Milton is intensifying its efforts to reach non-English speaking residents through a new partnership between the Board of Health and the Equity and Justice for All Advisory Committee. During a Monday night meeting, a representative from the Equity and Justice Committee outlined a plan to assign permanent liaisons to town boards to ensure that diversity and inclusion goals are integrated into long-term policy. The goal is how can we each get better to bring more people into the fold, the representative said, noting that the committee’s work focuses on advancing equity for all citizens, especially people of color.

The Health Director noted that a recent year-and-a-half-long community health assessment identified inclusive communication as a primary strategy for the next five years. To address this, the department currently utilizes a dedicated language line for translation during three-way calls, a tool the Health Director described as essential for housing cases. The Mass in Motion Coordinator explained that the department is also collaborating with the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission on plain language training. We are writing at a ninth-grade level so it is primed for translation, the coordinator said, adding that essential documents like the food access guide have already been translated into multiple languages.

The focus on outreach comes as the department manages several high-profile property violations and a shifting business landscape. Legal action is imminent for the property at 333 Street, where a housing correction order requires violations to be repaired by April 20. They have until April 20th to repair violations or they'll be going to court, the Health Director warned. While windows are being replaced at 68 Smith Road, the board continues to monitor the stalled seven-unit townhouse development at 5-9 Thatcher Street, which remains under a formal order for pest control and site security. On a more positive note, new local businesses are moving into town, with Tres Leches Factory taking over the former Cooking with Stephanie space and Two Pence Market filing paperwork for a location in Lower Mills.

Staffing changes may impact the FY27 budget outlook, as Assistant Health Director Emily Connors recently resigned to accept a position in Needham offering higher pay and a more flexible schedule. The Health Director informed the board that current staff member Carolyn Ho has already applied for the vacancy. This turnover follows a period of heavy administrative work for the department, which handles significant daily volume. A staff member noted that the office receives at minimum two to five calls per day on less busy days regarding everything from septic forms to sharps disposal.

Member Mary Stenson praised the department's proactive engagement with the community, observing that the staff has quite a presence at community events. You've gone door-to-door, too. Chair Roxanne Musto highlighted the importance of using varied access points, noting that the public health nurse often works out of the library to reach residents. However, Musto raised concerns about the declining performance of town-run flu clinics. The Health Director reported a significant surplus of vaccine doses this year, attributing the decline to competition from private pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS, which receive their supplies as early as August and offer incentives that the town cannot match.