The Ulster County Health, Human Services and Human Rights Committee on May 8 confirmed the appointment of Margaret M. Bridal as Ulster County medical examiner and approved a short contract amendment to continue the county’s existing agreement with Westchester Medical Center while the transition is completed.

Health Department director and staff told the committee that Dr. Bridal has served as a forensic pathologist through Westchester Medical Center and the county’s long‑standing contract with Westchester will remain in place for a short period to avoid a service gap while the county moves to place Dr. Bridal on county payroll.

“Now we’ll be able to have her on our payroll,” the director said, and that the change would allow the county to operate with a medical examiner who is also a forensic pathologist and reduce duplicative staffing costs.

Committee members approved resolution 2‑29 confirming the appointment (moved by Legislator Collins, seconded by Legislator Harmon) and then approved resolution 2‑30 authorizing a contract amendment to extend services from Westchester Medical Center until the payroll and confirmation process is complete. Staff described the timing as administrative: the current Westchester contract ends at month end and the amendment creates “a couple of months” of wiggle room so there is no gap in forensic pathology services.

Actions recorded: Res. 2‑29 (confirm appointment of Margaret M. Bridal as medical examiner) moved by Legislator Collins, seconded by Legislator Harmon; outcome: approved. Res. 2‑30 (contract amendment with Westchester Medical Center to extend services temporarily) was presented and approved in committee.

Committee context: staff said the move creates a county medical examiner’s office with an on‑payroll forensic pathologist and is intended to maintain continuity of death‑investigation services during the administrative transition.