KRS 212.790: District director of health -- Qualifications and authority -- Compensation

-- Removal procedure.

(1) The board shall appoint a district director of health for the department as set forth in

this section.

(2) The district director of health m ay be a physician, qualified as a public health

administrator and licensed or eligible for practice as a medical practitioner in the

Commonwealth of Kentucky, or may be a nonphysician with a minimum of a

master's degree in public health or a related field and at least five (5) years of

experience in a management capacity with a health department. The district director

of health shall receive an annual salary as prescribed by the board, subject to the

provisions of the department's merit system, and shall se rve at the pleasure of the

board. If the district director of health is removed by the board, he or she shall be

notified in writing, and within fourteen (14) days may make a written request for a

hearing. If no request is made, the removal shall become ef fective upon the

expiration of fourteen (14) days. If a request for hearing is made, the hearing shall

be held at the office of the department within fourteen (14) calendar days after the

request is received by the board. The district director of health sh all not be removed

until after a hearing has been held, and a decision rendered by the board. The board

decision shall be final.

(3) The district director of health shall serve as secretary to the board of health, the

chief administrative officer of the de partment, and may employ and fix

compensation of, by contract or otherwise, all employees necessary for the

maintenance and operation of the department in accordance with the merit system

as established by the board.