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. In addition, he or she shall be a licensed
physician with experience in public health. He or she shall be appointed
by the County Executive in consultation with the Board of Health and
with confirmation by the County Legislature and serve at his or her
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, he or she 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. He or she shall
perform such other and related duties required by the County Executive.
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,
except that of the members first appointed to the Board of Health
following adoption of this Charter, two members shall hold office
for the term of one year, two members for the term of two years, one
member for the term of three years, one member for the term of four
years, and one member for the term of five years from and after their
appointment. Two members shall be physicians. One member shall be
a licensed health care professional who is not a physician. One member
shall be selected from among three nominees submitted to the County
Executive by the Mayor of the City of Kingston. 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 Chairman 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 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.
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.
He or she shall be a physician duly licensed to practice his or her
profession in the State of New York and shall:
