Commissioner of Economic Development, Permits, and Inspection Services

Commissioner of the Department of Permit and Inspection Services; Appointment  and Qualifications

The commissioner of the department of permit and inspection services shall be the head of  the department of permit and inspection services, and shall be a person with (i) demonstrated  executive and administrative ability and experience in construction, which shall include at least  three (3) years experience in the administration of building, housing or property code inspection  and enforcement activities or (ii) substantially equivalent qualifications that are acceptable to the  mayor. The commissioner shall be appointed by the mayor, subject to confirmation by council and  shall be removable at the pleasure of the mayor.

Duties and Powers

The commissioner of the department of permit and inspection services shall:  

(a) Supervise, manage and be responsible for the affairs of the department of permit and  inspection services, including all matters related to permits and inspections, housing, and  demolitions. The commissioner shall lead a customer-focused department to encourage and  facilitate efficient permitting and licensing procedures within the city. For purposes of this  article, the term "permit" shall be deemed to include a license, unless otherwise indicated by  the context;  

(b) Have charge of all applications to the city or its departments, officers or agencies for permits  for the construction or remodeling of all non-public buildings or other structures within the  city, including without limitation, the review of all plans and designs. The commissioner  shall have charge of all other permits and all inspections for which he is made responsible by  this charter, the city code, or any statute, local law or ordinance. The commissioner shall be  responsible for all property code enforcement programs, including housing code violations  and matters relating to multiple dwellings; plumbing, electrical and combustion inspections;  and bingo games and premises inspections;  

(c) Develop and implement a unified, streamlined system for the review and processing of all  applications for the construction or remodeling of all buildings or other structures within the  city utilizing, where practicable and appropriate, the best practices of municipalities  throughout the United States;  

(d) Appoint, and at pleasure may remove, a deputy commissioner of permit and inspection  services;  

(e) Have charge of all demolition work;  

(f) Represent the city in all housing court proceedings;  

(g) Perform the duties of administering and enforcing the provisions of the zoning chapter of the  city code, including granting permits and certificates of occupancy and conducting all  inspections required by that chapter;  

(h) Have charge of issuing, transferring, renewing, revoking, suspending and canceling all  licenses and permits, the collection of fees and the coordination of necessary inspections in  connection therewith, and may designate an Administrative Law Judge, who shall be an  attorney admitted to practice in the State of New York for at least three (3) years, to  administer hearings related to the issuing, transferring, renewing, revoking, suspending and  canceling of licenses, and recommend to the Commissioner of Permit and Inspection  Services whether a license should be revoked, suspended, or renewal thereof refused, after  notice and hearing.  

(i) Oversee all housing and building construction and rehabilitation and code enforcement.  

(j) Direct or cause to be torn down, blown up or otherwise destroyed on an emergency basis,  any building or buildings which he or she deems to be an immediate threat to the health,  welfare and safety to the public;  

(k) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be conferred or imposed  upon him by this charter, as the same may be amended from time to time, by the mayor or by  any general law, local law, ordinance or federal or state law.  

Salary

$127,245