HEARD AROUND TOWN

HEARD AROUND TOWN: * New York City Council members Julissa Ferreras and Maria Del Carmen Arroyo are pushing for legislation aimed at improving the quality and transparency of the city's Office of Chief Medical Examiner. The office has been under scrutiny after an incident in which the body of an Irish man, Kevin Bell, 26, was picked up by the medical examiner's office van and placed next to a bag of recyclables. One of the proposed bills would amend the New York City charter and require an analysis of errors committed by the office, with the final report to be submitted to the mayor and City Council. The other bill would require guidelines and protocols to be posted online for the general public. At an oversight hearing on Monday, Arroyo, the chair of the Council Health Committee, raised the possibility of improving transparency voluntarily instead of being forced to through legislation. "Give me a reason not to pursue the legislation and help me inform the public better about the work that you do and that when you identify a problem that you're on top of it, that you're taking care of it," said Arroyo.