State Rep. Dom Costa became the fifth of 11 appointees to the revamped Port Authority of Allegheny County board.

A Democratic Caucus leader, Rep. Frank Dermody of Oakmont, appointed Costa, of Stanton Heights, on Tuesday.

Dermody said Costa, a former Pittsburgh police chief, “has worked for decades to make our area a better place to live and work, and that is his mission as he joins the leadership of the Port Authority.”

The Legislature in July passed a bill increasing the number of Port Authority board members from nine to 11 and changed the way its members are appointed.

The county executive chooses six appointees, instead of all members. The state House and Senate each get two appointments and the governor appoints one.

Costa's appointment follows that of D. Raja, a former Republican candidate for Allegheny County executive, last week by Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati.

Democratic state Sen. Jay Costa, Dom Costa's cousin, appointed state Sen. Jim Brewster, a former McKeesport mayor.

County Executive Rich Fitzgerald reappointed John Tague, a public policy and training consultant, and Thomas Donatelli, an engineer, to the board.

The board is scheduled to meet Sept. 27. Under the law, the new board must be in place by Sept. 17 and meet within 30 days.

Bill Zlatos is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7828 or bzlatos@tribweb.com.

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