Executive Appointments

[Beathan]

I see that our soon-to-be-Chancellor is announcing the deputies he wants to appoint to assist him in the fulfillment of this duties. That is a Constitutionally permitted activity.

However, I note with concern that some of the positions announced are novelties (never previously established) and have been announced as paid positions. I don't see that the Chancellor has a right to appoint deputies as paid positions without inclusion of that pay in an RA approved budget. The Chancellor has a discretionary fund, but the Constitution only permits expenditures without RA approval for the sole purpose of building maintenance.

I am concerned about the Chancellor having the power to create new paid positions on his own authority. That way lies election graft and the notorious "spoils system."

Beathan

[Rosie Gray]

I don't see that the Chancellor has a right to appoint deputies as paid positions without inclusion of that pay in an RA approved budget.

Yes this is true, the Chancellor's budget must be reviewed and approved by the RA before any new expenditures. It will need to be one of the first items on the new RA's Agenda.

[Bromo Ivory]

I see that our soon-to-be-Chancellor is announcing the deputies he wants to appoint to assist him in the fulfillment of this duties. That is a Constitutionally permitted activity.

However, I note with concern that some of the positions announced are novelties (never previously established) and have been announced as paid positions. I don't see that the Chancellor has a right to appoint deputies as paid positions without inclusion of that pay in an RA approved budget. The Chancellor has a discretionary fund, but the Constitution only permits expenditures without RA approval for the sole purpose of building maintenance.

I am concerned about the Chancellor having the power to create new paid positions on his own authority. That way lies election graft and the notorious "spoils system."

Beathan

Can the Chancellor create UNPAID positions that requires no money ?

[Sonja Strom]

My understanding of this is that the Executive Budget must be approved by the RA. That would include expenses for salaried positions. So far as I know the executive positions themselves do not need RA approval. This means an executive position could be created and maintained with no real comment from the RA, so long as that position receives no payment from the CDS.

I also think Trebor has not been sworn in as the new Chancellor yet. He is simply working on building his new team.

[Beathan]

Bromo --

Yes, under section 2(d), the Chancellor can "appoint and pay deputies or other staff to hold office in the Office of the Chancellor of CDS to facilitate the discharge of any function of the Office of the Chancellor conferred by this Act or any other Act of the Representative Assembly." Thus, if some task is a task that the Chancellor can properly do as Chancellor, then the Chancellor can delegate it to a deputy he appoints. The Constitution also says that the Chancellor can pay such deputies -- and that is ambiguous, possibly meaning that the Chancellor can create paid executive positions without the approval of the RA. However, I read that in light of Section 1(a) which appears to limit the Chancellor's discretionary expenditures to "the administration and management of public facilities (including, but not limited to, roadways, signage, public buildings, public events and similar), and to discharge any other duties or powers of the Office of the Chancellor conferred by this Act or any other Act of the Representative Assembly" - and I read that as requiring RA approval of budgets and RA approval of expenditures other than those for the administration and management of public infrastructure.

However, this might need another SC petition to sort out.

Beathan

[Trebor Warcliffe]

I will be submitting my offical proposed budget at the next RA meeting either in person or by proxy depending on when it is held. The argument could be made that I am not creating new positions but rather I am modifying existing positions and the duties that they entail. I could very well keep the title Caretaker and add the duties of covenant enforcement to the job description and no one would probably question it. Rather I like the position title to better reflect the duties it entails. I am not assuming anything in regards to the approval or denial of my budget but I feel it is important to get things done. The CDS has a long history of taking forever to accomplish things and I'd like to change that practice.

Thank you,
Trebor Warcliffe
not sworn in quite yet CDS Chancellor