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.