There shall be four (4) Coroners who shall be elected from the
County at large. Their terms of office shall be four (4) years, beginning
with January 1 following their election. At the time of the election
of a Coroner and throughout her term of office she shall be a qualified
elector of the County and hold no other public office. Commencing
January 1, 1995, she shall not hold the position of chair, vice chair,
secretary or treasurer of a County political party committee. She
shall have been a resident of the County continuously for at least
one (1) year preceding her election. The compensation of the Coroner
shall not be increased nor decreased during her term of office.
The Coroners shall have and exercise all powers and duties now
or hereafter conferred or imposed upon coroners by any applicable
law and perform such other and related duties as shall be required
or delegated to them by the County Legislature.
[Added 10-12-2004 by L.L.
No. 1-2004, approved 10-28-2004]
A vacancy, other than one occurring by expiration of a term
in the office of a County Coroner, shall be filled by appointment
of a qualified elector of the County by the County Legislature within
forty-five (45) days from the time the vacancy occurs. The appointee
shall hold office by virtue of her appointment until the January 1
following the next general election, at which election a County Coroner
shall be elected for the balance of the unexpired term, if any. Any
successor who shall be so appointed or elected shall possess all of
the qualifications required for the office of County Coroner as set
forth in this Charter.
[Added 8-8-2016 by L.L.
No. 7-2016, approved 11-8-2016, effective 1-1-2017]
Within two (2) years of taking office, a person elected as Coroner
must become certified as a death investigator by an accredited association
or body legally authorized to issue such certification and approved
by the County Legislature. Such two (2) year period may be extended
by vote of the County Legislature for up to six (6) months. Failure
to become certified shall be cause for removal from office by the
County Legislature. A person so removed shall be ineligible for election
to such office unless and until she has become certified as set forth
above.