Northern Bristol County Public Health Alliance offers regional public health specialist role, outlines FY26 expectations

The Northern Bristol County Public Health Alliance offered its Regional Public Health Specialist (PHS) position to Sydney Garilli and outlined priorities for the coming fiscal year during a virtual meeting on July 1.

Erika Syokau of BME Strategies told the advisory board that Garilli will begin work on Aug. 11 at an annual salary of $65,000, a figure set by a board vote on June 11. Syokau said she will meet with each municipality to identify where the PHS should focus support, including completion of municipal health assessments, MAVEN disease-reporting tracking, maternal and family health work, and planning community events and programs.

The board reviewed a recap of FY25 accomplishments, noting that the alliance hired two staff members and offered the third position (the PHS) to a candidate. Members also reported participation in multiple trainings — mental health first aid, the MHOA and MAPHN conferences, crisis prevention intervention training and health-equity training — and said the alliance hosted nursing check-ins and attended community events, including a Juneteenth event in Attleboro. The group reported completion of an IMA and strategic planning, completion of FPHS data collection across all member towns, and submission of all FY26 documents to the Department of Public Health for review.

Syokau laid out FY26 expectations for regional staff and the Shared Service Coordinator: triannual updates on strategic-planning progress, bi-monthly work-plan updates, and triannual spending progress reports from the SSC. She said the advisory board should attend monthly coalition meetings (first Tuesday at 10 a.m.), approve purchases and trainings, and complete a feedback form intended to guide priorities.

Municipal updates covered local tools and responsibilities: Berkley reported that an iPad is used by Cliff and that Sharon Jamison has a scanner available; Dighton requested access to shared software; Taunton said Housing Code Pro is not currently in use. Syokau said she will send license updates to Michael Hicks and follow up with North Attleborough. Syokau also requested that municipalities provide Cliff with inspection assignments; Cliff will spend full days in each town and will be tasked with building internal inspection trackers, tracking trainings and cross-training staff, and leading a hoarding task force.

Board members were reminded to complete a strategic-planning activity in Canva by July 14. BME will send the Canva link, provide Relavent updates to Michael Hicks, schedule meetings with each municipality to discuss PHS support needs, and complete T3 reporting; member towns were asked to schedule follow-up meetings with Syokau.

The board handled routine business at the start and end of the meeting: Geri Hamel motioned to call the meeting to order at 10:06 a.m.; Sharon Jamison seconded. Elizabeth Moreira moved to accept the June 11 minutes; Sheri Miller-Bedau seconded and the minutes were approved by roll call vote of five of six voting members. Sheri Miller-Bedau moved to adjourn at 10:35 a.m.; Moreira seconded and adjournment was approved by roll call.