Question #99: Where may I send my doormen for training? Any schools available? Local 32B 32J does not offer any training. Click here to post your answer to this question

Answer: Local 32BJ does offer some training in the form of communication and tenant relations skills. PGrech

Answer: These meters are called BTU meters. They include a water meter which measures GPM and two temperature sensors- one one the supply and one on the return line for the heating system. In addition, there is an electronic calculating unit as well as a power supply. The complete package is offered by a company called ISTEC corp. and it can be ordered from Pronto Gas Heating supply, 181 Christie St., NY, NY 10002. phone 212-777-3366 Jeff Eichenwald

Answer: It would seem the heart of the problem is the birds. Call the exterminator on our vendor list. He was very helpful to me in getting rid of such problems. PGrech

Answer: I'm making the assumption that your problem is occurring in the gutter of the drain system and that there is a screen of some sort over the drain opening in the gutter and this is where the birds are nesting. If you have a gutter system, you might consider drain guards. I have used the plastic type that allow water to flow to the gutter but repel leaves and debris. If you have another situation that's not evident in your question please reply to the website. Gene Marabello

Answer: If he was to lose his job, with due cause, and he is not in a union, there is not much chance of being allowed to stay in that building. Nonunion jobs are jobs that are hired at will, and as such they can be terminated at will. If it is a union position, and the owners followed protocol, there would be little chance of staying in the building once he lost his job also. If you are insecure about his job, start looking for another one in the neighborhood, or if he is well liked in the building, ask for a written contract. PGrech

Answer: Most intercom installation companies will give you a free estimate. There are too many variables to give you even an approximate estimate without visiting the building site.

Answer: Varying the crosslinking density decreased smoothly over a distance of 18 microns from a maximum at the outer surface. In another case, the crosslinking density was uniform over a distance of 5 microns and then dropped abruptly. In either case, varying the cross link density effects the elasticity of the silicone elastomer by decreasing its smoothness as its spreads.

Answer: The cross link density affects the smoothness, but not the elasticity. The elasticity is more determined by the ratio of polymer and fumed silica in the rubber base. Peter Grech

Answer: Is it possible that you haven't thoroughly stripped the floor before applying a new coat of floor finish? Use a good commercial grade stripper and make sure that all the dirt is removed by mopping after that, then let it dry and maybe, if the dirt is thick, use the stripper a second time before applying your floor finish.

Answer: Maintenance is supposed to exercise due diligence in ensuring that tenants' recyclable waste is segregated for pickup. (By the way, juice cartons are not recyclable, but the tins are.) I would so much appreciate knowing what it is that bothers you. There might be a solution. Dick Koral

Answer: Check out the Department of Buildings website at: www.nyc.gov/html/dob/home.html. We cover multi-family residential building questions.

Answer: Your question is very complex as it crosses over many government agencies. Your question may better be answered by an architect or engineer. You might also ask the Department of Buildings. PGrech

Answer: There may be a apartment in the same line that has a handheld shower head with hose. Sometimes the person using the device shuts off the water after taking a shower by shutting off the water at the showerhead instead of shutting off the faucet handles. By doing this the hot and cold water will continue to mix and then the entire line will get hot water in the cold water line. This has happened to me a couple of times in two different buildings. Mike MacGowan

Answer: As a designer of heating systems, I am constantly counseling clients and students alike to avoid, whenever possible the use of commercial hot water heaters. They are not only expensive, difficult to install and inefficient, but also they are guaranteed to require replacement in three to five years. In a situation of extremely heavy usage, they have been known to fail in a year! If there is a heating boiler of sufficient size, then an indirect water heater can be connected to the boiler which will make domestic hot water. If there is no heating boiler, then I would recommend a copper heat exchanger water heater with a stainless steel storage tank. If you would like more details, call me at 212-982-4803. Jeff Eichenwald

Answer: There are no licenses required to become a superintendent. However there may be some Certificates of Fitness (licenses), issued by the Fire Department for specific buildings. If you would like a certificate that proves that you have some educational background in real estate management, contact IREM, at 212 944-9445, talk to Sheila Still. Tell her Peter Grech told you to call. Another source is City Tech, at 718 260 5160, they have a Building Superintendent technology degree. PGrech

Answer: If you're the owner of the co-op, you may be responsible to pay for it.

Answer: See the answer to Question #86.

Answer: My suggestion for your next Superintendents position would be to treat every tenant as a future board president. It sounds like you might have gotten caught up in some politics. Chris Christenson

Answer: I cannot believe that you are being let go for "no reason," although you may not be in the wrong. I suggest that you try to collect some letters of praise from individual members of the cooperative, then be open with your prospective employer. If you lie, you will eventually be found out and fired, once again. Dick Koral

Answer: You should just install surface wire molding that you can purchase at any hardware store. It is much easier to install this than BX cable. If you should have to change the wiring in the future, it is easy to pull in new wires in the molding. Mike MacGowan

Answer: Your problem is a legal one, and would best be discussed with an attorney. Two-family houses don't fall under many City Government agencies. However your landlord may or may not be in violation of the lease pertaining to the Warranty of Habitability or to repairs. See your lease. Pgrech

The following is taken from nyc.gov in reference to the Warranty of Habitability:

Warranty Of Habitability
Tenants have the right to reside in a comfortable, safe, and sanitary apartment. Landlords must provide heat and hot water on a regular basis. They also must control insect/pest infestation. If a landlord breaches this agreement, the tenant may sue for a rent reduction. The tenant may also withhold rent for recurring conditions, but in response, the landlord may sue the tenant for nonpayment of rent. In such a case, the tenant may counter sue for breach of the warranty. Any adverse condition caused by the tenant or other persons under the tenant's direction or control does not constitute a breach of the warranty of habitability by the landlord. In such a case, it is the responsibility of the tenant to remedy the condition. Rent reductions may be ordered if a court finds that the landlord violated the warranty of habitability. The reduction is computed by subtracting from the actual rent, the estimated value of the apartment without the essential services. A landlord's liability for damages may be limited when the failure to provide services is the result of circumstances beyond the landlord's control. For example, a water main break or workers' strike. In cases of emergency or neglect by the landlord, tenants may make necessary repairs and deduct the reasonable repair costs from rent when due. For example, when a landlord has been notified that a sink is leaking and willfully neglects to repair it, the tenant may hire a plumber and deduct the cost from the rent. Tenants should obtain receipts for the repairs and present them to the landlord along with a written explanation of the deduction from the rent.

Answer: Your employment is under what is called "hire at will". You have no recourse. It is my opinion that the new management company wants you to leave and that is why they are doing this. Talk to the owner of the building directly and see what is going on. PGrech

Answer: The problems you relate translate into serious violations of the city's department of Housing Preservation and Development's (HPD) Housing Maintenance Code. Don't blame the super. The owner probably will not pay for repairs that needs be done by an outside mechanic. Do call the HPD emergency heating number (you can dial 311) and once an inspector finds the apartment cold, he will give the owner a short time to fix, otherwise HPD will fix and bill the owner. Dick Koral

Answer: 1. Look for ads for positions wanted in local papers. 2. Make some appointments with management companies in Brooklyn. Look in the yellow pages. 3. Go to some buildings and talk to the supers and ask for the management companies name and number. 4. Check the ads on this website (click here). PGrech

Answer: Go to Google (www.google.com) and put in your search parameters. I found 696,000 sites searching for "section 8 apartment". This site is more for questions related to building maintenance.

Answer: It is really both YOUR responsibility to keep your apartment relatively free of pests, AND your landlord's. You must do what you can (and there are lots of things you can do) to be pest-free, and your landlord has an obligation to treat for pests at least once a month IF you ask for it.

So the first thing you can do is ask for it. It is your right. The second most important thing you can do is take ALL food away from the pests, thus giving them a disincentive to pay you a visit. Yes, that means the dog food also. Figure out another way, because they will seek you out if you give them a reason.

The super is correct, he doesn't have to do more than the one monthly extermination. What is ethical to do is another thing, but you probably can't demand more of him without looking like the bad guy. You could ask him to come by and close all the holes where the mice can enter and exit. Some supers are open to that, others aren't, but it is well within their scope of duties.

Many people do very well with a hungry cat, although if you already have a dog you may not want a cat also. Good luck.

Answer: A hotel doorman greets and admits guests to the property, directing them, their vehicles, and luggage to their proper destination. The doorman also arranges transportation (cabs, limos, etc). He is the face of the hotel, and may also assist in security (screening out "undesirables"). Finally, he is an ambassador - he knows the hotel, the neighborhood, and the city inside out. Philip Martin

Answer: This website is geared toward multi-family residential buildings. Job descriptions are the duties of the person that hires you. No one job description can be used as a universal job description because each hotel, and even each building for that matter, have special needs. Ask a few doormen of hotels about their job descriptions. PGrech

Answer: Certificates of Fitness are issued by the New York City Fire Department for various task, like attending a burner that uses heavy oil. Go to the City's Web site (www.nyc.gov) and follow instructions to get to the Fire Department, then look it up. If you post here more precise questions, you will get more precise answers. Dick Koral

Answer: First of all lets get it right. If you are in a condo or co-op, there is no landlord but there is a board of directors. Second: the first law you are misquoting is the Housing Maintenance Code. Article 13, which states "a building of 9 apartment or more" and the second law you misquoted is the Multiple Dwelling Law Article 3/title 83, which states "a dwelling with thirteen or more tenants." Both articles state either/or... a 24 hour janitor or housekeeper or a janitor residing in the building or a janitor residing within 200 feet of the building, or the agent or owner lives in the building. Since you building is a CONDO, that means most people who live there own the apartment and building, which satisfies both articles of the law. Peter Grech

Answer: I note your connection to NYU. I'm sure the University has a ton of shredders and a few, at least, that you could use. Why not inquire at the Business Office? I do not know about private incineration services, but the shredder would save you a bundle, I'm sure!

Answer: If, in fact you are working at NYU then I would definitely contact the university business office. They may have bulk shredded services available. If not then check out the yellow pages as there are several licensed and bonded companies which will do this for you and guarantee security.