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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 344-08
September 3, 2008

MAYOR BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION MODIFYING THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE BUILDINGS COMMISSIONER

Remarks by Mayor Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Laws

“The final bill before me today is Introductory Number 755-A, sponsored at the request of the Administration by Council Members Felder, Comrie, Fidler, Martinez, Palma, Stewart, White, Gentile and Sears.  It requires that either the Buildings Department Commissioner or First Deputy Commissioner be a licensed architect or engineer.

“Introductory Number 755-A will provide this Administration and future Administrations with needed flexibility in choosing the best candidate with the necessary managerial skills to run the Department of Buildings.  At the same time, it will ensure that an individual with the technical expertise of a licensed architect or engineer is in the highest level of the Department’s leadership.   Being Buildings Commissioner is a management job that requires management expertise.

“We should not eliminate top candidates for that important position just because they don’t have the professional licenses that have no bearing on their ability to excel in the job.  We need the best people in City government.  When outdated regulations get in the way of that, we should change them.  That is what we are doing today.

“I would like to thank Deputy Mayor Skyler and his staff for their work on this bill.  I would also like to thank the Council for approving this legislation.”







MEDIA CONTACT:


Stu Loeser/Evelyn Erskine   (212) 788-2958




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