Committee approves forwarding MSU-backed appointments for county medical examiner roles
Summary
The committee approved recommending to the board appointments of Dr. Fisher Hubbard (chief medical examiner) and Dr. Kostelecki (deputy) tied to a contract with Michigan State University, noting the deputy serves at the chief's will while the chief holds a four-year term.
The committee voted to forward a resolution appointing Dr. Fisher Hubbard as chief medical examiner and Dr. Kostelecki as deputy chief medical examiner for four-year terms beginning Oct. 1, 2026, tied to a contract with Michigan State University (MSU) to provide forensic pathologists. Staff explained the county will contract with MSU for services and appoint the individual physicians under that contract.
A staff member explained the statutory titles and market realities: "The chief medical examiner here is doctor Fisher Hubbard. He has a 4 year term. Now he has a contractual relationship with MSU, and if he leaves MSU, he must resign as the Ottawa County chief medical examiner because MSU has the contract for his services." The deputy position, the staffer said, has no statutory term and generally serves at the chief's will but must be appointed by the board.
Committee members raised technical questions about statutory titles and whether the resolution text should reflect MSU's contractual role; staff said the contract with MSU has already been ratified and the appointment is the formal administrative step.
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