By Alex Christodoulides
Weprin had proposed two pieces of legislation that would have banned the practice, which allows builders to approve their own plans without oversight from the city Department of Buildings. The first would have eliminated a loophole in the building permit process that currently allows developers to apply for a certain type of alteration permit rather than a demolition permit. The second prohibited self-certification of plans submitted to the DOB that involve demolitions and certain types of alterations.The bill that passed the Council, sponsored by Councilmen Michael Nelson (D-Brooklyn) and James Vacca (D-Bronx), establishes a system under which bad builders would first get a warning, then their licenses would be suspended. Weprin has said he would get behind any bill that would limit or restrict self-certification, and while he supports this one he feels more could be done.”It's a step in the right direction and I'm happy to be a sponsor to this legislation, but the bill I introduced goes much further and I hope it will be passed by the City Council in a timely fashion,” said Weprin.Weprin's office said the Vacca-Nelson legislation was supported by both Mayor Michael Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan).”The problem is that if somebody loses the ability to self-certify, they can still have somebody else do it,” said a Weprin spokesman. Weprin's legislation would have eliminated self-certification for one- to three-family homes, but would still have allowed the practice for commercial and multiple family buildings, he said. The city Department of Buildings only has enough staff to inspect 20 percent of self-certified structures, but Weprin's office said the city's budget surplus might mean there is money to hire more inspectors.”We don't think our approach is radical because still only 20 percent [of self-certified buildings] get audited,” Weprin's office said.Detractors of banning self-certification argued that it would slow economic development, but Weprin's spokesman pointed out that building auditors make more money for the city in fines than they cost in salary. Building inspectors go to sites to examine construction, while auditors assess fines on dangerous or illegal construction.Reach reporter Alex Christodoulides by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 155.
