What would it take for Tom to share the super admin (upgrades really) powers? It doesn't make sense for him to have these exclusively when it means the instance doesn't get updated in a timely manner.

Does he want money? What's the issue with only having a single person that can do this? Is it quirk of the way it was set up in the first place? Is there no way to transfer this ownership? Sounds like there's a few members willing to pick up the effort.