I agree with Jon’s points concerning the quorum issue.

 

 

Michael,

Hope this isn’t too late either.

 

I also would be worried that adding several more members would be moving toward a Board which could be too cumbersome to be effective. I think a Federal rep would be appropriate considering our historical and ongoing relationships that have involved working with Federal programs and their efforts to coordinate GIS data development with similar national priorities/initiatives.

 

While a legislative member would appear to assist our efforts to have a stronger and more supportive relationship with the Legislature, in the past this did not happen. The past legislative rep was very supportive of the goals and programs of the GeoLibrary, but I think the demands of legislative duty out weighed his ability to attend out meetings. If we were to still pursue a legislative rep to serve on the Board, I think it would have to be a legislative staffer who could attend regularly despite what other things might be going on in the Legislature’s schedule. If this were to be the case, I think it would be wise to describe the position as one to be held by a legislator or interchangeably by their appointed surrogate as long as that surrogate was able to fill in on a consistent basis.

 

There is some history too with trying to remove those not attending the meetings. In that case it was the rep for the Maine Technology Foundation, which I don’t believe ever attended. Finally when that group ceased to exist, the Legislature needed to change the statute which setup and governed the Board as I recall. Does anyone else remember it that way as well?

 

And finally, I am not convinced we need to change the quorum and positive vote numbers at present. Apart from trying to still achieve a quorum when there are too few members present, what is driving this discussion about changing the numbers? I would think lowering the quorum number to accommodate fewer attending Board members in that case would just lead to cases where fewer Board members are making binding decisions. That doesn’t sound desirable.

 

 

 

 

Please recall our discussion at the previous meeting, I need your comments regarding changes in the Board membership, i.e.:

What the membership profile should be - including adding a federal representative and perhaps others such as we dicussed

Removal of members not attending regularly

Quorum #

Voting #

I need this by Thursday so I can compile for our next meeting.

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Michael Smith
State GIS Manager
Maine Office of GIS