Hankerson questions borough permit staffing levels

I want to just acknowledge that we've been joined by Councilman Berlinda Lee.

All right.

I do want to, before I go to Councilman Murano,

You mentioned that folks can pick up the phone and call the permit office and speak to a permit representative.

I do want to talk about the permit offices just really briefly.

Folks are assigned to each permit office by borough.

Bear with me just for a moment.

In Staten Island, there are three coordinators.

In Queens, there are six.

In Manhattan, there are eight.

In Brooklyn, there are five.

And in the Bronx, there are eight.

Eight.

Eight?

Okay.

I just want to make sure I have this correct.

Staten Island, there are three.

Queens, there are six.

Manhattan, there are eight.

Brooklyn, there are five.

The Bronx, there are eight.

Is that correct?

That's by borough, yes.

Okay.

Out of curiosity, why does Brooklyn only have five?

So I would have to get back to you on the precise amounts.

You know, there are fluctuations in staffing.

I can tell you in Brooklyn, they had a longstanding director, Nancy Melissas, who was a wonderful, wonderful colleague and so knowledgeable about Brooklyn Parks.

And she had spent decades working in Brooklyn doing the permitting system, and she recently retired.

And then one of her colleagues moved on to become the director of the permit office in Manhattan.

So they may be a little bit lower because of that staffing transition, but we're happy to follow up with your office and get back to you.

more precise answers.