New Brewster Health Director Sticks To The Status Quo

BREWSTER – Daniel Syriala took over the health director role on June 30, but that doesn’t mean residents should expect big changes anytime soon.

“We’re not looking to really do anything differently,” said Syriala during a phone interview Aug. 18. “I’m still learning my way around town and meeting all the different folks, but I wouldn’t tell you I’m going to make any big changes to start.” 

Syriala has worked in public health since 2012, when he was a sanitary inspector in Taunton. His role included public education, sample collection, reporting and conducting routine commercial and residential inspections. As an inspector with a passion for environmental health, he said he enjoyed getting to meet people around town during onsite inspections and work with other departments to accomplish different goals. 

By 2022, Syriala had found a job in Taunton working as a septic plan agent and then the primary septic inspector. His previous role as a housing inspector enabled him to learn a variety of different inspection types, including septic systems.

Syriala took a public health director job in Milford in 2023 which lasted a year. Then in 2024, he was the health director for Attleboro. 

He has always had a goal of making his way back to Cape Cod. His father’s side of the family was originally from the Cape and he has spent a considerable amount of time in the area. When the position opened in Brewster, he couldn’t help but jump at the opportunity. 

Amy Van Hone formerly held the position but retired after six years.  

Although Syriala is currently working on simplifying some of the department’s processes, he said he won’t be uprooting systems that have been in place for decades. 

One of the quick fixes will be simplifying the septic system variance process. There are two different routes that a homeowner can take depending on their needs — one is a local upgrade which doesn’t require additional approval, and the other is an actual variance which requires a board hearing. Currently, the processes are muddled together so it can be confusing for homeowners. Syriala hopes to separate them so there is no confusion on which process is necessary for which request. 

When he is not behind the health director desk, residents can find Syriala offshore fishing, mostly looking for tuna. 

“I try to get offshore as much as possible,” he said. 

If you catch Syriala around town, the chances are good that you’ll also see his trusted companion, Fisher, a 7-year old golden retriever. 

When asked what he wants the residents of Brewster to know about the health department, Syriala said, “We’re here to help people, and no one should be afraid to come talk to us about anything. We’re happy to try and do our best to help.”