1. Call to Order and Quorum

The Chair called the meeting to order and confirmed a quorum of five. Ms. Varga is excused. Mr. Penhallow asked that the minutes note that Standard Brand has no one present to speak for it. The Chair said the minutes would note it by the absence being listed. Mr. Penhallow said he preferred it noted twice.

2. Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting

The minutes of Meeting 2 (October 11, 2026) were presented. Ms. Oduya asked that the closing statement of Mr. Penhallow on the allocation of crackers by weight be shown as a statement of intent. The Chair said the minutes show what was said. Ms. Oduya said that was her concern.

Motion by Mr. Abernathy-Loft to approve as written, seconded by Ms. Oduya. Carried 4-0, Mr. Tresidder abstaining on the ground that he was present.

3. Business Arising: Action Items from Meeting 2

The Chair reported that he has read the draft reply on Committee meals, NF-GA-2026-088, and found it accurate. It remains unsigned. Ms. Oduya asked what remains to be done before signature. The Chair said he is considering the second paragraph.

The clerk reported that NF-LE-1994-033 (Floors Five and Six, tenancy of record) is releasable in part. The pages for Floor Six are withheld pending a determination as to who holds the determination. NF-GA-1996-044 (the eleventh chair of Room 6B) has still not been located. General Affairs reported no progress on direction under NF-GA-1995-208. Mr. Penhallow said he had been prepared for that.

Primary Operations reported that the napkin census under VP-2026-0001 was held on the night of October 14 and that the count is complete. Mr. Penhallow noted that the tally sheet carries three sets of initials. The Chair asked whether the count itself was legible. Mr. Penhallow said it was. No further question was put.

ACTION: Primary Operations to file the count under NF-PO-2026-001 before the next meeting.

4. Report of the Provisions Inquiry Desk

The Desk received no messages from no inquirers during the period of October 11 to October 18. Ms. Oduya observed that this is the first period in which the Desk has nothing to report and asked whether the Desk had been open. The Chair confirmed that it was open throughout. Mr. Penhallow asked whether any message had been received and not logged. The Chair said the log is the record of what is received and therefore cannot be asked that.

Mr. Tresidder asked whether the Desk should issue a reply to the absence of inquiries. The Chair ruled that there is no one to reply to. Ms. Oduya moved that a standard form of notice for a period without inquiries be drafted regardless, to be filed as NF-GA-2026-089. Seconded by Mr. Abernathy-Loft. Carried 4-1, Mr. Tresidder opposed.

No conduct matters arise for Associate 0417.

5. Provisions Issued

No provisions were issued during the period. Mr. Penhallow asked that the minutes record that the crackers issued last week have not been allocated by weight and that the matter remains open. Mr. Abernathy-Loft said there is nothing on hand to weigh. Mr. Penhallow said that was the best time to establish the method.

The Chair advised that Standard Brand is not present and that any change to its allocation practice must wait. The matter is tabled to Meeting 4. Mr. Penhallow stated that he would bring a scale, and the Chair stated that the scale would not be placed on the table.

ACTION: Standard Brand to respond to Mr. Penhallow on allocation by weight under a new reference, NF-SB-2026-012.

6. Special Projects: Standing Report

As requested at Meeting 2, the Chair placed an item for Special Projects on the agenda. Mr. Tresidder reported that Special Projects has no matters presently before the Committee. He asked that this be recorded in writing, so that it may be requested. The Chair asked whether a nil report requires a document number. Mr. Tresidder said every other report has one. Ms. Oduya said it would require two signatures, since a nil is harder to verify than a count.

Motion by Mr. Tresidder that a standing report of Special Projects be filed as NF-SP-2026-001, seconded by Mr. Penhallow. Carried 5-0.

Mr. Tresidder asked whether the number could be assigned before the report is written. The Chair said it could, and that it would be.

7. Facilities: Count of Chairs in Room 6B

Mr. Abernathy-Loft reported eleven chairs in the room at convening, being the number permitted under NF-GA-1996-031. The Chair thanked him. Mr. Abernathy-Loft asked to repeat the count at the end of the meeting. The Chair said the study of the count is ongoing and that a second count should not pre-empt it. Mr. Abernathy-Loft said he would make it in any case and enter it in the Facilities file and not the minutes.

Ms. Oduya asked how many persons are seated. The Chair said five. Ms. Oduya said that left six chairs. The Chair said she was correct.

8. New Business

Mr. Penhallow asked that the clerk be directed to continue the search for NF-GA-1996-044 until it is found or until it is established that it was never filed. The Chair asked which outcome Mr. Penhallow expected. Mr. Penhallow said he would not say before the clerk had finished.

The Chair stated that the next meeting would be held in the same room.