: 14
calendar days following the Council meeting at which no Chair was conclusively
elected] [OR: 1 week prior to the next scheduled GNSO Council
meeting.]
Pros: A simple solution with minimal changes to
the GNSO Operating Procedures. Similar to the procedure in
Dublin.
Cons: One one House is represented in the Vice
Chair position. Are there concerns with one Vice Chair conducting Council
business? [Note: The previously noted disadvantage would no longer
apply if the other House can designate an Interim Vice Chair.]
Notes:
There were no
objections to the Vice Chairs (including an Interim Vice Chair designated by a
House) conducting Council business.
Question:
What is the time limit for the vacant House to to designate an Interim Vice
Chair? Note the three options suggested during the call: 1) 10 calendar
days after the failed Chair election; 2) 14 calendar days after the failed Chair
election; or 3) 1 week prior to the next scheduled GNSO Council
meeting.
** ACTION ITEM: Review additional text in red/brackets above and
indicate which deadline option you prefer.
SCENARIO 3: A new GNSO Council Chair is not elected in the first round,
and neither of the two Vice Chairs is continuing on the Council.
IPC
Suggestion: should be clear that an appointed Interim Vice Chair is not
prohibited from continuing as Vice Chair after the Council Chair election is
concluded, provided the relevant House agrees on that Vice Chair
continuing. “their service in those roles would end” should be
clarified.
Suggestion: “In the case where both Vice-Chairs’
terms on the Council end at the same time as the Chair, and no Chair is
conclusively elected, this procedure would apply: Each House should designate a
new or continuing Councilor, which may include the voting and
non-voting NCAs, to temporarily fill the role of Vice Chair on an
interim basis, not as an elected Vice Chair. The
deadline for each House to designate its Interim Vice Chair is 10 calendar days
following the Council meeting at which no Chair was conclusively elected [OR: 14
calendar days following the Council meeting at which no Chair was conclusively
elected] [OR: 1 week prior to the next scheduled GNSO Council meeting.]
The Designated
Interim Vice Chairs will co-chair the Chair election and conduct Council
business until such time as a Chair is conclusively elected. Once the election
is completed their service in those roles would end. Candidates for Chair will
not be eligible to serve as Designated Interim Vice Chairs, to avoid potential
conflicts of interest. [However, Interim Vice Chairs are not prohibited from being
appointed as continuing Vice Chairs by their respective Houses following a
successful Chair election.]
** ACTION ITEM: Review additional
text in red/brackets above and indicate which deadline option you
prefer.
SCENARIO 4: A new GNSO Council Chair is not elected, neither
of the two Vice Chairs is continuing on the Council, and the Houses do not
designate Interim Vice Chairs. Suggestion: “If both Houses should
fail to temporarily fill the role of Vice Chair on an interim basis, [the] non-voting NCA will be designated Interim Chair to
oversee the election and conduct Council business until such time as a Chair is
conclusively elected. The deadline for each
House to designate its Interim Vice Chair is 10 calendar days following the
Council meeting at which no Chair was conclusively elected [OR: 14 calendar days
following the Council meeting at which no Chair was conclusively elected] [OR: 1
week prior to the next scheduled GNSO Council meeting]" IPC Suggestion: The reference should
be to “the” non-voting NCA since there is only one. An inexperienced
incoming non-voting NCA conducting Council business may be a concern but this
scenario is a “last resort” and may also provide motivation for the Houses to
appoint Interim Vice Chairs quickly as noted by Amr and Sara in chat on
Monday. Important to specify at what point Scenario 4 takes effect, i.e.
how much time do the Houses have to appoint Vice Chairs in Scenario 3?Cons: Are
there concerns from the
Council or the NomCom for a non-voting NCA to be in the role of the Chair and
conducting business?
Notes: Insert the suggested deadlines for the Houses to
designate the Interim Vice Chairs and change reference relating to “the
non-voting NCA".
** ACTION ITEM:
Review additional text in red/brackets above and indicate which deadline option
you
prefer.