Oneida Co. Board of Legislators approve Medical Examiner's contract
By: Chelsea Rarrick
Updated: December 12, 2012
The Oneida County Board of Legislators has approved a contract with Onondaga County regarding it's Medical Examiner's Office.
The contract allows the Onondaga County Medical Examiner's Office to serve as Oneida County's Examiner.
Throughout the last several months, there has been a lot of deliberation and discussion by the board.
After giving their final opinions on Wednesday afternoon, the vote passed 24-5.
"That means Onondaga serves as The Oneida County Medical Examiner in terms of investigations, autopsy's, forensic reporting," said Oneida County Executive, Anthony Picente.
While the vote passed, Minority Leader, Frank Tallarino says he's not in favor of moving the services out of Oneida County.
"We have the situation where there will be cost charges to the families and an added cost to taxpayers that you wouldn't incur if you were doing this inside of Oneida County," said Tallarino.
Legislator Ronald Townsend admits he wasn't really in favor of it all when he first heard of the contract, but after learning more, he says he's happy to see it move forward.
"We met with different doctors and this is the right system. It is going to work great for Oneida County and that's our main concern, that it works right and the people are taken care of," he said.
Mr. Picente says they do still have to negotiate transportation arrangements, which is a separate contract that will be dealt with in the next week or so.
He also says the Onondaga Board of Legislators has to vote on the contract, and everything is set to go into effect on January 1st.
The contract allows the Onondaga County Medical Examiner's Office to serve as Oneida County's Examiner.
Throughout the last several months, there has been a lot of deliberation and discussion by the board.
After giving their final opinions on Wednesday afternoon, the vote passed 24-5.
"That means Onondaga serves as The Oneida County Medical Examiner in terms of investigations, autopsy's, forensic reporting," said Oneida County Executive, Anthony Picente.
While the vote passed, Minority Leader, Frank Tallarino says he's not in favor of moving the services out of Oneida County.
"We have the situation where there will be cost charges to the families and an added cost to taxpayers that you wouldn't incur if you were doing this inside of Oneida County," said Tallarino.
Legislator Ronald Townsend admits he wasn't really in favor of it all when he first heard of the contract, but after learning more, he says he's happy to see it move forward.
"We met with different doctors and this is the right system. It is going to work great for Oneida County and that's our main concern, that it works right and the people are taken care of," he said.
Mr. Picente says they do still have to negotiate transportation arrangements, which is a separate contract that will be dealt with in the next week or so.
He also says the Onondaga Board of Legislators has to vote on the contract, and everything is set to go into effect on January 1st.
