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Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesWAPA BOARD COULD GET RADICAL OVERHAUL

WAPA BOARD COULD GET RADICAL OVERHAUL

The nine-member Water and Power Authority board could see eight new members if Gov. Charles W. Turnbull decides to replace three members whose terms have expired.
As it is, he needs to fill two vacancies and designate three new government officials who serve at the governor's pleasure -— so that alone would create a new majority on the WAPA board.
The only WAPA board member whose term hasn't expired is J. Arthur Downing of St. Thomas, the chairman. Downing's term began in June 1996 and expires this June.
The terms of three other board members — Cecil A. George and George C. Parrott of St. Thomas-St. John and Harold Brown of St. Croix — expired in September.
The three government members tapped by former Gov. Roy L. Schneider to the WAPA board were Public Works Commissioner Lindel A. Williams; Nellon Bowry, director of Management and Budget; and Attorney General Julio A. Brady. All three have resigned, so Turnbull must designate three people in his administration to replace them.
Under Virgin Islands law, the governor can name any three government officials to the WAPA board. The other six members may not be local or federal government employees and require Senate confirmation.
Members serve three-year terms, which are supposed to be staggered to allow continuity on the board. By law, members continue to serve until their successors are confirmed and sworn in.
Editor's note: See the full list of WAPA board members under "Boards and Commissions" in the Data section of Community.

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