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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE COUNTIES OF BERGEN, HUDSON, AND PASSAIC FOR THE SHARED SERVICES OF A JOINT MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE
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WHEREAS, the County of Passaic (“County”) is a body politic and corporate pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:18-1 and vested with all rights contained therein; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:20-1, the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Passaic (“Board”) is vested with managing the property, finances, and affairs of the County; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 26:6B-9, each county is required to appoint a county medical examiner; and
WHEREAS, the Uniform Shared Services and Consolidation Act (N.J.S.A. 40A:65-1, et seq.) authorizes local units such as the County to enter into an agreement with any other local unit or units to provide or receive any service that each local unit participating in the agreement is empowered to provide or receive within its own jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, the County is currently a party to a shared services agreement between the Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner (“OCSME”) and the Counties of Essex, Hudson, Passaic, and Somerset, authorized by the Board on November 16, 2020 in Resolution No. R20200946 (“OCSME Agreement”), pursuant to which OSCME established the Northern Regional Medical Examiner Office to provide county medical examiner services to the participating counties; and
WHEREAS, in order to ensure the timely receipt of cost-effective county medical examiner services, the County wishes to withdraw from the OCSME Agreement and enter into the attached Memorandum of Understanding, which obligates the Counties of Bergen, Hudson, and Passaic to enter into a new shared services agreement under which Bergen County will provide county medical examiner services to the Counties of Passaic and Hudson following their withdrawal from the OCSME Agreement; and
WHEREAS, this matter was discussed at the November 26, 2025 Health & Human Services Committee meeting, and is being recommended to the Board for approval.
NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:20-1, the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Passaic hereby authorizes a Memorandum of Understanding between the Counties of Bergen, Hudson, and Passaic, attached to and made a part of this Resolution, which obligates the County to negotiate and enter into a new shared services agreement with the Counties of Bergen and Hudson, under which Bergen County will provide county medical examiner services to the Counties of Passaic and Hudson following their withdrawal from the current OCSME Agreement.
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County shall provide notice to the OCSME of the County’s intent to withdraw from the OCSME Agreement, in accordance with the terms of such agreement.
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Board, County Counsel, County Administrator, and Director of the Board are authorized to take any action necessary to carry out the purpose of this Resolution.
NB December 9, 2025