Re: Branden as DPL

Hi all,

First, I want to extend my congratulations to SPI director and Deputy
Treasurer Branden Robinson on his election as the next Debian Project
Leader. Branden, I'm sure you'll do a great job in that role, and I'm
glad that your several repeated DPL candidacies finally paid off.

This does, however, bring up one question about the interaction between
his several positions. Unlike previous DPLs, Branden will at the same
time be a voting member of SPI's board of directors, as well as Deputy
Treasurer. As a simultaneous director and DPL he has the ability to
directly affect SPI's relationship with Debian from both perspectives at
once, and as Deputy Treasurer he has direct access to SPI/Debian bank
accounts and frequently processes both donations to and disbursements
from them. (However, do note that I am Treasurer and not Branden.)

I trust Branden a good deal and have no reason to doubt his integrity,
but this new situation raises the possibility of a conflict of interest,
or at least the possibility of the appearance of a conflict of interest.
Even if this is determined not to be a problem in the present situation,
there is still the issue of whether Branden will have the time to
simultaneously be DPL, Deputy Treasurer, and an SPI director, in
addition to his day job of working for Progeny. Personally, if all of
these questions can be resolved in a favorable way, I am happy to have
Branden continue on in all of these roles, but it is important to have
this discussion now.

Branden, the board, and the rest of -general's readership: what are your
thoughts on this?

- Jimmy Kaplowitz
jimmy(at)spi-inc(dot)org

Hi Jimmy,

* [ 11-04-05 - 03:12 ] Jimmy Kaplowitz <jimmy(at)spi-inc(dot)org> wrote:
> I trust Branden a good deal and have no reason to doubt his integrity,
> but this new situation raises the possibility of a conflict of interest,
> or at least the possibility of the appearance of a conflict of interest.
[...]
> Branden, the board, and the rest of -general's readership: what are your
> thoughts on this?

I am wondering why you point this out now rather than during the voting
time.

ciao,
ema

On Mon, Apr 11, 2005 at 08:54:22AM +0200, Emanuele Rocca wrote:
> * [ 11-04-05 - 03:12 ] Jimmy Kaplowitz <jimmy(at)spi-inc(dot)org> wrote:
> > I trust Branden a good deal and have no reason to doubt his integrity,
> > but this new situation raises the possibility of a conflict of interest,
> > or at least the possibility of the appearance of a conflict of interest.
> [...]
> > Branden, the board, and the rest of -general's readership: what are your
> > thoughts on this?
>
Until Branden became DPL, it was an academic point so not worth worrying
about too much. I'm sure Branden will delegate responsibilities which
conflict - no problem there.
> I am wondering why you point this out now rather than during the voting
> time.
>
See above :)
> ciao,
> ema
>

* [ 11-04-05 - 09:08 ] Andrew M.A. Cater <amacater(at)galactic(dot)demon(dot)co(dot)uk> wrote:
> On Mon, Apr 11, 2005 at 08:54:22AM +0200, Emanuele Rocca wrote:
> > * [ 11-04-05 - 03:12 ] Jimmy Kaplowitz <jimmy(at)spi-inc(dot)org> wrote:
> > > I trust Branden a good deal and have no reason to doubt his integrity,
> > > but this new situation raises the possibility of a conflict of interest,
> > > or at least the possibility of the appearance of a conflict of interest.
> > [...]
> > > Branden, the board, and the rest of -general's readership: what are your
> > > thoughts on this?

> Until Branden became DPL, it was an academic point so not worth worrying
> about too much. I'm sure Branden will delegate responsibilities which
> conflict - no problem there.

FWIW, I trust Branden too. Branden, congratulations for your election.

> > I am wondering why you point this out now rather than during the voting
> > time.
> >
> See above :)

Well, as an italian (we know something about conflict of interest,
unfortunately), I think that Jimmy's concerns are important.

My intention was to state that such an observation would be better
suited during the voting discussion.
However, since Branden can delegate responsibilities, I agree with
Andrew that there is no problem.

ciao,
ema

On Sun, 10 Apr 2005, Jimmy Kaplowitz wrote:
> This does, however, bring up one question about the interaction between
> his several positions. Unlike previous DPLs, Branden will at the same
> time be a voting member of SPI's board of directors, as well as Deputy
> Treasurer. As a simultaneous director and DPL he has the ability to
> directly affect SPI's relationship with Debian from both perspectives at
> once, and as Deputy Treasurer he has direct access to SPI/Debian bank
> accounts and frequently processes both donations to and disbursements
> from them. (However, do note that I am Treasurer and not Branden.)
> [...]
> Branden, the board, and the rest of -general's readership: what are your
> thoughts on this?

The SPI board currently consists of 3 former DPLs (Ian, Bruce, and Bdale),
and two others (tbm and wiggy) are actively involved in SPI's management
in non-board roles. As far as I know, Branden is not the first DPL to sit
on the board during his term.

Branden is not officially the treasurer though has many of the powers of
the treasurer due to his having taken on the role of 'deputy treasurer'.

I personally trust Branden and his judgement, and would have no problem
with him keeping both DPL and SPI dep. tres. roles should he want to do
so. The treasurer is ultimately in charge of the treasury, not the deputy
treasurer, and as DPL, Branden would still have to make submissions
through the treasurer for disbursements.

The fact that Branden will be the new DPL and is an active and caring
member of the board who takes on more of a role than simply attending
meetings says to me that the affect will be only to improve SPI and
Debian's relationship.

I think, historically, we at SPI have been too quick to call something a
conflict of interest. This shows in the form of people abstaining on their
own reports, motions, or resolutions, and other similar silliness.
Personally I see being interested in both SPI and Debian's well-being not
as a conflict, but as a complement of interest.

- -
David "cdlu" Graham - cdlu(at)newsforge(dot)com
Guelph, Ontario - http://www.railfan.ca/