Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey has eliminated an independent board that nominated people to serve on the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority’s board and announced his own nominees.

Former Mayor Bill Peduto enacted an executive order to create the board of nominators.

Maria Montaño, a spokesperson for Gainey, said the mayor signed an executive order last week giving him the authority to appoint members to the PWSA board with approval from City Council.

The city’s home rule charter orders that appointments to the PWSA board should be made in that manner, she said.

“We just didn’t feel it was a necessary step, given the appointment and confirmation process,” Montaño said of the additional independent nominating board.

Gainey also announced his first appointments to the PWSA board. He nominated City Solicitor Krysia Kubiak and James Martin II, who serves as vice chancellor for STEM research and innovation at the University of Pittsburgh.

“Together they create a more diverse board that more truly represents Pittsburgh to PWSA,” Gainey said in a statement.

City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to publicly interview both candidates before voting on their appointments.

If their nominations earn council approval, Kubiak will serve a term set to expire in January 2026 and Martin will serve a term expiring in April 2025.

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