Q&A
DOB elevator inspector staffing and workload
3:35:07
·
4 min
Council Member Sanchez inquires about elevator inspector staffing levels and workload. Commissioner Oddo and other officials explain current staffing and challenges with expedited inspections.
- DOB has 31 of 33 budgeted elevator inspector positions filled
- Officials describe challenges with expedited elevator inspections and fees
- The department is using overtime strategically to address backlogs in certain areas
Pierina Ana Sanchez
3:35:07
Have we let me ask my inspector questions, and then I'm gonna ask you if you if they're has been an in in which titles there have been an increased demand for overtime payment.
3:35:18
So on February 23rd, Adriana Cabrera from your community engagement unit told my office that the elevator unit is short staffed and that there would be that they couldn't tell us exactly when certain buildings that have not had elevator service for a long time would would be seeing inspectors.
3:35:37
So with respect to elevator inspectors, can you share the number of vacancies and vacancy reductions since 2022?
Jimmy Oddo
3:35:46
So right now, we're budgeted for 33.
3:35:48
We're actual at 31.
3:35:51
We have 2 vacancies.
3:35:54
I can tell you that there has been an issue, madam chair, for what the industry likes to call expedited inspections, where they pay fee and they believe because they pay that fee, they should have elevator inspections on demand.
3:36:16
The problem with that is the fee that they pay is not commiserate with the work involved.
3:36:21
So it's not like they have And so there are some facilities, some locations, some elevator inspections, nursing homes, let's say, where they don't want to take those elevators offline during the day and rightly so that needs to be done at a different time.
3:36:39
We are working as an agency and with various parts of the industry to identify those critical locations to be able to provide that service at a time they want.
3:36:54
And again, we've turned the valve to the right to try to begin to address the overall backlog.
3:37:04
This is an ongoing process, and we will turn it on and turn it off as needed.
3:37:11
And we are on we will undertake or are undertaking a user fee analysis.
3:37:19
Because if there's a fee that is warranted, that folks wanna pay that can help underwrite things, that would be helpful.
3:37:28
Yeah.
Gina Ugarte
3:37:30
I'd just like to add that, yes, we are actually doing a 2 pronged approach as the commissioner had mentioned.
3:37:35
1, we're working with the unit to update the user cost because, typically, if there is a backlog that implies that the universe or has historically what we were expecting has now changed.
3:37:47
We've also been reviewing and approving over time with respect to discrete projects.
3:37:53
I been working very closely with the units.
3:37:55
So they are getting overtime to be able to do things like these expedited inspections, and we are being responsive But again, just to reiterate, we have to maintain our budgeted overtime amounts, and so we have to be mindful.
Jimmy Oddo
3:38:11
Adam, chair, let me answer your question.
3:38:12
The other question, because just remembered it.
3:38:14
You asked about what units are getting OT.
3:38:17
And so let's we've had lots of storms.
3:38:22
This weekend, for example, the high winds.
3:38:25
So we will put out our construction safety unit out and we'll do sweeps to make sure everybody's buttoned down.
3:38:32
We put out notices to the industry email, it's a huge number, to to the industry, to those who report us, you know, to to cover us with a journalist.
3:38:43
Let's get the word out this weekend high winds.
3:38:45
We will do sweeps of different locations.
3:38:50
Storm we will put on an extra emergency response team.
3:38:56
There's a tick up at Manhattan Burrow Commissioner Office on issues And again, trying to manage what is a very difficult fiscal situation, but do it intelligently.
3:39:10
And I think so far, we've done that.
3:39:12
Didn't make me popular.
3:39:15
Early on.
3:39:15
But I think everyone adjusted and we are We're meeting our service levels where we see regression, we're aware of it, and we're figuring out how to address it.