Help Lead OWASA as a Board Member

By John Morris

The Orange Water and Sewer Authority is accepting applications for membership on its board. The deadline to apply for the Chapel Hill seats is April 26. Orange County has no set deadline but fills positions on a rolling basis. Carrboro has not yet announced any deadline but would like to make an appointment in June before the term begins July 1.

OWASA is responsible for reliably providing high-quality water, wastewater and reclaimed water services to Chapel Hill, Carrboro and parts of Orange County. Unlike most local boards, which are advisory, the OWASA board is a governing board. It has responsibility for hiring OWASA’s executive director, setting rates for water customers, adopting the annual budget and setting policies for a wide range of functions such as energy management, creating a diverse and inclusive organization, providing secure, high-quality services and planning for our long-range future.

Service on the board involves attending two meetings per month, reviewing agenda materials and serving on board committees. The board of directors addresses a wide variety of issues, including infrastructure investment, employee compensation and benefits, finance and rate setting, customer service and affordability, environmental protection, forestry, public health and community engagement. Experience in these areas can be helpful, but specific technical expertise is not required; the only true qualification needed is a genuine commitment to serve the community. OWASA embraces diversity and inclusion. Interested candidates may apply to the Carrboro or Chapel Hill town council or Orange County board of commissioners, based on where they live.

There are vacancies every year for seats appointed by all three governments. Chapel Hill has two vacancies this year; Carrboro and Orange County each has one.

Learn about OWASA at owasa.org. Each member government has information about board applications on its website, or contact the appropriate clerk’s office below.

*Chapel Hill Town Clerk – Office Contact Number: 919-969-5014
Website: http://www.townofchapelhill.org/boards

*Carrboro Town Clerk – Office Contact Number: 919-918-7309
Website: http://www.ci.carrboro.nc.us/228/Advisory-Boards-Commissions

*Orange County Clerk – Office Contact Number: 919-245-2125 or 919-245-2130
Website: http://www.co.orange.nc.us/971/Volunteer-Advisory-Boards-Commissions

John Morris is a Chapel Hill appointee to the OWASA board of directors.