Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Jack Deacy (212) 788 - 2958
"Maintaining the integrity of the city's water supply is of paramount importance to the people of this city and my administration," Mayor Giuliani said. "That is why I am pleased that within the government we have a thorough professional like Joel Miele to take on this critical job. During his tenure as Buildings Commissioner, he was able to implement a series of important changes to improve safety and upgrade service to the public." Mr. Giuliani also thanked Commissioner Gelber for two-and-a-half years of service at the Department of Environmental Protection.
The Department of Environmental Preservation protects and maintains the City's water supply, enforces air, noise and pollution codes and responds to hazardous materiel and toxic site emergencies.
"I look forward to working closely with the Mayor on the critical issues that the Department of Environmental Protection faces," Commissioner Miele said. "My experience in leading the Buildings Department has confirmed that this administration is firmly committed to streamlining bureaucracies so they respond to the needs of New Yorkers."
At the Department of Buildings, Commissioner Miele managed several important changes, introducing citywide customer service programs and self-certification programs designed to make it more efficient, cost effective and safer to build here.
Commissioner Miele, a licensed engineer, was a general partner in the firm of Miele Associates from its founding in 1970 until he was named Buildings Commissioner in 1994. A Navy veteran, in 1990 he was appointed by Queens Borough president Claire Shulman to serve on the City Planning Commission and served in that capacity for four years. A fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers and a Past President of the New York State Society of Professional Engineers, Commissioner Miele has served in a leadership capacity in several professional and civic associations, including Chairman of Community Board #10 in Queens, Chairman of the Board of Peninsula Hospital Center and as a Trustee and President of the Queens Borough Public Library.
Educated in the New York City Public School system, he holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn . Commissioner Miele and his wife Josephine reside in Queens. The couple have a son, two daughters, three grandsons and one granddaughter.