Ordered that the final order is affirmed, without costs or disbursements; and it is further,
Ordered that the order is affirmed insofar as appealed from, without costs or disbursements.
The Supreme Court properly denied the petition and dismissed the proceeding. Service was improperly made by the petitioner himself upon the respondents ( see CPLR 2103 [a]; Matter of Wein v. Thomas, 51 NY2d 862, 863). "The express provisions of CPLR 2103 (a) may not be ignored or overlooked any more than may the provisions of other statutes defining the methodology of service" ( Miller v. Bank of N.Y. [ Del.], 226 AD2d 507, 508).