One is how he thinks other people see him:
Mario
The other is how he really is:
Scrooge
Come to think of it, either way he's right. A greedy man or a cartoon character.
Mario
Scrooge
Come to think of it, either way he's right. A greedy man or a cartoon character.
Walker seeks to halt pathologist exodus Emergency measures intended to prevent autopsy backlog
ReplyDeleteBy STEVE SCHULTZE
sschultze@journalsentinel.com
Posted: March 12, 2008
Faced with resignations of two of Milwaukee County's four pathologists - and fearing an exodus of the remaining two - Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker has agreed to emergency measures to avoid a backlog of autopsies.
He's urging swift action in searching for replacements for Jeffrey Jentzen, the recently retired county medical examiner, as well as Assistant Medical Examiner Russell Alexander.
Jentzen retired last month after 22 years, and Alexander was offered the top job. But Alexander abruptly announced his resignation instead and will take a post in Baltimore with the Maryland state medical examiner's office.
Fearing discontent over pay for the positions, Walker said he'll likely agree to pay more than the $220,000 Jentzen got for a new medical examiner because of a national shortage of experienced pathologists. Jentzen was the highest-paid county employee.
In addition, Walker said he is bumping the pay of the remaining staff pathologists to about $175,000, a raise of more than $25,000. That will increase their salaries to the national average for those jobs, Walker said. He's also drafted retired county pathologist Alan Stormo for temporary duty as acting medical examiner.
That's a switch from a move by Walker's administration in 2004, when the top pay for new hires in the medical examiner's office was chopped by nearly $60,000 to just over $146,000.
Walker latest moves come after warnings from the medical examiner's office and Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm that fast action was necessary to avoid an autopsy backlog, which could slow down homicide prosecutions and pose public health risks.
"Without contracting for emergency support from area forensic pathologists, the Milwaukee County medical examiner's office will be unable to provide critical services required by state statute," a letter from the medical examiner's office to Walker and the County Board states. If the extra help isn't secured, it could lead to delays in autopsies, cremations and burials, the letter says.
It also could jeopardize public safety by hobbling prosecutions, the letter says.
A potential backlog also "would take an emotional toll on the citizens of this county at what is often the time of their greatest need," the letter says. It was written by Karen Domagalski, operations manager for the office.
The County Board's Finance and Audit Committee today will review the request for an emergency declaration for hiring new pathologists.
Alexander declined to comment on his reasons for leaving, except to say his new job was a better opportunity personally and professionally. The Maryland job will pay Alexander about $150,000, according to the medical examiner's office in that state. That's about $75,000 less than he would have gotten had he accepted the Milwaukee post.
Jentzen said Alexander had been concerned about the pay levels for assistant medical examiners. Alexander sent his resignation letter March 5, a week before Walker decided to raise the assistants' pay.
Walker also is proposing hiring an additional forensic investigator for the office, for about $48,000 a year.
In addition, the county is canceling its contract with Ozaukee County for autopsy services, as well as a contract with the Medical College of Wisconsin for pathology instruction and two smaller contracts so the remaining staff can focus on the autopsy caseload. The contract cancellations mean a loss of about $158,000 in revenue for the county this year.