Mount Vernon updates progress on improving city Buildings Department
In 2023, Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard requested a review of the city’s fire and building code administration by the Department of State.
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Backlogged permits, understaffing, outdated city codes and a failure to conduct timely inspections are some of the findings in an April 2024 report by the New York State Department of State's review of Mount Vernon's Buildings Department.
Now, 1 1/2 years after she first requested the state agency review the department, Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard said the city has made strides to get back on track.
"You can either find out you have challenges and hide them or you can open up and be transparent because you want help," she said.
Earlier this year, the state threatened to recommend to the county to take over the city agency if improvements weren't made.
The state gave Mount Vernon until last month to show progress and since that report, the city hired new staff and contractors, updated inspection applications and aligned the city charter with New York's building codes.
"We are in a much better position today than we were a year ago," Mount Vernon Buildings Department Commissioner Patrick Holder said.
A spokesperson for the New York Department of State told News 12 in a statement:
"On April 15, 2024, the Division of Building Standards and Codes issued a letter of preliminary findings to the City of Mount Vernon outlining items within the City’s code enforcement program that need further attention.
On Aug. 27, 2024, the Division of Building Standards and Codes issued a letter of amended preliminary findings based on the City’s progress to date and notified the ity of the remaining items that require further action.
The Department continues to review the matter with the City’s cooperation and will respond accordingly with any necessary further actions."
City officials said they are focusing their efforts on completing a significant number of inspections on public assembly spaces, businesses and multi-dwelling units as well as expediting the city's permitting process and digitizing records.
The state will continue to monitor the department to ensure the city continues its progress.
