Salem Health Department begins issuing death certificates again

SALEM – The Salem City Health District has resumed certifying death certificates.

“People can come see us right away, normal business hours Monday through Friday, we’re up and running and ready to help them again,” said Health Commissioner Kayla Crowl.

The city was unable to certify death certificates for the 16-days from April 2 through April 18, following former Registrar of Vital Statistics Terri Hunter’s departure on April 1, and the arrival of the new stamp required for Interim Registrar of Vital Statistics Rachel Bowens to certify the certificates on Friday.

Hunter left the department after a request to reduce her hours from three days to a single day each week was denied by the board of health in a special meeting March 1. At that time Dickey, who chairs the board by virtue of her position as mayor explained that Hunter’s resignation had been contingent upon the requested reduction in hours, which the board felt was not sufficient to meet the department’s needs.

“The resignation tendered was contingent upon a change in the hours to one day a week, and the board did not feel that was going to meet [the department’s] needs,” said Dickey.

In preparation for Hunter’s departure the board named Bowens, who was the deputy registrar of Vital Statistics and outreach coordinator, as interim registrar of Vital Statistics until a new permanent registrar could be found in March 28 special meeting. However, Dickey explained Monday that while the appointment was official and confirmed with the state, the city still had to order a new stamp for Bowens which could not be ordered until after the appointment; and while Dickey worked with the supplier to expedite the stamp’s arrival, ultimately the department was forced to wait.

Crowl said that Bowens had been putting the stamp to use since its arrival Friday afternoon, contacting individuals who had been unable to get their certificates certified while the stamp was in transit to notify them of its arrival.

“Several people have come back in and gotten their documents certified already,” said Crowl.

Crowl also said that Bowens would be staying until 5 p.m. Friday, an hour after the department’s typical closing time to certify as many as possible.