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Trustee explains 'no' vote on stipend increase, urging clearer 'no'‑vote protocol
Summary
A trustee said they opposed a recent stipend increase because raising trustee pay could invite politically motivated challengers; the board discussed a protocol that requires members who vote 'no' to state their reasons so colleagues can consider them.
During the workshop, trustees returned to a recent, contested vote on board stipends. One trustee explained his opposition, saying the previous stipend level (about $221.64 per month) deterred outside actors and that increasing pay created incentives for political interference. "When they found out it was $221.64...oh, that's it? And I never heard from that person again," the trustee said, explaining why the change concerned him.
Trustees discussed a governance protocol—raised by another trustee—that encourages members who intend to vote 'no' to explain their reasoning to the board before or during votes so colleagues can consider the rationale and, if warranted, change their own votes. Multiple trustees agreed the protocol promotes transparency and may prevent assumptions about motives. The board president apologized for having gone "outside of protocol" in a past instance, and members emphasized repairing process mistakes privately when appropriate.
