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:
A. 
Be trained to investigate causes of death and order autopsies;
B. 
Conduct community education as prescribed by the New York State Department of Health.