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.”
Pros: Simplest solution with minimal changes to the GNSO Operating Procedures.  Used in Dublin.
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.

Pros: A simple solution with minimal changes to the GNSO Operating Procedures.  Similar to the procedure in Dublin.

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.]

Pros: Avoids changes to the Bylaws or a Special Circumstance vote.
Cons: Not clear if there are concerns from the Council or the NomCom for the non-voting NCAs to be included, or conducting Council business.

Notes:

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?

Pros: Avoids changes to the Bylaws or a Special Circumstance vote.
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.