Argued September 11, 1991 Decided October 22, 1991 Appeal from the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in the Third Judicial Department, Lawrence E. Kahn, J. J. Scott Greer and Lou Lewis for appellants in proceeding No. 1. Martin S. Kaufman, Douglas Foster and Malcolm Wilson for appellants in proceeding No. 2. Lou Lewis, Michael J. Englert and Kenneth F. Peshkin for appellants in proceeding No. 3. Jacob M. Lewis, Stephen A. Wakefield, Marc Johnston, Percy H. Russell, Jr., Stuart M. Gerson, Frederick
April 11, 1985 Appeal from the Supreme Court, New York County, William P. McCooe, J. Murray A. Gordon of counsel ( Gordon, Shechtman Gordon, P.C., attorneys), for appellants. Joan E. Handler of counsel ( Francis F. Caputo with her on the brief; Frederick A.O. Schwarz, Jr., Corporation Counsel, attorney), for respondents. MILONAS, J. At the time of the commencement of this CPLR article 78 proceeding, petitioners all held the title of Deputy Chief of the New York City Fire Department, a position which