Board of Health starts new year with humanitarian housing update, reduced oxygen packaging, & safe foods info after power outage topics (audio)

FM #1124 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1124 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Town of Franklin Board of Health Meeting held on Wednesday, Jan 3, 2024. All three board members participated; Harris, Sweet and Mu-Chow. Health Dept staff present were in the 3rd floor Conference room (not training room). 

Quick Recap:

• Adjusted meeting schedule for 2024 to remove July, August and schedule as needed for those months

• Humanitarian housing crisis update shared; 80 individuals with work visas at the hotel; job fair being scheduled, working to set up rides via GATRAGo (funded via grant); state to do a mobile clinic for vaccinations likely coordinated by this local group

• Discussion around plan for reduced oxygen packages used by some facilities in Town, additional requirement to be added to get a formal plan and process for them by the individual operations (use of consultant if necessary)

• Info packet produced on “Eat Safe Foods after a Power Outage” - Timely, open to additional health related ideas

• Round of reports from inspections, nurse and epidemiologist (detailed reports in meeting packet)

My notes captured via Twitter:

• Board of Health Mtg underway, recording to be available later. Motion to accept minutes as edited (remove prior member as in attendance) voted 3-0

• Proposed meeting schedule adjusted for July (remove) August (maybe)

• C Liberty provides a humanitarian crisis update. 80 with work visas at hotel, working to schedule a job fair, working also to set up process for rides via GATRAGo with funding through grant by ToF

• SAFE Coalition working on narcan training and first aid kits. All is going well, meeting regularly to address needs. State will do mobile clinic for vaccines but likely organized by local Board of Health.

• Plan to be required for reduced oxygen packages, i.e. extending life of cooked product, consultant to set up and do it properly (it can be done regularly) chiefs shouldn't be responsible for developing the process, just executing it. Food code requirement.

• 2 establishments were found to need this, they were cooperative and stopped pending this discussion and they'll be able to proceed. Board agrees to revision to policy, also to include on the application for next year.

• Packet for eat safe foods after a power outage. Timely. Other ideas for health open for a monthly theme https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/pages/january_topic_of_the_month.pdf

• Report on inspections, 9 inspections, 12 reinspections for Dec. FDA conference call for recall issue. Training completed.

• Nurse update for Dec, COVID 108 cases (vs 61 in Nov). Getting a ride in cases like last year. Flu season, 47 confirmed, 42 in Dec

• Central Park Terrace visit, stop the bleed training held Dec 13. Attended webinars on health related issues. Assisting with medical appointments etc for the migrants at the hotel. Safe sleeping strategy session conducted, approx 20 new mothers with 1yr and under

• Epidemiologist update, updates through weekly texts (shared via ) dashboard updates for migrants, etc.

• Citizen Comment: I shared the info on the Regroup messaging setup, and offered to get flier for job fair to share via Franklin.news

• Motion to adjourn, second, passes 3-0

That's all for the Board of Health, next up SchCmte subcmte meeting in process, down the hall.

The meeting runs about 30 minutes. Let’s listen to the Board of Health meeting Jan 3, 2024. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1124-franklin-ma-board-of-health-mtg-01-03-24

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The Board of Health agenda can be found ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/boh_agenda_1.3.24_-_google_docs.pdf 

Meeting packet (including individual reports) ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/boh_agenda_and_packet_01.03.24.pdf 

My notes collected in a Twitter thread PDF ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZmPuxOB9_T8KzzMJv9_R96Y86voQ5vyp/view?usp=drive_link

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The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!
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Board of Health starts new year

Reminder: NationalGrid outage reporting helps

There are a number of power outages around Franklin as of the result of the storm Sunday/Monday. Trees were a common cause.

Outage map as of 12/18/23 approx. 9:30 PM

There was considerable improvement overnight as the status this AM shows 12/19 - 7 AM

It is good to log into your NationalGrid account and report the outage for your location. That sets you up for individual updates and notifications on the outage specifically for your location. 

Reminder on estimated time to restore

Link to outage map (The map updates every 5 minutes) https://outagemap.ma.nationalgridus.com/?_gl=1*1dbqlj0*_ga*MTczNjU2ODI0My4xNzAyOTM4MzQy*_ga_FH50R0D4B4*MTcwMjk1MTk3Ni4zLjEuMTcwMjk1MzY5OS42MC4wLjA.

Franklin Public Schools: Power status Thursday morning

Good Morning

We hope you are all safe after yesterday's storm.  All of our schools have power, however, we are aware there may be sporadic areas across town without power.  If your family is without power, please call your child's school office to let them know.

Virtual Learning Academy (VLA) families, please call the Superintendent's office at 508-553-4819.

Thank you

Franklin Public Schools 

 

Franklin Public Schools: Power status Thursday morning

 

Franklin Public Schools: Status Update on Our School Buildings' Systems - Mar 9 - 4:15 PM

Friday, March 9, 2018  4:15 PM Update

Dear Franklin Families, Faculty, and Staff,

We am writing before the weekend with an update regarding the status of our systems of operations within our schools.

Key Fobs

Key fobs had not been working for our entry doors, and staff were using door keys. Batteries in key fob entry pads are being or have been replaced.

Internet

As we had mentioned, Internet was out briefly but came back quickly across all schools, being functional by about 8:00 AM.  The Internet continues to function properly.

Heat

As we mentioned previously, a computer failure took down the heating system at Keller/Sullivan but the system was reset and heat came back online at 8:10 AM.  This morning, heat was on at Horace Mann/ECDC/Oak but not at full capacity. One boiler at Horace Mann/ECDC/Oak was restored at approximately 9:00 AM and heat is functioning properly there.

Phones

Phone lines have been restored to all schools but we are not yet at peak capacity.  We can receive incoming calls, make outgoing calls, and call internally. Work will continue through the weekend. Please be patient and try to call again or e-mail if you get a busy signal.

It appears that a significant majority of households would have power restored today. Please know we've been thinking of you, the challenges and discomfort that come when you don't have power in your homes, and understand implications for homework completion.

Many thanks to our Town Administrator's Office, the Facilities staff, the Technology Department, Fire Department and the Police Department for repair efforts and assistance throughout the day.

Regards,

Franklin Public Schools

Franklin Public Schools:  Status Update on Our School Buildings' Systems - Mar 9 - 4:15 PM

In the News: local businesses help during power outage; not enough candidates in Bellingham

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"At the Cake Bar also in Franklin, owner Joanne Callahan said a lot of people came in to get work done, since the bakery did not lose power and offers free wireless internet. She said, though, that most of the people seeking refuge or respite came in on Thursday, as Friday had seen power restored to more customers. 

Callahan said she had lost power herself, and had sent her husband out to both make sure the business had lost power and to get her some coffee from the shop. 

The MetroWest YMCA also opened its doors to those without power, member or not. Many families used the WiFi and play spaces as they warmed up, said Lisa Mandozzi, branch executive director."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180309/local-businesses-institutions-help-people-warm-up

"The deadline for candidates to pull papers for this spring’s town election has passed, with only one potentially contested race on the ballot. 

Thursday, March 8 was the last day to seek papers from the town clerk’s office for the May 1 vote, in which multiple selectman and School Committee seats will be up for grabs. 

The only seat for which multiple candidates have pulled papers is a five-year Housing Authority position. Town Clerk Ann Odabashian said newcomer candidates Joseph Fleuette, Billiegene Lavallee and Mark Ladouceur had requested nomination papers; Lawrence Sposato, the incumbent, did not."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180309/dearth-of-candidates-in-bellingham-election

Town of Franklin: [Residents] March 3rd 2018 Storm

Good morning:

This is Brutus Cantoreggi with the Town of Franklin to provide you with an update on the loss of electricity within the Town after yesterday's historic Nor'eater storm.

There are presently 3,140 customers in Franklin without power.  As of this morning, National Grid has begun power recovery efforts in the community and will restore power as quickly as possible.  They presently warn that full power restoration may take up to 72 hours.  If you do not have power make sure you contact National Grid at 800-465-1212.  They can't restore your power if they don't know it's out.

The high winds of yesterday caused many power and other overhead transmission lines to come down.  Please stay away from any downed wire and treat all downed wires as energized electrical lines. Only a few road remain impassable due to trees and wires down; they are marked with barricades and signs - please do not drive past barricades.

Citizens without power can go to the Hockomock YMCA located at 45 Forge Hill Road for a warm shower and charge your electronic devices.  

We will keep you updated with information as the situation dictates.  As always please call 911 in the event of an emergency.

Town of Franklin: [Residents] March 3rd 2018 Storm

Urgent: Power Outage Update

Power Outage Update

Due to the power outages the Franklin YMCA is allowing residents with no power to use their facility to take hot showers and charge your phones and laptops etc.

For information about power outages please visit National Grid at:
https://m.nationalgrid.com  or call 1-800-465-1212

Read more

This is an automatic message from Town of Franklin MA. Please do not reply to this message.

Urgent: Power Outage Update

NationalGrid: Snow Storm Restoration Update - 2/6/16 AM

To view this email as a web page, click here.

National Grid Storm Restoration Update A message to our customers — February 6, 2016 Good Morning, What a difference a day makes – skies are clear and the sun is shining. Yesterday's snow storm hit the region harder than originally forecasted, and the heavy, wet snow caused significant outages.  We are grateful for your patience as our crews work to repair downed wires and restore all outages. Less than 24 hours from the start of the storm, we had already restored power to close to 80% of impacted customers in MA, and 60% of impacted customers in RI. We intend to complete the vast majority of restoration by midnight today. If you are still without electric service, please let us know by calling 1-800-465-1212, or via Outage Central. Above all, please stay safe – watch for sagging wires, tree branches, and slick surfaces. For more safety tips, use your mobile device to visit us at www.nationalgrid.com. Stay connected National Grid provides multiple channels for customers to learn about service issues and interruptions during storms. Customers can follow the storm on their mobile devices by using the National Grid mobile app or texting the word STORM to NGRID (64743). The company provides real time outage information on its Outage Central web site. National Grid also provides storm and restoration updates through Facebook and Twitter Thank you for trusting us to help you meet your energy needs. National Grid Here with you. Here for you.   Connect Now Visit us online at nationalgrid.com/

This email was sent by: National Grid 300 Erie Blvd W Syracuse NY 13202 U.S.A.

NationalGrid outage map as of 8:00 PM 2/6/16

Town of Franklin: Post Storm Update

Good Morning. Gary Premo calling with an post storm update. 

National Grid reports appr 1400 customers without power in Franklin. They will continue to work on restoring power throughout the day, and report all should be restored by 9pm tonight. 

• If you encounter a downed wired, do not approach; call 911. 
• If you need a hot shower, the YMCA has offered their facility at 45 Forge Hill Road. 
• If you need to recharge electronic devices, you may do so at Fire HQ, 40 W Central St.

Thank you for listening; stay safe.

This e-mail has been sent to you by TOWN OF FRANKLIN. To maximize their communication with you, you may be receiving this e-mail in addition to a phone call with the same message. 

sunset post storm on Friday, Feb 5

Police Alert: Low Flyer Copters for NationalGRID aerial survey

For those who have not yet subscribed to the alerts sent out by Franklin, the Police Dept issued this one on Wednesday. nationalgrid will be conducting aerial inspections of the power lines starting this week and running through mid-August.

The notice is shown below and can also be found on the Franklin website here
http://franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/0211C995-000F8513

National Grid will launch an aerial inspection of all high-voltage power lines beginning Monday, June 8, 2015 through mid-August, 2015. Using continuous infra-red imaging, the Aerial Inspection Program will cover all transmission lines across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont. Safety will be the #1 priority in all areas of this work. 

National Grid’s certified contractor, JBI Helicopters of New Hampshire, will perform the aerial inspection using its fleet of Bell Jet-Ranger helicopters. Jet-Ranger helicopters are primarily painted blue and yellow with occasional yellow or red striping.

nationalgrid survey copter sample

planned power outage for Bancroft Commons, Clarendon Commons, and Danforth Way

nationalGrid notified some Franklin area residents of a "planned power outage" to last approximately 14 hours on Thursday, Nov 20, 2014. If necessary, the outage may continue into Friday.

The notice was sent via mail to the residents of Bancroft Commons, Clarendon Commons, and Danforth Way.

A copy of the notice was posted to the official Franklin webpage here

screen capture of nationalGrid website

nationalgrid Power Outage map - 8:30 PM 10/29/12

The nationalgrid Power Outage map as of 8:30 PM Monday evening showing Franklin, MA

To get an updated view of the map, you can visit this webpage
https://www1.nationalgridus.com/PowerOutageMap

NationalGrid: Hurricane Irene Preparedness

National Grid has employees prepared to work around the clock to ensure reliable service throughout the storm.  We urge customers to take all necessary precautions to ensure their safety. An easy way to prepare is to have an emergency kit on hand. Visit our website to learn more about what we are doing and what you should do to prepare. If you would like to receive mobile updates from National Grid on the storm restoration efforts, Text Irene to 50101. Power outages can be reported online or by calling 1-800-465-1212 in New England and 1-800-867-5222 in New York. Unsubscribe | Update Profile * For text messages, standard carrier message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to cancel. Text HELP for help. This email was sent by: National Grid One MetroTech Center, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, U.S.A.

In the News - power outage damage, Hope for Animals

About 2,240 National Grid customers lost power early Wednesday for a couple of hours when strong winds downed a power line on Oak Street, a spokesman said.

As a result, the Senior Center's heat went off and the sprinkler system froze and three ventilators at the John F. Kennedy Elementary School and 10 more in the high school broke, causing water damage in all three buildings, said Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting yesterday.

Insurance claims will cover the damage's cost, Nutting said.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

About a dozen people and shelter coordinator Melissa Trottier attended last night's meeting to support Hope for Animals.

"How sad it is that this community cannot help," Tanfani said. "We have to have some place for cats. The economic conditions are hard, but if we close our doors in May, you will have the problem of unspayed and feral cats."

To help support the shelter, call 401-996-4129 or visit the Web site www.hopeforcatssanctuary.com.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here