NEW YORK — The former elevator director for the New York City Housing Authority who was demoted after a malfunctioning lift in The Bronx killed an 84-year-old man is still signing off on its elevator inspections and repairs, according to the agency.
Ken Buny was officially demoted from director of elevators to elevator administrator following an accident at NYCHA's Boston Road Plaza senior building in December that killed 84-year-old Olegario Pabon.
Pabon entered the elevator in the senior building on Dec. 24, but it drifted upward as he tried to get on, catching his leg and hand.
The malfunction caused him to fall out, and he died of his injuries three days later.
A scathing report from the Department of Investigation found that NYCHA had done nothing to repair the malfunctioning elevator until days after Pabon's accident, and NYCHA disciplined several employees after the report came out, including Buny, who was relieved of his duties and replaced with Interim Director of Elevator Services Ivo Nikolic.
However, Buny is still signing off on the agency's elevator inspections and repairs, because neither Nikolic, nor any other NYCHA employee is licensed to do so, according to NYCHA spokeswoman Zodet Negrón.
"In order to comply with DOB regulations, NYCHA requires an Agency Director License to sign off on inspections, repairs and permits to return elevators to service, which Mr. Buny currently holds," Negrón said in an email.
The agency is searching for a new permanent director of elevator services with the licensing authority to sign off on repairs, a position that they hope to fill as soon as possible. Once they hire the new permanent director, Buny will no longer sign off on repairs, according to the spokeswoman.
NYCHA stressed that Nikolic was still in charge of the agency's elevator division and was responsible for overseeing staff and making decisions, while Buny no longer has a supervisory role or any employees reporting to him.
However, until they hire a new permanent director, Buny will continue to sign off on the agency's elevator repairs, as NYCHA would be unable to put elevators back into service without him.
Buny and Nikolic did not respond to requests for comment.
Pabon's family plans to sue the city for $5 million over the fatal accident, according to records. Their lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.
