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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=953443507-24092009>Please note some wise words from Steve M.sent to the
OSC list.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=953443507-24092009></SPAN></FONT><FONT size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=953443507-24092009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV><BR>
<DIV dir=ltr lang=en-us class=OutlookMessageHeader align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT size=2 face=Tahoma><B>From:</B> owner-gnso-osc@icann.org
[mailto:owner-gnso-osc@icann.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Metalitz,
Steven<BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, September 24, 2009 12:11 AM<BR><B>To:</B>
Gomes, Chuck; gnso-osc@icann.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> RE: [gnso-osc] FW: Further
Council Ops Procedures Thoughts<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=682365721-23092009><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>I am afraid we are trying to square the circle on this
abstention issue. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=682365721-23092009></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=682365721-23092009><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>Abstentions may occur for a lot of reasons. But if one
occurs in order to avoid a conflict of interest problem, then we cannot treat it
as a functional "no" vote -- which we do if we insist that the denominator
in calculating a voting threshold must always be the total number of people
seated in the House or council. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=682365721-23092009><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=682365721-23092009><FONT size=+0>Let's assume that on
a motion before the council, a councillor's financial interests will
be directly benefited by defeat of the motion. The councillor should
refrain from voting on (or even from participating in the discussion of) the
motion. </FONT></SPAN>L<SPAN class=682365721-23092009>et's assume the
council consists of 10 people and that a majority vote is needed for the motion.
</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=682365721-23092009></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=682365721-23092009><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>However, if the councillor abstains for this reason, then if 5
vote for and 4 against, the motion fails. Abstention will have achieved
exactly the result that a conflict of interest policy should avoid at all
costs -- the action of the councillor has directly benefitted his financial
interest. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT size=2>I<SPAN
class=682365721-23092009>f the councillor is able to truly abstain, so that his
presence is not counted for purposes of achieving the voting threshold, then the
vote (5-4) reflects the views of the majority of council members who were
allowed (in accordance with conflict of interest policy) to vote, and should be
enough to carry the motion. </SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=682365721-23092009> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=682365721-23092009><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>The same scenario could play out almost no matter what is the
voting threshold required or the number of eligible
voters. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=682365721-23092009><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=682365721-23092009><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>I emphasize that many abstentions will not be for conflict
reasons -- quite commonly, it will be because the constituency/stakeholder group
could not reach a position on the issue, or an issue arises suddenly and the
councillor has decided that she will not vote absent instructions from her
constituency/SG. There is less of a problem counting the
abstention for purposes of a voting threshold in this case -- though it still
may not be a good idea. But there would need to be an exception to this
general rule for situations in which an abstention is dictated by conflict of
interest rules. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=682365721-23092009><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=682365721-23092009><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>Steve</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=682365721-23092009><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV></BODY></HTML>