City Council voted Thursday to approve a number of items regarding the Sewerage and Water Board.
The changes come after the council gained broad authority over the utility on August 1, thanks to a state law.
These items were discussed at a committee meeting last week, but with the full council approving them Thursday, they can now go into effect.
The council passed an ordinance that makes changes to the governance and operations of SWBNO. The board of directors will now include the mayor, the Council Public Works Committee chair, two people from the Board of Liquidation, City Debt and seven New Orleans citizens.
Councilmember Aimee McCarron told WDSU that appointments of new board members are likely to be taken up in a committee meeting next week.
The ordinance also requires SWBNO to provide an annual emergency preparedness plan and capitol improvement plan, which will be a five-year forecast of projects and programs. SWBNO will also be required to submit a yearly budget to the council.
The council also approved a number of motions and resolutions. One of them was a request for an audit of the SWBNO’s financials. Another tasked the new board with determining whether it is necessary to have both a superintendent and executive director position.
During the meeting, Council President JP Morrell said that with these changes, the council will have more power to directly improve SWBNO services and solve problems for residents.
READ MORE:New Orleans council approves changes to Sewerage and Water Board
