"January is Winter Safety Awareness Month! Hypothermia kills on average 25,000 people in the U.S. a year.
Avoid the risk of frostbite and hypothermia by dressing in layers, covering exposed skin, and limiting time outdoors.
If someone might be experiencing either condition, seek medical attention immediately — and know your actions. "
weather.gov/safety/cold-during
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| Franklin Health Dept: January is Winter Safety Awareness Month |
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
● Reading and acceptance December 6, 2023
● BOH Scheduled Meetings for 2024● Humanitarian Crisis Update● Reduced Oxygen Packaging Policy● Topic of the month● Metacomet shared service grant regional inspector report● Metacomet shared service grant public health nurse report● Metacomet shared service grant epidemiologist report
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| Board of Health - Agenda for Meeting, Weds, Jan 3 at 5:00 PM |
December is National AIDS/HIV Awareness Month. Without treatment, people with AIDS typically survive about three years.
To learn more about the basics, prevention, treatment, and more visit: https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/index.html
Video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY1qi3bf-Os
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| December is National AIDS/HIV Awareness Month |
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| Free Hands Only CPR Class - Jan 16, 2024 - register now! |
"It is National Influenza Vaccination Week!
It can take up to two weeks to build immunity after getting the flu shot.
Find flu and COVID-19 vaccine locations near you by visiting vaccines.gov"
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| Franklin Health Dept: Weekly Wellness Update -> It's National Influenza Vaccination Week! |
FM #1112 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1112 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the Town of Franklin Board of Health Meeting held on Wednesday, Dec 6, 2023. All three board members participated; Harris, Sweet, and newly elected member Kim Mu-Chow. Health Dept staff present were in the 3rd floor Conference room (not training room).
Quick Recap:
Live reporting on the Board of Health meeting, follow along with the agenda #boh1206 https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/events/boh_agenda_and_packet_12.6.23.pdf
Motion to accept minutes of prior meeting, 2-0, 3rd member wasn't part at the time (although was at the meeting as a visitor). Minutes moved to be accepted as corrected adding a hyphen in Kim's name. Motion to nominate Bridget as chair, second, passes 3-0. Motion to nominate...
Jeff as Vice-chair, second, passes 3-0
New business, discussion on bylaw to amend code sewers. Town enforcing exterior grease traps, BoH will end up with more responsibility with this change. See agenda for doc details
Addition of the health director as enforcement, to issue fines. To also go before Town Council for approval before becoming effective
Motion to accept increase in maximum allowable cover as noted in agenda doc, for repair only. Second, passes 3-0
Inspector report, for November. Two recall inspections requested by State, to Dollar Tree to check compliance on recall of product
Only 14 flu cases confirmed since Aug 2023. Bingo at Central Park Terrace, food pantry visits monthly
Visiting with migrants at the hotel, checking on the patients, pregnancy follow up. 51 COVID cases confirmed for Nov. Weekly wellness updates sent out
Assisted with application for grant with Senior Center and will follow up to create the webpage as the grant was received
Health fair was well received at the library
No comments, questions
Motion to adjourn, passes 3-0
The meeting runs about 25 minutes. Let’s listen to the Board of Health meeting Dec 6, 2023. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1112-franklin-ma-board-of-health-mtg-12-06-23
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The Board of Health agenda can be found ->
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/events/boh_agenda_and_packet_12.6.23.pdf
Meeting packet (including individual reports) -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/events/boh_agenda_and_packet_12.6.23.pdf not available for this meeting
My notes collected in a Twitter thread PDF ->
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GwQinzNgDno9LssHaiy3dJaKGM3-zrm0/view?usp=drive_link
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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.
This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
How can you help?
If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
If you don't like something here, please let me know
Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
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!
------------------
You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
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| Sweet Retains role of Chair as Board of Health re-organizes (audio) |
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| Franklin, MA: Board of Health meeting scheduled for 5 PM, Wednesday, Dec 6 |
"November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Diabetes is the eighth leading cause of death in the U.S.
You can prevent type 2 diabetes by making lifestyle changes to build health habits! "
Learn more today: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention/lcp-details.html
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| FREE Stop the Bleed Training - Dec 13, from 3 to 4 PM |
FM #1093 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1093 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the Town Administrator’s Report segment from the Town Council Meeting of Nov 1, 2023. Town Administrator Jamie Hellen provides an update on the Migrant Housing status.
The report segment runs about 9 minutes. Let’s listen to this segment of the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, November 1, 2023.
Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1093-town-administrators-report-migrant-housing-status-11-01-23
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Town Administrator page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator
Town Council agenda doc -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/10/franklin-ma-agenda-for-town-council.html
Migrant Housing Portal -> https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department/pages/migrant-dashboard-portal
Prior updates on the Migrant Housing Status
Update from the Oct 18, 2023 meeting -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/10/town-council-segment-migrant-housing.html
Update from the Oct 11, 2023 meeting -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/10/town-administrators-report-migrant.html
Update from Sep 20 meeting -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/09/town-administrators-report-on-migrant_20.html
Update from Sep 6 meeting -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/09/town-administrators-report-on-migrant.html
Notification on migrant temporary housing -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/08/ma-notifies-franklin-of-plans-to-house.html
--------------
We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.
This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
How can you help?
If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
If you don't like something here, please let me know
Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
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!
------------------
You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
 |
| Town Council Segment - Migrant Housing Status - 11/1/23 (audio) |
