[Foundation-l] Board-announcement: Board Restructuring

[Michael Snow]

Michael Snow wrote:
> For answers to additional questions relating to this announcement, 
> please look at the FAQ:
> http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Board_of_Trustees/Restructure_Announcement_Q%26A
>   
One question has been raised privately that's not covered, and I think 
is worth explaining: With 10 seats planned, did the board take into 
consideration the possibility that this could result in a deadlock?

The answer is that we did touch on the issue in our discussions, but 
concluded it was a relatively minor concern at this point. For one 
thing, a 5-5 vote would fail to pass whatever is being voted on, 
appropriately so. Working toward agreement is usually better, to me a 
measure with that kind of opposition is a sign that problems need to be 
worked out before moving forward with it. For another thing, as the 
membership of the board changes, inevitably the numbers will change 
between odd and even at various points. Right now we have eight members, 
in fact, but we certainly didn't want to wait longer to add a treasurer 
just because that's an even number.

--Michael Snow