HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2016.04.21 - 22315MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #I6100 April 21, 2016
BY: Public Services Committee, Bill Dwyer, Chairperson
IN RE: PUBLIC SERVICES/MEDICAL EXAMINER OFFICE — POSITION CHANGES AND FEE
REALLOCATION
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS the Medical Examiner Office has experienced a steady increase in cases involving autopsies,
investigative services and additional laboratory testing; and
WHEREAS the number of overall cases seen by the County's Medical Examiner Office has increased
46% since 2007; and
WHEREAS the position of the Chief Forensic Toxicologist (position #1070601-00935) has been vacant
since April 2013, due to a lack of qualified candidates available within the country, despite the Human
Resources Department assisting the Medical Examiner Office in modifications to salary and qualifications
to attract candidates; and
WHEREAS due to the long-term vacancy, the Medical Examiner Office has subcontracted consultative
toxicology services to an outside, County approved vendor to ensure that no loss in services occurred;
and
WHEREAS funding from this vacancy has been transferred on an annual basis to the Laboratory Fees
line item in order to cover these services; and
WHEREAS the laboratory fees have been increasing yearly due to demand and a rise in contracted
service costs; and
WHEREAS the retirement eligibility of two (2) higher ranked positions within the division will create a need
for a succession plan; and
WHEREAS under this succession plan, the Medical Examiner Office proposes to create one (1) Full-Time
Eligible Deputy Forensic Pathologist position within the Medical Examiner Administration unit (#1070601)
in order to create the opportunity for a board certified Forensic Pathologist to gain the work-related
experience needed to assume leadership in the future; and
WHEREAS the Medical Examiner Office proposes to delete one (1) vacant Full-Time Eligible Chief
Forensic Toxicologist position (#1070601-00935) and one (1) Part-Time Non-Eligible 1,000 hours per
year Deputy Forensic Pathologist position (#1070601-10903) in order to contribute to the cost of the
changes; and
WHEREAS the number of deaths within the County requiring investigative services has increased
approximately 17% since 2008; and
WHEREAS this increase has created additional demand on the Medical Examiner Investigators positions;
and
WHEREAS the division has been under-filling a Full-Time Eligible Medical Examiner Investigator position
(#1070601-002722) with two (2) Part-Time Non-Eligible Medical Examiner Investigators since 2010; and
WHEREAS the Medical Examiner Office proposes to create one (1) Part-Time Non-Eligible 1,000 hours
per year Medical Examiner Investigator position within the Medical Examiner Administration unit
(#1070601); and
WHEREAS this would allow the division to fill their existing Full-Time Eligible position as budgeted; and
WHEREAS the modifications to existing positions will help to offset the cost of the succession plan and
continuing laboratory fees; and
WHEREAS the Laboratory Fees budget will be increased to include consultative toxicology services
currently provided by contract; and
WHEREAS the Medical Examiner Office has seen an increase in the number of cremation permits sold,
which will provide additional revenue and partially offset the additional costs; and
WHEREAS the balance of funding needed to cover the remaining costs is available from the Emergency
Salary Reserve Account.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Commissioners approves to delete one (1)
GF/GP funded Chief Forensic Toxicologist position (#1070601-00935).
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED to delete one (1) GF/GP funded Part-Time Non-Eligible 1,000 hours
Deputy Forensic Pathologist position (#1070601-10903).
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED to create one (1) GF/GP funded Full-Time Eligible Deputy Forensic
Pathologist within the Medical Examiner Administration unit (#1070601).
BE IT FUTHER RESOLVED to create one (1) GF/GP funded Part-Time Non-Eligible 1,000 hours per year
Medical Examiner Investigator within the Medical Examiner Administration unit (#1070601).
PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE
Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
Chairperson, on behalf of the Public Services Committee, I move the adoption of the foregoing resolution.
PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE
Resolution #16100 April 21, 2016
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the Human Resources Committee and the Finance
Committee. There were no objections.