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PNB Information Request Policy
4-28-04

On Weds., April 28 the Pacifica National Board held a special meeting via conference call and adopted the below policy for information requests by board members to staff. It is an interim policy that will be revisited at the next regular PNB meeting in June. The language was composed by director Dave Adleson (KPFK). It is in 2 parts: part 1 for directors, and part 2 for Local Station Boards.

Roger Manning
Secretary, Pacifica Board

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1) Communication policy for Directors:

Resolved:

That the Coordinating Committee shall meet biweekly, by telephone conference call, to coordinate Directors' and other requests made during the preceding two weeks.

That any Director(s) in need of documents or information from Foundation Management personnel shall inform their local representative to the Coordinating Committee in writing via email.

That three days prior to the biweekly Coordinating Committee meeting, each Coordinating Committee member will aggregate all requests received in the preceding two weeks from their local signal area Directors, and will post these to the entire PNB.

The Chair of the Coordinating Committee shall assemble an agenda such that all items received are considered by the Coordinating Committee during its meeting, and shall post that agenda, along with all requests received, to the PNB at least 24 hours in advance of the Coordinating Committee meeting. All portions of the agenda that do not relate to confidential matters shall also be posted publicly at that time. In the event that some items involve confidential matters, the agenda shall include a portion that shall be held in closed session.

The biweekly meeting of the Coordinating Committee shall be held via telephone conference call and in compliance with all meeting requirements regarding public access.

During its biweekly meeting, the Coordinating Committee will determine a timeframe for response to each request, and will establish who will be responsible for responding to the request. In general, it is expected that requests of information to be provided by management personnel will be assigned to the Executive Director to delegate to other personnel as appropriate.

In the event that the timeframe set by the Coordinating Committee for response to a request is unacceptable to the Director(s) making the request, the Director(s) may directly make the request of the Executive Director, specifying the timeframe in which the documentation is needed, and copying the PNB with the request via email.

If the Executive Director believes that the information request falls within the narrowly restricted range of requests which may legally be denied, s/he must submit the request to the Foundation counsel to provide an opinion on whether the information request may legally be denied. Foundation counsel shall speak with the requesting director concerning the request prior to providing his/her opinion. If Foundation counsel indicates that the request may not be denied, the Executive Director shall make arrangements with the requesting Director(s) to provide access to the needed documentation, copying the PNB with these communications. If Foundation counsel indicates that grounds exist for denying the request, then any further consideration of whether to meet the request must come before the full PNB at a regular or special meeting of the Board.

All decisions of the Coordinating Committee are subject to review and approval or reversal by the PNB.

At each regular meeting of the PNB, the Coordinating Committee report shall include a listing of all requests considered, including the dates on which they were considered, the dates agreed to for fulfillment of requests, and the actual dates of fulfillment of requests.

Upon adoption, this policy shall be communicated to all Directors, Delegates, management personnel, and staff.

2) Communication policy for Local Station Boards:

Information requests from Local Station Boards shall be made to either local station management or to the Executive Director or CFO, as appropriate. These requests shall come via the LSB chair or the relevant LSB Committee or Subcommittee Chair, and shall be approved by the LSB or the relevant Committee or Subcommittee prior to being made.

Such requests shall also be communicated to the local National Coordinating Committee representative in writing via email, to be included for informational purposes in the list of information requests made of management personnel. The list of such requests shall be reported during the biweekly Coordinating Committee conference call.

In the event the information is not provided in a timely manner, or in the event of a difference of opinion between management and the LSB, Committee, or Subcommittee about the appropriateness of the request, the manager and/or the Chair of the LSB, Committee, or Sub-committee shall submit the request in writing via email to the local National Coordinating Committee representative. During its biweekly meeting, the Coordinating Committee will determine a timeframe for response to each request, and will establish who will be responsible for responding to the request.

At each regular meeting of the PNB, the Coordinating Committee report shall include a listing of all requests considered, including the dates on which they were considered, the dates agreed to for fulfillment of requests, and the actual dates of fulfillment of requests.


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