Q&A
Industry engagement post-licensing board elimination
1:01:17
·
158 sec
Council Member Sanchez inquires about the Department of Buildings' engagement with industry representatives following the elimination of the licensing board. Deputy Commissioner Sirakis explains the current approach:
- Regular business meetings with stakeholder organizations
- Frequent meetings with plumbing organizations, architects, engineers, and trade associations
- Stakeholder-driven code revision process involving over 650 members
Additional details: - The department claims to maintain at least quarterly meetings with relevant organizations - The code revision process is highlighted as a key avenue for stakeholder engagement - Board members were volunteers when the licensing board existed
Pierina Ana Sanchez
1:01:17
And how does looking at the composition of of the of the board, of the proposed the reinstate the board that would be reinstated There are labor representatives, there are industry representatives.
1:01:31
How does the Department of Buildings engage with these these members of industry outside of the board or without having a board?
Constadino 'Gus' Sirakis
1:01:42
With without having a board, we have regular business meetings, I would say, that with these stakeholder organizations that represent them, we meet frequently with the plumbing the plumbing organizations.
1:01:55
We meet regularly with the architects, the engineers, the Building Trade Employers Association, as well as through our stakeholder driven code revision process there.
1:02:08
We think is really the best place for code revision, changes that can impact multiple stakeholders and also to make sure that we have parity across the board.
1:02:18
As we mentioned here, we had over 650 members, donate tens of 1000 of hours of their time to make sure that we have the best regulations that really make sure that we're getting the most bang for our buck for everybody's limited resources and making sure that we're both building safely and living safe I think the the this is an area where I think New York City really does take the lead.
1:02:43
We have a a very strong support from our stakeholder engagement.
1:02:49
And I think that the process isn't of itself is why that many of them keep coming back because they do feel like they all collectively have a say and they get to see the inner workings of how was a decision made and it does help to make a better product.
Pierina Ana Sanchez
1:03:03
Got it.
1:03:05
When there was a licensing board, were those individuals the individual members, were they volunteer?
Constadino 'Gus' Sirakis
1:03:11
They were volunteer.
1:03:12
Yes.
1:03:12
Volunteer.
Pierina Ana Sanchez
1:03:14
Do you does does DOB to the extent that you can quantify, are you meeting with these tree professionals and and representatives as frequently without the board as you were with the board?
Constadino 'Gus' Sirakis
1:03:29
I think so.
1:03:29
I believe we are meeting at least quarterly with these organizations, but we can check these are not as formalized of a an appointment schedule because we don't have specific applications docketed for review.
1:03:44
This is more ongoing business.
1:03:47
And then there are some more technical discussions with the plumbers, for instance, that occur outside of these larger meetings.
