On May 11, 2016, Rick Chandler Commissioner of the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) spoke before the New York City Council Committees on Housing and Buildings. He was joined by First Deputy Commissioner Thomas Fariello and Deputy Commissioner of Finance and Administration, Sharon Neill. Chandler discussed the DOB’s Fiscal Year 2017 Executive Budget—how it will provide critical protection and safety services, as well as a facilitation of development and transformation within the Department.
The DOB’s Fiscal Year 2016 Executive Budget introduced the Building One City plan, the DOB’s blueprint for improving operations and transforming the city's construction industry. Chandler spoke highly of the progress the Building One City plan has made, citing instances including but not limited to: hiring new inspectors and leveraged data to advance enforcement efforts, hiring plan examiners, and transforming the Department’s online presence to facilitate development.
The Fiscal Year 2017 Executive Budget will provide $6 million to fund fourteen new positions to advance the initiatives set in the Building One Cityplan; $3.7 million to fund twenty-two positions focused on critical agency operations; $1.2 million for fourteen positions dedicated to energy code compliance; and $65,000 toward city-wide inspections of transitional housing inspections. Additionally, $16.6 million will be allocated to Personal Services and Other Than Personal Services funding, as well as fifty-one new staff positions to support various divisions of the DOB.
At large, the new budget provides for 1,630 budgeted employees—a 192-person increase from the Fiscal Year 2016 Adopted Budget. The City's Fiscal 2017 Executive Budget totals $82.2 billion, a $3.7 billion rise from the 2016’s Adopted Budget. Changes in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year include $10.9 million for new needs, and $5.7 million in other adjustments.
Towards the end of his testimony, Chandler updated the public regarding the Department's newly drafted legislation that makes significant improvements to the City's Energy Conservation Code. The Code will reduce energy use for new buildings and major renovation from roughly twenty-five percent for new residential buildings, and 8.5 percent for new commercial buildings. Chandler also spoke of the development of a Waterfront Construction Code, which, if implemented, would move forward the Department's goals in its Building One City plan—to improve safety and streamline the development process.
