What's happening
This bill expands the New York City Water Board to eight members, changes appointment methods, and requires city council confirmation.
Why it matters
Diversifies water board representation. By giving appointment powers not just to the mayor but also to the city council, comptroller, public advocate, and requiring a watershed resident, the board will better reflect a broader array of city and regional interests, potentially leading to more balanced decision-making affecting water rates, infrastructure, and policy.
Adds city council confirmation. All board members, regardless of who appoints them, must now be confirmed by the city council, increasing oversight and ensuring that appointees are subject to public scrutiny and political accountability.
Reduces political entrenchment. The bill bars current and recent (within six months) city officers or employees from serving, aiming to minimize conflicts of interest and promote independent oversight of the city’s water system.
Shifts leadership selection. Instead of the mayor choosing the board’s chair, the board members will now elect their own chair, which may promote internal democracy and lessen direct executive control over board operations.
Albany, before your first meeting.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Change Water Board Appointments
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4924
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 6, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. WEPRIN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to the city of New York water board
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 1045-f of the public authorities law, as added by chapter 513 of the laws of 1984, is amended to read as follows:
2. (a) The water board shall consist of [seven] eight members to be appointed [by the mayor.] as follows:
(i) Four members appointed by the mayor;
(ii) One member appointed by the speaker of the city council;
(iii) One member appointed by the comptroller of the city of New York;
(iv) One member appointed by the public advocate; and
(v) One member appointed by the city council, who shall be a resident of the water shed area.
(b) All members appointed to the board must be confirmed by the city council before they may commence their term.
(c) Terms of office of the members shall be two years except that the terms of four of the board members first appointed shall be one year. At least one member shall have experience in the science of water resource development. No member shall be a director of the authority. [The mayor shall appoint a chairman from among the members of the board.] No appointee shall be an officer or employee of the city, or have served in such capacity in the preceding six month period. The chairman shall be duly elected by the members of the board, subject to the same quorum and voting requirements as provided for in subdivision seven of this section. All members shall continue to hold office until their successors are appointed and qualified. Vacancies shall be filled in the manner provided for original appointments. Vacancies, occurring otherwise than by expiration of term of office, shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments for the unexpired terms.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09100-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.