Cook County Board Proposes Elimination of the Medical Examiner Advisory Committee

Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting
January 16, 2020

Items of Interest Considered by the Board:

• An amendment to the Medical Examiner Ordinance that includes the elimination of the Medical Examiner Advisory Committee was referred to the Legislative and Intergovernmental Relations Committee. The Medical Examiner office is performing well relative to 2012 when there were a series of burial scandals and overcrowded coolers.  The office rarely has unclaimed cases over 90 days, and disposition of deceased persons is orderly and dignified.  Coms. Kevin Morrison and Daley were very complimentary of the high standard of performance.  (Agenda Item 20-0626)
• The Performance Management Ordinance Amendment was referred back to the Finance Committee to make sure that Cook County Health was included. (Agenda Item 20-1076)
• All the transportation expenditures were passed with many of the projects exceeding the Women and Minority Owned Business requirements.
• Com. Bridget Degnen asked what kind of cars the Sheriff was leasing, and wanted to make sure that whenever possible, the selection is hybrid cars, not full emission.  She is very interested in encouraging the County to become more sustainable. (Agenda Item 20-0018)
• The Cannabis ordinances were all passed with Coms. Silvestri, Degnen, Moore, and Sean Morrison voting present, in all cases regarding cannabis. 
• Com. Suffredin will revise the amendments to the Ordinance on the General Powers of the System Board to ensure that severance payments for Cook County Health (CCH) employees are in line with Illinois state law.  Comm. Suffredin discovered that there are several CCH employees with severances promised in excess of what is allowed by law.  All commissioners were added as co-sponsors and the item was referred to the Health and Hospitals Committee.  (Agenda Item 20-1229)

 Amy Little, observer