SYRACUSE -- The Syracuse Common Council has unanimously approved new laws for the Citizen Review Board.

The CRB acts as a watchdog over Syracuse Police, investigating citizen complaints against the department.

The new law puts forth a clear, chain of command for everyone involved with the CRB -- from board members, to the Common Council, to the Police Chief and Mayor.

The new laws also speed up the process of investigating complaints against the Syracuse Police Department.

The CRB now has 60 days to investigate and make a recommendation to the Police Chief.  Before, there was not a time limit.

The new laws also establish a better working relationship between the CRB and Syracuse Police, each now required to notify the other of a complaint within one business day.

Once the Police Department finishes its internal investigation, it must turn over the investigation file, which includes the written report from the officer in question. That means if an officer in question does not want to cooperate with the CRB, the board will still have a statement from that officer to take into consideration when it makes a recommendation.

"The people are entitled to answers and if there's some way the Citizen's Review Board can weigh in on behalf of the citizens -- that's fine...I see no problem with it," said Syracuse Police Chief Frank Fowler

Critics say the CRB has been largely dysfunctional since its inception nearly two decades ago.

In February, the Mayor Stephanie Miner fired the administrator for not doing her job properly.

Since then, Councilor Pamela Hunter has lead an effort to revamp the CRB and make it viable.

"Our dirty laundry is already out there," she said.  "So now we have an opportunity to tell the community this is what we are, this is what we're doing and this is how we want to work going forward."

Mayor Miner is expected to sign the legislation into law as soon as Friday.

She'll appoint her three board members in January.