Colleagues,
As you may have seen on other mailing lists all of the RIPE WG Chairs
have been asked to open the discussion with their relevant working
groups regarding an agreed set of procedures for the appointment and
potential removal of working group chairs, or certainly allowing for
their replacement.
This is up to each WG to discuss and reach consensus on and is far from
set in stone.
Tobias & I would like to present the text below as a starting point for
this discussion and we welcome your thoughts. While this conversation
may be done and dusted on the mailing list before we get to RIPE 69, we
will set aside some time at the meeting to discuss it.
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Note on Language: Throughout this document the word Chair shall be used
for both Chairs and Co-Chairs.
** Introduction:
This document aims to provide outline procedures to deal with the tenure
of RIPE Working Group Chairs. It applies to all RIPE Working Groups.
** WG Chair Term:
The normal term for a WG Chair is three years, after which the WG Chair
must resign. A WG Chair may stand for re-selection after resignation. A
WG Chair may resign voluntarily at any time.
** Selection of a WG Chair:
WG Chair vacancies, along with a call for candidates, should be
announced on the WG mailing list at least one month in advance of the
date upon which the selection will be held. The announcement should set
a closing date for candidates. A WG may request that a WG Chair vacancy
be opened so long as the addition of a new Chair would not cause the
number of Chairs of that WG to exceed the maximum number specified in
this document.
WG Chairs are elected at WG sessions at RIPE meetings. Anyone physically
present at the WG session is eligible to participate in the selection
process. The candidate does not need to be physically present at the WG
session.
If possible the Chair should be elected by acclamation by the WG or by
consensus after discussion. If the result is unclear, then a secret
ballot should be held. In the case of a ballot, votes will be counted by
RIPE NCC Staff and/or Chairs of other WGs. The result will be determined
by simple majority.
** Removal of a WG Chair:
A WG Chair may be unable to fulfil their duties as described in this
document or otherwise fail to serve the WG and the community. With the
endorsement of a significant share of the WG, a vote of no confidence
may be initiated.
Before a vote of no confidence is taken, due effort should be made to
address the issue(s) leading to the vote. The right of reply must be
given to all parties involved in the procedure. If this effort fails to
resolve the issue, the vote may proceed.
The vote must be requested on the WG mailing list at least one week in
advance of the WG Session at a RIPE meeting and should take place during
the WG session. Anyone physically present at the WG session may take
part in the vote. The vote should be conducted by secret ballot and
votes counted by RIPE NCC Staff and/or WG Chairs of other WGs. The
result will be determined by simple majority. If the vote of no
confidence in a WG Chair is passed, the seat is vacated and the WG Chair
is not eligible for stand for re-selection.
** No Chair:
If a working group is left with no Chair, e.g. due to the resignation or
removal of the sole WG Chair, then the WG may elect an interim WG Chair
according to the selection procedures specified above, but with
candidates nominated at the WG session. An interim WG Chair must resign
at the next WG session, but may stand for re-selection.
** Staggered Introduction:
For the purposes of staggering the introduction of this policy, in the
case where all co-Chairs of a WG have served for more than the standard
WG Chair term limit, an optional waiver is given to these WGs to allow
them to schedule the automatic resignations of their Chairs over the two
RIPE meetings immediately following the adoption of this policy. If the
WG decides to avail of this waiver, it is the responsibility of the WG
to decide in what order its co-Chairs should stand down.
