Re: Authorizing minor expenses by DSA without prior DPL approval
Lucas Nussbaum writes ("Authorizing minor expenses by DSA without prior DPL approval"):
> Context: according to Constitution §5.1.10:
> The Project Leader may:
> [...]
> In consultation with the developers, make decisions affecting property
> held in trust for purposes related to Debian. (See §9.). Such
> decisions are communicated to the members by the Project Leader or
> their Delegate(s). Major expenditures should be proposed and debated on
> the mailing list before funds are disbursed.
...
> The current procedure is that they ask for leader@ approval before
> making the expense. Even if I try hard to act quickly on such requests,
> it still requires a round-trip of emails that slows down their work
> (look up the exact price, send mail, wait for approval, go back to make
> the purchase).
I can see that this is not really workable.
> I would like to change that process to:
> DSA is allowed to make expenses for up to USD 300 (total) every
> 7 days to support the operation of Debian infrastructure (pay shipping
> costs, purchase of cheap hardware such as cables, replacement disk,
> etc.).
To be clear: are you proposing to make a Decision under Constitution
5.1.10, or to amend the Constitution ? I don't think the latter is
needed. I think you can do this as a Decision.
If we are to amend the Constitution because you think it doesn't give
sufficient authority then the wording should be much more general.
The Constitutional situation should be (and I think is) that you as
DPL can (together with the trusted organisation) set out processes as
you wish.
I also agree with Steve Langasek's complaint that US$300/week is a
lot. Perhaps what you want is simply to say that:
- a limited amount may be spent by DSA for Debian's infrastructure
without prior approval
- these expenses will be paid after they are approved, provided that
- the total outstanding amount spent in advance of approval is
not ever more than US$300
Ian.
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