The board over Central Alabama Water approved a revised version of its bylaws during its March 6 meeting.

Most of the revisions are minor wording changes but several are substantive.

The revised bylaws add a provision that would allow the board to oust and replace one of its own officers with the votes of four members. It also gives board members the power to appoint new officers in the case of an officer’s death or resignation.

Other changes to the bylaws potentially affect information that is available on board actions and the ability of consumers to know and have a voice in those actions. Those revisions:

• Removed a requirement for the board’s secretary to record significant discussions of business having a bearing on actions taken or anticipated. Now the secretary is required only to record the vote of each member on all board actions. Under the new board, CAW has begun livestreaming meetings on Facebook and YouTube. But meeting minutes have become much less detailed.
• Struck a section that had allowed board members to request that their comments on a particular subject be recorded in their entirety.
• Replaced a requirement for the board to hold at least one planning session a month with a provision to hold such sessions “as needed.”
• Substituted a mandate for board meeting preliminary agendas to be set 48 hours before meetings with a 24-hour requirement.
• Added a sentence to the public comment section giving the chair sole discretion — not subject to debate — to approve or deny any individual’s request to speak.

This story has been corrected to reflect that the new bylaws specify procedures for replacing board officers, not members.