[Amended 5-14-2024 by L.L. No. 2-2024]
A. 
There shall be a Department of Health, headed by a Commissioner of Health or a Public Health Director and Medical Consultant. The Commissioner of Health or Public Health Director shall meet the qualifications for this position specified in the New York State Public Health Law and Sanitary Code. They shall be appointed by the County Executive in consultation with the Board of Health and subject to confirmation by the County Legislature and serve at the County Executive's pleasure, except that if either the Commissioner of Health or Public Health Director is appointed for a fixed term of years pursuant to a provision of state law, they may only be removed for cause after written notice of charges and an opportunity to be heard.
B. 
Powers and duties. Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, the Commissioner of Health or Public Health Director shall have and exercise all the powers and duties conferred or imposed upon county or part-county health commissioners and upon county or part-county boards of health by the Public Health Law or any other law, except as otherwise provided by this Charter. They shall perform such other and related duties required by the County Executive or County Legislature, and shall be vested with authority, direction and control over the Department of Health, including power to appoint and remove officers and employees within the department.
C. 
Reports. On or before March 1 of each year, the Commissioner of Health or the Public Health Director shall make an annual report to the County Legislature and County Executive for the immediately preceding calendar year covering generally the work of their department. The Commissioner or Director shall make such other reports at such times as may be required by the County Legislature, County Executive, New York State Department of Health or any other applicable law. Copies of all reports shall be filed with the Clerk of the County Legislature and the County Executive.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Charter § C-41.
[Amended 5-14-2024 by L.L. No. 2-2024]
A. 
The Commissioner of Health or the Public Health Director shall have the power to appoint one or more Deputy Commissioners of Health or Deputy Public Health Directors, within the limits of appropriations therefor. Every appointment shall be in writing and filed in the Office of the County Clerk and the Clerk of the Legislature.
B. 
The term of office of any deputy appointed hereunder shall coincide with that of the Commissioner of Health or the Public Health Director, provided that such appointment may be revoked at any time by the Commissioner or the Director by written revocation filed with the County Clerk. All positions of Deputy Commissioner or Deputy Director may be in the exempt class of civil service; or in the alternative, the deputy may also be an additional title which may be designated by the Commissioner or the Director for a department staff member.
C. 
Deputy Commissioners or Deputy Directors shall perform such duties pertaining to the office of the Department of Health as the Commissioner or the Director may direct and shall act generally for and in such place of the Commissioner or Director and perform such other and further duties as the Commissioner or Director may assign.
D. 
The designation of an order of succession for the position of Deputy Commissioner or Deputy Director shall be filed with the County Clerk and the Clerk of the County Legislature and may be revoked at any time by the Commissioner or Director filing a new written designation of order of succession.
E. 
Should the Deputy so designated by the Commissioner of Health or Public Health Director not be a licensed physician, and should the Commissioner of Health or Public Health Director resign, die or certify in writing and filed with the County Clerk a statement that they are unable to perform and/or exercise the powers and duties of the office, or should they be removed from office, then the County Executive, in consultation with the Board of Health and with confirmation by the County Legislature, shall appoint a qualified replacement as soon as practicable.
[Amended 8-19-2025 by L.L. No. 11-2025]
A. 
Appointment. There shall be a Board of Health consisting of seven members who shall be appointed by the County Executive for a term of five years, subject to confirmation by the Legislature. Of the seven members appointed to the Board of Health, one member shall be a member of the Legislature appointed by the Ulster County Legislature. At least one member shall be a physician licensed to practice in the State of New York. Two members shall be a physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or any combination thereof, licensed to practice in the State of New York. One member, who shall represent the City of Kingston, shall be selected from among three nominees submitted to the County Executive by the Mayor of the City of Kingston. Members of the Board of Health shall be residents of the County of Ulster or a resident of a contiguous county who has a background in a health-related field and performs other substantial work within the health district associated with their health-related background. If a vacancy shall occur other than by expiration of a term, it shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term in the same manner as specified in this subsection. The members of the County Health Board shall select the Chair of that Board for a term of one year. No member of the Board of Health shall serve for more than two consecutive terms. Members of the Board of Health shall receive no compensation for services rendered but shall be entitled to their reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, within appropriations made for such purposes.
B. 
Powers and duties. The Board of Health shall exercise all the powers and perform duties of local boards of health as provided for under state law, including the Public Health Law of the State of New York, except as otherwise provided in the Charter. The Board of Health shall advise the Commissioner of Health or Public Health Director, the County Executive and the Legislature in matters relating to the Department of Health. The members of the Board of Health shall further have the power to inspect and review all facilities and programs of the Department of Health, with or without notice to the Commissioner of Health or Public Health Director, and as it regards as necessary and desirable may report and make recommendations to the County Executive, the County Legislature and Commissioner of Health or Public Health Director. All such reports shall be public records, posted on the website of the County government and made available for inspection at the offices of the Commissioner of Health or Public Health Director and the County Executive at all reasonable times. The Board of Health shall also advise and consult with respect to all capital projects necessary for the Department of Health. The Board of Health shall have and exercise such other and related duties required by the Legislature or the County Executive.
C. 
The Board of Health shall keep minutes of all meetings, including the date and time of meeting and Board members in attendance. The original of said minutes shall be filed with the Clerk of the Legislature as soon as possible, but not to exceed 10 business days after the next regular Board meeting at which the minutes were reviewed and accepted. The Clerk of the Legislature or his or her designee shall maintain an official record of the Board's agenda items. This official record shall include the disposition of each agenda item, including individual votes of each Board member on each item.
D. 
Sanitary Code. Any Sanitary Code now in force or hereafter adopted by the Board of Health and any amendment to such Sanitary Code shall be published and filed in the manner and places required by the Public Health Law and any other applicable law. Before adopting any amendment to the Sanitary Code, the Board of Health shall cause notice of a public hearing thereon to be published in the official news papers once a week for two publications, and at least 20 days shall elapse from the first publication to the date of the hearing. The notice shall contain an abstract statement of the proposed amendment and give the time and place of such hearing. On or before the date of the first publication of the proposed amendment, copies thereof shall be filed with the Clerk of the Legislature, the County Executive, the Clerk of each city, town and village in Ulster County and in the office of the Commissioner of Health or Public Health Director and be open to inspection by the public. Such County Sanitary Code and any amendments thereto shall also be filed in the Ulster County Clerk's office.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Charter § C-42.
[Amended 5-14-2024 by L.L. No. 2-2024]
The Health Department shall assure the provision of medical examiner services that promote the public health by or under the supervision of qualified Medical Examiner(s), accountable to the Commissioner of Public Health or Public Health Director. The Medical Examiner shall be appointed by the County Executive, on the advice of the Commissioner of Health or Public Health Director, for a term of four years, subject to confirmation by the Legislature. They shall be a physician duly licensed to practice their profession in the State of New York and shall:
A. 
Be trained to investigate causes of death and order autopsies;
B. 
Conduct community education as prescribed by the New York State Department of Health.
C. 
Perform all duties which are now required, or which hereafter may be required by law, of the Medical Examiner. In addition thereto, the Medical Examiner shall perform such additional and related duties involving the exercise of professional skills and training as may be prescribed by the County Executive and District Attorney.
D. 
Keep such records and reports as are required by the provisions of § 677 of the County Law. Such records shall be open to inspection by the District Attorney of the County at any time and to other persons as provided for in § 677, Paragraph 3(B), of the County Law.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Charter § C-43.