Domain Admins
218
edits
Changes
From Pumping Station One
no edit summary
There are a lot of questions above, but these are standard questions that eqipment authorizations need to be able to be defended against. For the most part, there is no exact equipment being listed on any of the equipment purchases, No links or locations of intended purchase. There is no consideration for floor space being taken into account. There are no assurances that arrangements for training of members are being taken into account. There are no assurances that people executing purchases have performed sufficient research, or are familiar with the items they are tasked with purchasing. --[[User:Hef|Hef]] ([[User talk:Hef|talk]]) 00:29, 13 January 2015 (CST)
There are a lot of questions above, but these are standard questions that eqipment authorizations need to be able to be defended against. For the most part, there is no exact equipment being listed on any of the equipment purchases, No links or locations of intended purchase. There is no consideration for floor space being taken into account. There are no assurances that arrangements for training of members are being taken into account. There are no assurances that people executing purchases have performed sufficient research, or are familiar with the items they are tasked with purchasing. --[[User:Hef|Hef]] ([[User talk:Hef|talk]]) 00:29, 13 January 2015 (CST)
==Feedback on Mailing List==
Equipment in general budget moved to votes
"Equipment in general budget moved to votes
There are quite a few line items in the area's budgets that look to me like they are equipment. I would like to see these be moved to member votes. Especially new equipment.
There are quite a few line items in the area's budgets that look to me like they are equipment. I would like to see these be moved to member votes. Especially new equipment.
List:
List:
:*CTO Server and Switch upgrades - $1600
:**New equipment, especially at this amount, should be a separate vote
:*Hot metals casting equipment - $1000
:**New equipment, especially at this amount, should be a separate vote
:*Hot metals air extraction - $1000
:**A single line purchase at this amount should be a separate vote
:*Woodshop 18" bandsaw - $1000
:**Is this replacing current equipment? Even so, this seems like too much not be its own separate vote.
:*Woodshop jointer - $700
:**Even if this is replacing current equipment, this seems like too much to just be a non-descriptive line item in the general budget.
:*Woodshop planer - $700
:**Even if this is replacing current equipment, this seems like too much to just be a non-descriptive line item in the general budget.
:*Woodshop Mortiser - $500
:**Is this new equipment? Why isn't this a separate vote?
There are probably also others. New equipment and/or expensive equipment really should be standalone member votes.
There are probably also others. New equipment and/or expensive equipment really should be standalone member votes.
Certain language moved out of vote
Certain language moved out of vote
The itemized expense report language (underneath "Area hosts will be issued a expense card with...") should be moved out of this vote. If the BOD ever needed to change the way this was approached, to fit actual needs, they would have to write a vote to amend. This would take away a lot of the freedom to figure out what works. I'd also like to see more current board input on this one, as we have the experience with this and especially since the BOD would be the ones charged with implementing.
The itemized expense report language (underneath "Area hosts will be issued a expense card with...") should be moved out of this vote. If the BOD ever needed to change the way this was approached, to fit actual needs, they would have to write a vote to amend. This would take away a lot of the freedom to figure out what works. I'd also like to see more current board input on this one, as we have the experience with this and especially since the BOD would be the ones charged with implementing.
The entire reporting bullet point should also be moved out of this vote. Violating vote language is really bad. If, for some reason, the treasurer takes 5 weeks to release the monthly report, they are now violating the vote. I get the intent here, but putting the language here is not safe. As well, I'd like to see more current board input on this part, as we have the experience actually managing this.-Bry
The entire reporting bullet point should also be moved out of this vote. Violating vote language is really bad. If, for some reason, the treasurer takes 5 weeks to release the monthly report, they are now violating the vote. I get the intent here, but putting the language here is not safe. As well, I'd like to see more current board input on this part, as we have the experience actually managing this."-Bry
"Though I'm still new 'round here, I fully sympathize with the desire of the members to have input on purchases of new equipment. I would suggest the following clarifying language for the budget. Where it says "Area hosts are authorized to spend up to $750 for a single capital expenditure," I would add: "Capital expenditures listed in the budget exceeding $750 are advisory, and must be confirmed by a separate vote of the membership." I would strike the line "Area hosts may spend over $750 on a single item to replace or repair existing tooling or machinery" entirely, as it is totally uncapped, and could lead to controversy of what constitutes a "replacement," and whether a replacement that is also an upgrade still counts, etc.
That way we retain the clarity of what the Area Hosts expect to spend over the year (after all, most votes pass. If Triano expects to propose a vote for a $1,000 bandsaw, that vote is likely to pass and we would be well-advised to account for it in our budget). At the same time, we're still giving the membership a say in those large expenditures, by requiring the confirmation vote when Triano's got a specific bandsaw model located.
Other thoughts:
I think the laser loan is appropriate in CNC. The loan, after all, represents the cost of us owning a laser, which is quite properly a CNC item. If the CNC budget looks high, it simply reflects the reality that CNC equipment is expensive.
I agree that it probably makes sense to strike the administrative details about expense cards. It would be entirely appropriate for the Board to publish a document to the Wiki stating that this is the procedure, without locking it in via a vote.
I don't agree on striking the bit about the Treasurer's reports. Nothing in the language forbids the Treasurer from taking 5 weeks to complete a monthly report, it just states that a monthly report must eventually be completed. If the January report isn't published until June even, that doesn't appear to violate the language as written."-Kyle
"I totally agree with these points of Bry's. Actually I feel pretty strongly about them with my non-full member opinion. As for the laser... I agree it is part of CNC expense and that is no big deal in my mind because CNC is used so much more-- tho other equipment purchases are not reflected in the other area's budgets nor do I think they should.
I don't know that I even like the idea of equipment replacement without a vote. Who says the members what to replace a piece-- maybe they want to move on to something else."-Lucas
==Uncomfortable with Consumables==
"I'm not entirely comfortable with paying for consumables-- it seems to
"I'm not entirely comfortable with paying for consumables-- it seems to
me that they should come out of the donation boxes in each area. But I'd
me that they should come out of the donation boxes in each area. But I'd
like to hear what other people think about this (I'm not a voting member
like to hear what other people think about this (I'm not a voting member
in any case)."-Ron B.
in any case)."-Ron B.
