Vienna's Local Health Officer is an unpaid position, appointed by the Selectmen to answer questions regarding local health care services and community health.  The Health Officer also stays informed about public health concerns, and makes recommendations to the Board of Selectmen.

Betsy Bransky, Vienna's Local Health Officer has a life long interest in health related issues. She has a BS degree in Community Health Education and is nationally certified as a Health Education Specialist and Teacher of the Enneagram. She has worked as a group facilitator for a major weight loss company and is a Level II Reiki practitioner.  As a Wellness Coach, Betsy works with others to identify and set goals for a healthier and more fulfilling life. 

History of Local Health Officers

In 1885, the Legislature created the Maine State Board of Health, chaired by a paid full-time physician. The Board's role was primarily to coordinate Maine 's system of 490 local health officers and local boards of health as well as to assist them in outbreak control. Local Health Officers' duties have primarily been summarized as guarding “against the introduction of contagious and infectious diseases” in a municipality.

In 1917, the State Board of Health became the Maine Department of Health (which became the Department of Health and Welfare in 1931). Each town was still required to have a local health officer. Towns could also have a board of health, which was chaired by the health officer.

Experiences in Maine during the pandemic influenza of 1918 resulted in a number of statutory changes in early 1919. Under Maine law during the pandemic, the local boards of health had the authority to ban public gatherings and isolate people. In a number of cases, towns' boards of health in an area implemented these measures differently. For instance, sometimes a board became hostage to local political or business interests. As a result, when one town banned public gatherings, sometimes a neighboring town kept theaters and other gatherings open in order to improve its business climate.

The 1919 statutory changes included:

• The local boards of health and local health officers became under the direct control and supervision of the Commissioner of the Maine Department of Health.
• The Department of Health gained the authority to ban public gatherings and isolate people. Because of these two changes local boards and health officers did not have these authorities unless the Health Commissioner approved.
• One-third of local health officers' salaries were paid by the Department of Health if the Local Health Officer met certain professional requirements (public health related) and worked fulltime. Several towns could hire one Local Health Officer.

Over the years, a number of changes were made to Local Health Officer and Boards of Health statute. Today, Local Health Officers maintain a myriad of statutory duties, though many of them are redundant with Code Enforcement Officers' and other municipal duties, presumably in case one official is unavailable, there are others who can carry out the duties.

Local Health Officer (LHO) Report Executive Summary, 2006