Jamaica Hill Community Association

ABUSE OF CITY’S SELF-CERTIFICATION SYSTEM

MAYOR BLOOMBERG SIGNS TWO BILLS

Remarks by Mayor Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Law

The two bills before me today address professional engineers and registered architects who abuse their privilege to self-certify that plans they have prepared for construction projects comply with the Building Code and Zoning Resolution.

Introductory Number 308-A, sponsored by Council Members Vacca, Avella, Nelson, Liu, Arroyo, White, Mendez, McMahon, Gonzalez, Comrie, Fidler, Jackson, Sears, Gallagher, Gennaro, Monserrate, Vallone, Reyna, de Blasio, Felder, Katz, Oddo and the Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum requires the Department of Buildings to conduct full examination of all plans and applications that are submitted by any professional engineer or registered architect on probation by the State Board of Regents, effectively suspending their professional self-certification privileges for the duration of their probation by the State.

Introductory Number 309-A, sponsored by Council Members Vacca, Nelson, Addabbo, Avella, Fidler, Gentile, James, Koppell, Sanders, Seabrook, Stewart, Weprin, Liu, Arroyo, White, Mendez, McMahon, Gonzalez, Comrie, Jackson, Gallagher, Gennaro, Monserrate, Vallone, Reyna, de Blasio, Felder, Katz, Oddo and the Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum requires the Department of Buildings to suspend or revoke the professional self-certification privileges of professional engineers and registered architects who knowingly or negligently certify false or non-compliant building permit applications or plans. It also requires that those professionals who have been put on probation by the Department attend continuing education courses related to compliance with the Building Code and related laws. It also grants the Buildings Commissioner the authority to permanently revoke the professional self-certification privileges of professional engineers or registered architects who file non-compliant plans while on probation.

Finally, the Department will create and maintain a database of all professional engineers and registered architects whose privileges have been revoked, suspended or limited and post this information on their web site.

While most professional engineers and registered architects use the professional self-certification process responsibly, restricting the professional self-certification privileges of those professionals who abuse the system will help us to ensure the safety of our residents and communities and the fabric of our neighborhoods.
I would like to thank Department of Buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster and her staff for their work on these two pieces of legislation. I would also like to thank the Council for their work and approval of these bills.