By a vote of 41-8, the New York City Council passed legislation on Aug. 14 stipulating that future commissioners of the Department of Buildings {DOB} need not hold a professional license in architecture or engineering. Where the City Charter previously required such licensure in the department`s top post, the new amendment, known as Introduction 755-A, states that either the commissioner or the first deputy commissioner must hold a license.

The following day, as expected, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced his intention to appoint Robert LiMandri as buildings commissioner. Previously a deputy commissioner, LiMandri has served as acting commissioner since April, when he replaced architect Patricia Lancaster, the first woman to hold the position. Lancaster resigned after multiple fatal construction crane collapses in early 2008 killed 13 people and investigations revealed a department in disarray. LiMandri, who has been with the DOB since 2002, holds a bachelor`s degree in mechanical engineering but is not professionally licensed.
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