Release # 107-01

 

Contact:

Sunny Mindel/Curt Ritter

(212) 788-2958

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani announced today the publication of a report detailing recommendations for a sweeping overhaul of the Department of Buildings (DOB). The report represents the culmination of a Task Force convened in September 2000 after Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau, in conjunction with the New York City Department of Investigation (DOI), brought indictments against several DOB officials.

Chaired by Bart M. Schwartz, President, Decision Strategies/Fairfax International, LLC and former head of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Task Force focused on creating a blueprint for change within DOB. The report specifically addresses the challenges of efficiency, management and corruption faced by the Department.

"I want to thank Bart Schwartz and the Task Force members for the time and effort they spent over the past six months in reviewing the operations of the Department of Buildings and in preparing this report," said Mayor Giuliani. "These recommendations will help re-engineer the Department into a state-of-the-art agency using 21st century technologies and processes for management."

The Mayor also announced that earlier today he submitted legislation to the City Council that would give civilian members of the New York City Fire Department the authority to conduct building inspections and enforce the building code by issuing violations when found.

The Mayor was joined by Task Force members Satish Babbar, Acting Commissioner of the Department of Buildings; Operations Director Michael Carpinello; Department of Information, Technology, and Telecommunications Commissioner Allan Dobrin; Corporation Counsel Michael Hess; DOI Commissioner Edward J. Kuriansky; and Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen at today's press conference to announce the six key recommendations of the Task Force:

1. Professionalize DOB through staff and organizational changes;
   
   
2. Streamline the plan examination and permit services within DOB;
   
   
3. Transfer inspection and enforcement functions from DOB to the Fire Department;
   
   
4. Review administration of licensing examinations for tradespeople;
   
   
5. Institute anti-corruption measures within DOB; and
   
   
6. Implement technological innovations to improve efficiency and customer service delivery throughout DOB.

"Given the complexity of the type of reform needed to bring the Department of Buildings up to a standard of excellence, it is my hope that the City will begin to move forward on these recommendations as soon as possible," said Mr. Schwartz. "We've met many outstanding people within the Department over the course of our research, and we are confident that they can help lead this agency in a new direction."

Acting DOB Commissioner Satish Babbar said, "The Department is ready, willing and able to implement these recommendations, and we believe that the Department can accomplish major reform by the end of this year."

Fire Commissioner Von Essen said, "We have reviewed the recommendations of the task force and believe that the transfer of inspection and enforcement functions to the Fire Department will improve the building inspection process. I am confident that we will be able to promote and maintain a high degree of professionalism and integrity throughout the inspection process."

In preparing its recommendations, the Task Force extensively reviewed DOB's management and operational responsibilities, as well as its practices and procedures. Over the past six months the Task Force conducted a public hearing; met with industry members, labor representatives and private
homeowners; and reviewed the relevant roles and responsibilities of other New

York City agencies and other buildings departments across the country. These recommendations span the entire range of the Department's operations, from its overall professional culture to the details of plan examination, permit inspection and enforcement functions.

The following improvements have already been instituted:

• All DOB staff attended an integrity training program; front-line staff and supervisors also received extensive computer and customer service training;
  
  
• Borough office hours have been standardized and extended. All offices are now open from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. On Tuesdays, the Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn borough offices are open until 8:00 PM, while the Bronx and Staten Island offices are open on Tuesdays until 5:30 PM;
  
  
• All borough offices have been painted, and glass-enclosed bulletin boards and suggestion boxes have been installed. Special copier machines for building plans and typewriters for use by the public are now available, and each facility is monitored by security officers;
  
  
• All record rooms handling active files have been modernized and standardized, and archived records have been stored off-site;
  
  
• All inspectors were issued two-way radio/cell phones. All Department vehicles conspicuously display the Department's name and telephone number;
  
  
• Current plan examination staff has been transferred and new plan examiners have been hired in order to reduce the backlog;
  
  
• Job advertisements for key senior level positions have been placed in local newspapers; and,
  
  
• The Department's PC Filing capability has been upgraded.

Additional plans are in development stages, including hiring a consultant to review the existing building code, and improving the plan examination process.

The New York City Charter vests DOB with the responsibility of protecting public safety by regulating construction and administering a range of local and State codes and statutes related to construction activity. These include the New York City Building and Electrical Codes, the New York City Zoning Resolution, the New York State Multiple Dwelling Law, and an assortment of energy, safety, and labor regulations.

www.nyc.gov