zyphlar
commented
10 years ago - I don't think this amendment is a good idea; adding bylaw-level formality to relatively-informal HYH votes can only cause problems; as it is, where the bylaws are quiet about something the community/board is free to make whatever rules it needs. So this amendment is already the case, but by writing it out we risk major conflicts or issues if something silly happens at HYH (i.e. how do we resolve conflicts, how do we know what the exact wording of a HYH proposal last Christmas was, etc.)
- This removes the $50 minimum mentioned previously, but doesn't put any new minimum on; thus you would have to get approval from a majority of the board for a $5 expense. I prefer my proposed amendment here instead: https://github.com/heatsynclabs/administration/issues/13
- I agree except instead of "pre established" it would be more clear to say something like "pre approved"
If you do this, I also suggest adding a provision that "the board may authorize recurring or variable-cost expenses, such as authorizing the payment of monthly utility bills." This has been a major question in the past.
Finally, the status of station budgets is a bit nebulous. It would be a good idea to make sure that we actually have an established budget for each station and publicize each one so that questions over laser tubes, shop renovations, PLA purchases, etc, are minimized and streamlined.
Chadtech
Our bylaws have always kind of been out of sync with how we actually purchase stuff in the lab. At the 2014 pre board meeting meeting the topic of budgeting was severely discussed. I have been thinking it over the last week and a half and here is my suggestion. Its pretty major, with makes me uneasy, but I think it would work well, and accommodate the way Heatsync currently spends money.
Like always, suggestions welcome.
Major Purchasing Amendment
Create a 'Spending' section, and add to it the following passages:
1. All passed proposals, voted on during Heatsync's biweekly legislative meeting "Hack Your Hackerspace", that do not contradict the existing bylaws, shall have the same authority as the bylaws. This includes purchasing, as well as procedural proposals.1) All passed purchase proposals, voted on during Heatsyncs biweekly legislative meeting "Hack Your Hackerspace", and with the consent of the board implied by their silence, are alone sufficient to authorize the purchase specified in the proposal.
2) A board member, or agent of Heatsync Labs, may purchase using Heatsync's funds with explicit and specific approval from a majority of the board.
3) Per request from a station head, and within a publicly disclosed and pre established budget, purchases may be made in order to keep their station in good working order.
4. Spending of Heatsync’s funds in a manner not authorized in the points 1,2 and 3 listed above, is not granted. Spending of Heatsync funds that happens in a manner not authorized in the points 1,2 and 3 listed above must be promptly disclosed either to the community, or the board of directors.4) Teachers may be paid for the classes they teach, as fraction of revenue Heatsync received from each student, so long as the class fee and teachers payment was arranged prior
5) All expenses for the most basic necessities of the lab, including rent, utilities, internet and supplies, may be paid.
6) Spending of Heatsync’s funds in a manner not authorized in the points 1 through 5 listed above, is not granted. Spending of Heatsync funds that happens in a manner not authorized in the points 1 through 5 listed above must be promptly disclosed either to the community, or the board of directors.
Remove the following passages:
2.11 All monetary expenditures provisioned by HSL's treasury will require the written signature of a minimum of two officers of the Board of Directors for approval.
2.14 The Board of Directors, in a majority vote, must approve any purchase made by HSL if the purchase total exceeds the sum of $50.
3.2 Where it is not reasonably practicable to obtain approval of the Board of Directors before entering into a self dealing transaction, the office of the Treasurer or Champion may approve such a transaction under the condition that, at the following meeting of the Board of Directors, a quorum of the Board of Directors determines that the transaction was in the unbiased and best interests of the HSL and that it was not reasonably practical to obtain advance approval by a full quorum of the Board of Directors.