Re: [ietf-nomcom] NomCom 2023 Extension of Nomination Period to 2023-10-12

[Michael StJohns <[e-mail]>]

On 9/28/2023 1:40 PM, Salz, Rich wrote:
>> In any event, getting back to your first question - let me turn it
> around on you and ask where it's documented that the IESG may as a body
> appoint someone to a new position without going through the Nomcom?
>
> Do you believe that the NomCom has any role in oversight on what the IETF job descriptions are?
>
Yes.  As do the confirming bodies.

A reductio ab adsurdum argument:   The IESG opens up a Dog Catcher area, 
and writes a position description for that area that basically describes 
what you might expect a dog catcher to do. The Nomcom looks at it and 
declines to fill the position because its outside the the scope of the 
IETF, or offers a dog catcher to fill the position.  The confirming body 
(IAB) looks at the candidate, the position description, and rejects the 
candidate. Both are doing their jobs and both are not subject to being 
overridden by the IESG.

By virtue of their position in the process, the Nomcom and the 
confirming bodies have an ability to say something about the job 
descriptions.

Another not so absurd argument:   The IESG writes a position description 
with a particular candidate in mind.  If the Nomcom followed the PD to 
the letter and only selected exact matches, it would only select a 
particular candidate.  In this case, the Nomcom should ignore the more 
specific requirements and look at a broader set.

So - yes.  It's a de facto oversight role, but it's there.  The Nomcom 
doesn't get to say what's in the PD, but it's interpretations of the PDs 
are what get the weight.  However, describing why things were done in a 
particular way relative to a PD may be useful for the confirming body's 
benefit.

Later, Mike