What the Board of Health Is Responsible For?
The Board of Health has six key areas of responsibility:
-
Policy Development
Creates and updates local rules and regulations that help protect and improve public health—for example, tobacco sales restrictions or vaccination policies. -
Resource Stewardship
Makes sure the Health Department has the funding, staff, and tools it needs to do its job well. -
Legal Authority
Enforces public health laws and responds to situations like housing code violations, pest infestations, or unsafe food practices. -
Partner Engagement
Works with schools, nonprofits, health care providers, and other community partners to strengthen health efforts across town. -
Continuous Improvement
Uses data and feedback to track outcomes and improve programs, policies, and communication with the public. -
Oversight
Provides leadership and direction to the Health Department, making sure it stays focused, effective, and aligned with community needs.
Understanding the Milton Board of Health & Health Department
-
The Milton Board of Health (BOH) is made up of three elected members, each serving a three-year term.
-
The BOH oversees the Milton Health Department, which has a team of eight staff members, including a Health Director, Public Health Nurse, Social Worker, and others.
-
The Health Department is responsible for everything from restaurant and camp inspections, to tobacco sales regulation, to emergency preparedness and community health programs.
What Is Public Health, Really?
When people hear “public health,” they often think about health care—like going to the
doctor or getting treated in a hospital. But public health is something different.
While clinical care focuses on treating individuals, public health looks at the bigger picture—at whole communities and populations. Public health professionals ask questions like:
-
Why are asthma rates higher in one neighborhood than another?
-
How can we prevent youth from starting to vape or drink?
-
What programs will help older residents stay safe and connected at home?
-
Public health is about prevention, education, and systems that support wellness for everyone—not just after people get sick, but so they don’t get sick in the first place.
Good public health means:
-
Preventing disease before it starts
-
Promoting wellness at every stage of life
-
Responding to emergencies and emerging threats
-
Helping people make healthy choices and supporting them in doing so
When done well, public health is often invisible—because it’s working in the background to make everyday life safer, healthier, and more equitable for everyone.
What Does the Board of Health Do?
Many people in Milton don’t know much about the Board of Health (BOH)—unless they’ve had to deal with a septic system issue or run a food establishment. But the truth is, the Board of Health plays a crucial role in our town’s everyday well-being.
In an ideal world, the BOH should be highly visible, actively communicating with the public, and engaging the community in health promotion and disease prevention. It should be listening, educating, and leading conversations about the health issues that matter to residents.
Unfortunately, that hasn’t always been the case in Milton.
Deborah Milbauer is running to change that. With decades of experience in public health, Deborah believes the BOH should not just enforce regulations—it should help Milton become a healthier, more informed, and more connected community.
_JPG.jpg)