Re: [Debconf-team] Fixing the Debconf Delagation
On 23/09/15 18:59, Lucas Nussbaum wrote:
> I haven't followed the current debate closely, so I won't comment on any
> specifics, except:
> On 23/09/15 at 13:15 +0100, Philip Hands wrote:
>> I think this is a symptom of a problem that is actually built into the
>> current delegation.
>>
>> The delegation for the chairs only really provides one routinely usable
>> power: The power to rearrange teams
>
> That is not part of the current delegation. What is in the delegation is
> that the Chairs should "help the DebConf team define [...] a structure
> (such as defining sub-teams and the responsibilities of different roles)
> [...]." That's quite different.
Yes. And it could be argued that we took a too executive role on this -I
acknowledged this to you in person in DC15- by leading the workshops,
compiling what we found to be a more-or-less consensus, and driving its
implementation.
But I think it also should be acknowledged that this is the first time
that an actual attempt to solve the governance problems is put in place,
and it was 100% triggered by requests from orga members. When I accepted
the delegation, I had *no* intention of working so hard for so long on this.
>> The other (more exceptional) power that the chairs have to interfere
>> with day-to-day affairs is also problematic: overriding decisions
>>
>> While this is only used rarely,
>
> Actually, the value of that power is that it exists. But I don't think
> that it has ever been used.
It has been used, in situations where we felt that important parts of
DebConf were at risk: budgetary decisions, sponsors relationships,
volunteers motivation, and even some basic tenets of the conference were
at stake. Every time this happened, it was because somebody from the
local team acted on their own, overstepping other people's
responsibilities, and without prior consultation.
I would like to ask fil or any of the people who think the chairs should
not exist what would they do in situations like these.
Tincho. All opinions are mine, not previously discussed with the other
chairs.
--
Martín Ferrari (Tincho)
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