Saratoga County appoints first-ever director of Environmental Health

Jun. 10—BALLSTON SPA — Saratoga County took a major step this week in its transition from a partial health service county to a full-service local health department with the appointment of Brian M. Miner, of Halfmoon, as the county's first-ever director of Environmental Health at the County's Department of Health.

Saratoga County officials announced the appointment on June 9.

Miner will help lead the county's work in forming a Division of Environmental Services as the county's Public Health Services department becomes a full-service local Department of Health, according to a county news release.

Due to Saratoga County's population increase, the county must assume responsibility for the provision of environmental health services from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), and the county is working directly with the state during the transition, according to the news release.

"It is a major undertaking to to provide a full-service county health department," Miner said by phone Friday, citing the volume of staff that will be required to operate it. "Right now we're laying the groundwork. We're going to start doing some hiring, and hopefully over the next year or two we'll see this really start to take off. We're looking to provide quality environmental health services to the people of Saratoga County, and that's the main goal here."

Miner has more than 36 years of experience as a public health leader. Most recently, he served as the director of the New York State Department of Health Bureau of Community Environmental Health and Food Protection, where he oversaw multiple statewide environmental health programs, according to the release. He's been responsible for developing regulations, policies and procedures; planning and monitoring program effectiveness; measuring program performance; and providing guidance and reporting on a wide range of important public health initiatives and programs, the release states. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Health with a minor in Biology from SUNY Cortland.

"As we work cooperatively with New York State to develop a Division of Environmental Health, we take a significant step forward by welcoming Brian Miner as director of Environmental Services," Clifton Park Town Supervisor Phil Barrett, and chair of the Public Health Advisory Task Force, said in a statement. "Brian brings a wealth of experience in the public health field, which will be invaluable as we develop Saratoga County's first environmental health program."

Dr. Daniel Kuhles, Saratoga County Commissioner of Health said in a statement, "Having previously worked together with Brian for a decade at the NYSDOH, I know first-hand that his expertise and professionalism is unsurpassed, and it will ensure that the county's Environmental Health programs are the best in the state."

According to the county, the Department of Health'sDivision of Environmental Health will enforce the State Sanitary Code and regulate and/or operate the following programs:

— Cooling Towers for Legionella

— Drinking Water Supplies

— Food Service Establishments and Community Sanitation

— Nuisance Control

— Swimming Pools & Bathing Beaches

— Temporary Residences, Mass Gatherings & Children's Camps

— Migrant Farmworker Housing

— Mobile Home Parks

— Ionizing Radiation

— Realty Subdivisions

— Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

— Individual water and sewage systems (e.g., wells and septic tanks)

As director of Environmental Health, Miner will work with Kuhles to plan, direct and supervise these programs, and with the Board of Supervisors, Health Committee and Public Health Advisory Task Force to establish the Division of Environmental Services, according to the county.

The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors created its Public Health Advisory Task Force in 2021 to oversee the county's transition from a partial health service county to a full-service local health department.

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