There’s likely yet another political showdown in the future between the City Council and Mayor Eric Adams. 

The City Council passed a bill on Thursday that would expand its oversight over more mayoral appointments. 

Ahead of the vote, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said the bill is about good government and not political power. 

“Contrary to what some have claimed, this legislation does not usurp the mayor’s power to appoint commissioners and top city officials. And at no point would the [City] Council be able to appoint its own nominees to lead agencies,” City Council Speaker Adams said.  

Under the legislation, the City Council would have confirmation power over 20 more commissioner appointments at agencies like sanitation, children services and homeless services, but not the police or fire department or the city’s schools.

“It incentivizes the nomination of qualified appointees who are accountable to New Yorkers and the public interest, not political loyalty or patronage,” she said.  

One councilmember said the bill comes amid concerns over Adams’ nominations. 

“I’ve seen appointments made that are somewhat questionable,” Councilmember James Gennaro said. “[The] mayor’s administration, [in] my opinion, was kind of asking for this and now they’re going to get this very measured bill. Twenty more names, not the end of the world. What is the mayor afraid of?”

But the bill will now need to go to voters who could ultimately decide whether to diminish the authority of the mayor. Changes to the balance of power in government must be made through the city charter, which must go to a citywide referendum. 

But voters may not even get a chance to weigh in. 

Adams recently created a Charter Revision Commission that could delay the bill from showing up on the ballot in November. 

“The [Charter Revision] Commission has its work to do, the [City] Council has our work to do,” City Council Speaker Adams said. “The legislation is going to remain whether the commission does anything on their part, which quite frankly was not what the public has been told this commission is set up to do, anyway.” 

The legislation allows for the bill to be placed before voters in an election after November or in a separate citywide special election.

The bill ultimately passed in a vote of 46-4 on Thursday afternoon. 

The four “no” votes were from Councilmembers Joe Borelli, Kamilah Hanks, Vickie Palladino and Kalman Yeger. 

Separately, the City Council speaker responded to City Hall Chief Counsel Lisa Zornberg. She suggested on Tuesday that lawmakers work too slowly for the appointment process. 

“They don’t want to hold hearings in May or June when they’re focusing on the budget. They’ve communicated they don’t want to hold any hearings in July or August because they’re in a summer recess,” Zornberg said at the mayor’s weekly reporter briefing Tuesday.

City Council Speaker Adams said the comments were unfortunate. She noted Zornberg had an opportunity to voice her opinions when the City Council held a hearing on the bill. 

“But they chose not to show up but chose instead to use a press conference to do that,” she said.

Now that the City Council has passed the advice and consent bill, the mayor has 30 days to approve or veto the legislation.