Committee tables request for additional autopsy assistant at medical examiner’s office

The Orange County Legislature’s Personnel & Compensation Committee on March 17 tabled for 30 days a request from the Health Department/Medical Examiner to create one additional autopsy assistant position, citing a need for in-person testimony from the medical examiner and additional information about caseload and duties.

The department’s submission described the requested grade 11, step 2 position (CSCA entry rate $29.68 per hour; $61,736.90 annually) as necessary because the county’s new medical examiner facility is larger and “the number of students who are coming to the medical examiner’s office has increased,” and the assistants perform back-of-house cleaning and operate an X‑ray machine. The packet identified the item as legislative request number 059.

Committee members pressed present staff for more detail on workload and training. A staff presenter said the office received 406 cases that were brought to the medical examiner’s office last year and that the office investigated 994 cases overall. Several legislators said they wanted the medical examiner to appear in person before approving the additional position; one legislator said they would vote no on any staffing requests until the medical examiner attends a meeting in person.

After discussion, a motion to table the request for 30 days passed with the committee; a second was recorded and the chair announced the motion carried. The chair also noted the item will advance to the Health and Mental Health committee the following day; committee members said a no vote here would signal the medical examiner should attend that meeting.

The tabling preserves the department’s request for future consideration and gives legislators time to obtain the medical examiner’s in-person explanation of the operational need, case mix and training requirements. The packet indicated the requested position was included in the submitted budget.

Committee members also discussed use of per‑diem autopsy assistants and whether one of those per‑diems was proposed to be converted to a full-time hire; the presenters said per‑diem staff are used chiefly to cover absences or high-volume periods rather than routine cleaning duties. Several legislators asked for clearer documentation of duties, the training required, and whether existing per‑diem coverage could meet the need.

The item was recorded as tabled for 30 days; the committee asked staff to request the medical examiner attend the next meeting and to provide additional written clarifications about case counts, duties and training.