Board of Governors bylaws: Meetings conducted by conference telephone call; compensation for attendance,

[Federal Register: October 29, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 209)]

[Rules and Regulations]

[Page 57911-57912]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr29oc98-6]

POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 6

Board of Governors Bylaws

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: The Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service has approved an amendment to its bylaws. The amendment allows Governors attending special meetings of the Board conducted by conference telephone call to receive the statutory $300 compensation for a meeting day if the meeting lasts more than an hour.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 6, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas J. Koerber, (202) 268-4800.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 6, 1998, the Board of Governors

[[Page 57912]]

of the Postal Service amended its bylaw provisions concerning attendance at meetings by telephone conference call. Previously, bylaw 6.4 (39 CFR 6.4), has provided that members may participate in any meeting of the Board of Governors by telephone, but that only those Governors attending in person would receive the $300 in compensation provided under 39 U.S.C. 202(a) for attending not more than 30 days of meetings per year.

Developments in technology since this bylaw was adopted have made it possible for modern business and government organizations to conduct meetings by teleconference more effectively than in the past. In addition, while the Board of Governors holds regular monthly meetings in person, generally two days in duration, the Board has found that important business sometimes requires the scheduling of special meetings by teleconference, in between the regularly scheduled monthly meetings, as authorized in bylaw 6.2 (39 CFR 6.2), and subject to compliance with the Board's rules implementing the Government in the Sunshine Act, in Part 7 of the bylaws (39 CFR part 7). The amendment approved on October 6 permits a Governor to receive the $300 in compensation for participation in such a special meeting of the full Board by teleconference, if the meeting is more than one hour in duration. It also allows compensation for special committee meetings held between Board meetings. As provided in 39 U.S.C. 202(a), nevertheless, the number of meeting days, including both regular and special meetings, for which a Governor may be paid such compensation still may not exceed 30 days per year.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 6

Administrative practice and procedure, Organization and functions (Government agencies), Postal Service.

Accordingly, 39 CFR Part 6 is amended as follows:

PART 6--MEETINGS (ARTICLE VI)

1. The authority citation for Part 6 continues to read as follows:

   Authority: 39 U.S.C. 202, 205, 401(2), (10), 1003, 3013; 5 U.S.C. 552b (3), (g).

2. Section 6.4 is revised to read as follows:

   Sec. 6.4. Attendance by conference telephone call.

   Unless prohibited by law or by these bylaws, a member of the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board by conference telephone or similar communications equipment which enables all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other and which permits full compliance with the provisions of these bylaws concerning public observation of meetings. Attendance at a meeting by this method constitutes presence at the meeting; and no Governor attending by telephone may receive compensation, except for a special meeting by conference telephone that is more than one hour in duration, or a special committee meeting between Board meetings called under Sec. 6.2 of these bylaws. Stanley F. Mires, Chief Counsel, Legislative.

   [FR Doc. 98-29006Filed10-28-98; 8:45 am]

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