The governor would have the power to appoint the chair of the Connecticut Port Authority's board and the mayor of New London would get a seat on the board under a new legislative proposal from Gov. Ned Lamont, who is seeking to change the structure and operations of the quasi-public agency.

The proposal came as part of Lamont's mid-term budget adjustments unveiled Wednesday and follow a tumultuous year for the port authority, in which questions about the authority's spending practices and operations led to state hearings and the Lamont administration stepping in to provide greater oversight.

State auditors found that spending has skyrocketed at the port authority in areas such as legal expenses, and the authority did not have basic operating and financial protocols in place.

Late last summer, Lamont directed the state Office of Policy and Management to take a direct role in the port authority's financials, including reviewing its expenditures. His bill would institute operational changes such as requiring the board to approve the authority's annual budget before it takes effect, mandating an independent annual audit and establishing policies for approving certain expenditures and using surplus funds.

As for the structure of the port authority's board, Lamont wants the governor to appoint the chairman, who currently is selected by the board, and to eliminate the requirement that the chair serve for two years.

David Kooris, a former deputy commissioner with the state Department of Economic and Community Development who now oversees economic development in Stamford, is the current chair of the board. He originally served as ex-officio member of the board as a designee of DECD commissioner David Lehman, but in early January Lamont appointed him to fill the seat vacated by previous board member Pam Elkow. Kooris' term as chair ends on March 11.

The 15-member board also would grow to 16 to accommodate a seat for the "chief elected official" of New London, under Lamont's proposal.

Mayor Michael Passero has argued that New London, left out of major negotiations involving State Pier, a state-owned facility in the city where a major redevelopment is being proposed to support the offshore wind industry, deserves a seat at the table.

"We're deeply appreciative his administration recognizes the value that the presence of the city of New London can add on the board and can add to the mission of the Connecticut Port Authority," Passero said. "I think the other reforms he is building into that are overdue and will help to make the Connecticut Port Authority much more responsive to the needs of the state."

There remains one vacancy on the port authority's board: the appointee of the state House majority leader. Todd Murphy, a spokesman for Rep. Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, said the governor's legislation would change the qualifications for that appointment "so we are holding on the appointment until the House and Senate take final action."

Another vacancy, the appointee of the Senate majority leader, recently was filled. Sen. Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, recently appointed Norwalk police Sgt. Gregg Scully to fill the seat. Duff said in a news release that Scully's work as a Marine Unit officer and Norwalk harbormaster "gives him unique insight into the Connecticut ports and maritime industry."

j.bergman@theday.com