Board of Health hears about chicken coop encroachment issue; no new housing inspections, 1 COVID death in May (audio)

FM #811 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 811 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Town of Franklin Board of Health Meeting held on Wednesday, June 1, 2022. One board member was in the 3rd floor training room along with Health Dept staff. The other two members participated remotely. All votes were via roll call.

The meeting runs about 30 minutes. Let’s listen to the Board of Health meeting June 1, 2022.

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-811-town-of-franklin-board-of-health-mtg-06-01-22

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Agenda document ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/boh_agenda_06012022_3.pdf 

My notes collected in a Twitter thread PDF ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yMfZYjMA6weyYUsAn_0ExswMcKcDhM19/view?usp=sharing 

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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!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department/webforms/covid-19-dashboard-portal

"the state of emergency essentially became a pilot project for this concept"

"PEACE OF MIND for assisted living residents and their families – that’s what a bill before the Massachusetts Legislature would deliver. What small changes could make such a big difference? A handful of non-invasive treatments that are simple yet highly consequential.

To understand the issue first requires understanding the model. Assisted living, which has been certified and regulated for 27 years in Massachusetts, is a special combination of residential and personalized support services designed to meet the needs—both scheduled and unscheduled—of those who require help with activities of daily living. Activities of daily living include tasks related to bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, and other similar personal care needs.

Different from a nursing home, assisted living is a distinctly non-medical setting. Every resident has a private living area and maintains their preferred level of independence. In addition, while every assisted living community has nurses on staff, the law prohibits them from providing any skilled care whatsoever to residents. In the cases where a resident needs care, he or she has the choice of having a family member administer it or arranging and paying separately for an outside provider."

Continue reading article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/opinion/bringing-common-sense-to-assisted-living/

 

Nurse and elderly man spending time together --- Image by © Jose Luis Pelaez, Inc./Blend Images/Corbis

FM #782 - Health Director Cathleen Liberty - 04/19/22 (audio)

FM #782 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 782 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Health Director Cathleen Liberty  April 19, 2022. We had our conversation via virtual conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

The recording runs about 28 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Cathleen. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-782-health-director-cathleen-liberty-04-19-22

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Health Dept page  https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department

Health Dept - COVID reporting dashboard -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department/webforms/covid-19-dashboard-portal 

Board of Health page  https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department

Sign up for Health alerts via Regroup -> https://franklintown.regroup.com/signup 

--------------

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"

 

Health Director Cathleen Liberty

"a village is going to help them stay in their homes"

"For many older Americans and their families, the devastating COVID-19 outbreak — which caused more than 200,000 deaths in nursing homes nationally — was a persuasive argument for living at home as long as possible.

Now, as the pandemic grinds into its third year, a loose-knit band of tech gurus, gerontology researchers, and volunteer-powered elder support groups, called “villages,” is seeking to overcome the obstacles to aging in place. Among the toughest: a worsening shortage of home care workers, who can assist the oldest residents with walking, dressing, or showering.

Coronavirus sped up the deployment of “age-tech,” technology that helps older people age in place, by seven to 10 years, said Joe Coughlin, director of MIT AgeLab in Cambridge. "

Continue reading the article (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/04/18/metro/pandemics-lesson-many-older-folks-stay-your-home-long-you-can/ 

Dale Orzalli, a Seaglass Village volunteer, arrived at Maureen Neumann's front door to take her to a doctors appointment at Lahey Medical Center in Peabody.MATTHEW J LEE/GLOBE STAFF

Health Department: Weekly Wellness Update - Nutrition

March's Health Observance is Nutrition. Read nutrition labels; packaging can have misleading labels and false advertising.  

Learn more at: www.cdc.gov/nutrition

You received this message because you are subscribed to the [Town of Franklin-Health Department] group.

Replies to this email will go to the Town of Franklin-Health Department group. To reply only to Alisha Deptula, email adeptula@franklinma.gov.

Infant and Toddler Nutrition

Recap: Board of Health working unsafe building issues, part of State process for vaccine distribution, expanding awareness of health issues (audio)

Quick recap:

• Meeting opened with one member remote, all other Board of Health and Health Dept personnel in the 3rd floor training room of the Municipal Bldg.
• Demolition permit pulled for unsafe house at 27 Winter St that day. Continuing to monitor
• Discussion of unsafe house at 71 North Park, attorney and one side of the two owners for this unique situation present. House hit by lightning and unrepaired as of yet as the owners work through legal issues around the property (housing ownership not divided in 'normal' manner). To be monitored monthly to determine progress towards resolution
• Nurse has completed registration of Town with State for vaccine distribution, a new clinic for COVID-19 vaccine for youth being scheduled
• Updated COVID-19 case information on Health Dept page (link below)
• Expansion of health info via (1) alerts (colorectal cancer most recent one) and (2) a new podcast episode recorded on Wednesday for The Topic; this time on music therapy. Recording should be available soon

My notes were captured via Twitter and summarized in this ThreadReader PDF

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EFS3bL5jD_QV0lbyROEIp1sbmwt2TljV/view?usp=sharing 

The audio file ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-742-board-of-health-mtg-03-02-22

FM #742 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 742 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Board of Health meeting held on Wednesday, Mar 2, 2022. The meeting was held in the 3rd floor training room with 1 BoH member remote and at least one public attendee participating remotely virtually via the Zoom conference bridge.

Links to the meeting agenda and my notes are included in the show notes. The recording runs about 32 minutes, so let’s listen to the Board of Health meeting of Mar 2, 2022.

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Meeting agenda 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/events/boh_agenda_03022022.pdf 

27 Winter St being prepared for demolition

Franklin, MA: Board of Health Meeting - 02/02/22 (audio)

FM #716 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 716 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Franklin, MA Board of Health (BoH) meeting held on Wednesday, Feb 2, 2022. The meeting was held in the 3rd floor training room with 1 BoH member remote and at least one public attendee participating remotely virtually via the Zoom conference bridge.

Links to the meeting agenda and my notes are included in the show notes. The recording runs about 40 minutes, so let’s listen to the Board of Health meeting of Feb 2, 2022.

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-716-board-of-health-mtg-02-02-22

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Meeting agenda 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/boh_agenda_02022022_1.pdf 

My notes

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/recap-board-of-health-conducts-regular.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"

 

Board of Health conducts regular business, listens to resident comments on masking

Recap: Board of Health conducts regular business, listens to resident comments on masking

Quick recap:

• Board of Health conducted their normal business approving minutes of prior meeting, hearing updates from nurse, epidemiologist and inspector. 
• Winter St demolition approvals in process, other abandoned housing being addressed in coordinated manner with attorney general
• problem with ordering at home test kits, not as easy as it was lead to be, no date yet for availability
• multiple residents commented against a mask policy in light of the request at the prior meeting for the Board to consider one.

Agenda for this meeting ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/boh_agenda_02022022_1.pdf

Board of Health meetings are generally scheduled for the first Wednesday of the month at 5 PM

My notes captured via Twitter during the meeting

• Real time reporting for the Board of Health meeting underway, #boh0202  Winter St update provided, prior meeting minutes approved (twice, once 2-0; then 3-0; 3rd member arrived)
• Some audio items on the Zoom bridge worked through to be able to hear folks in the room clearly #boh0202
• Update from inspections, update from nurse, clinics being worked, COVID is still prevalent #boh0202
• Epidemiologist provides updates, working on reporting and tracking, new webpage/dashboard being put together, #boh0202
• At home rest kits ordered from lowest priced vendor, couldn't get ship dates; order cancelled, new being set, no date yet for availability, #boh0202 not as easy as it sounded.
• Property on Union St being worked collaboratively, police, fire, health, building, Attny General office coordinated - working on abandoned housing initiatives and making progress #boh0202
• Open to citizen comment, M Benson speaking to mask mandate discussion from last time to raise several issues, #boh0202 mask mandate would instill a sense of fear, not necessary
• Another citizen, (didn't catch name) anti mask comments, #boh0202 "respect the choice people have" define an exit strategy. D Videra, backing up M and Kevin, also anti mask, tremendous mental health issues, start tracking those in addition toCOVID-19
• Another citizen, (name missed) complaining that the school committee which is also supposed to be apolitical has members that just endorsed Senator Rausch so that doesn't work and is contradictory with other statements being made #boh0202
• No hands raised for other remote comments, #boh0202 Board comments, thanks for the citizen comments, good engagement, good commitment, folks need to stay safe and healthy motion to adjourn, second, passes 3-0 via roll call

 

Audio recording to be available in a couple  of days

Board of Health conducts regular business, listens to resident comments on masking

Health Director Cathleen Liberty talks about COVID and other important Health Dept. work - 01/25/22 (audio)

FM #714 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 714 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Health Director Cathleen Liberty  January 25, 2022. We had our conversation via virtual conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

We talk about 

New year, some things remain the same, some things are new

• Where are we at, 2 years in

• COVID-19, vaccine clinics

• Kids survey open now

• At home kits, reporting skew

Metacomet Regional

• Nurse, epidemiologist now in temporary office at the Senior Center

• Inspector

The recording runs about 35 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Cathleen. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-714-franklin-ma-health-director-cathleen-liberty-01-25-22

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Health Dept page  https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department

Board of Health page  https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department

Link to survey -> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc1p4-syf7lDV6JcvpeY518Fli57fWurGIDg6G7oN8F6X-PLw/viewform 

--------------

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"

 

Health Director Cathleen Liberty

Recap: Board of Health hears multiple updates; congratulates staff on vaccine clinic success (audio)

Quick Recap:

• Status update on 27 Winter St heard, keeping eye on progress, owner may need to appear for Feb 2022 meeting if no action taken for demolition of building
• Nurse picked up contact tracing as collaborative ended in November; starting health check for Central Park Terrace residents
• Both COVID-19 vaccine clinics for the youth went well with over 280 does delivered each time. Kudos to the team for great execution, thanks is not enough!

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As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter while I attended the meeting via the Zoom conf bridge. 

 

The Twitter hashtag #BoH1208 can be found online The thread begins with  

https://twitter.com/FranklinMatters/status/1468704858089873419

Board of Health agenda doc ->  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/12-8-21.pdf 

• Real time reporting for the Board of Health meeting underway, #BoH1208, approved minutes by 3-0 vote via roll call, status of 27 Winter St some evidence of work around building/property, should have an update for Jan 2022 from owner …
  
• Per carryover from prior meeting, if no progress owner due at Feb meeting. Update from nurse, COVID clinic success, some doses left over; also visiting Central Park Terrace to do health checks and address items as they arise. #BoH1208
  
• Contact tracing collaborative ended in Nov, nurse Alisha now picking up that contact tracing as needed. #BoH1208 discussion on monthly meeting dates, possible adjustments to Jun/Jul dates sliding one week; discussion non text around Title V change in language to clarify … 
  
• To be brought to a future agenda for a formal hearing, reading of potential change to alleviate duplication of effort. #BoH1208 worth noting that clinic performance was well done, staff, volunteers, etc.  very well done and received, thank you is hollow!
  
• Motion to adjourn, passes 3-0 via roll call #BoH1208

 Meeting audio -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/0dae85a8-d883-4934-95af-cb93dcf9bdb4

Recap: Board of Health hears multiple updates

Board of Health Meeting - 11/03/21 (audio)

FM #652 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 652 in the series.

This session shares the Board of Health meeting held on Wednesday, Nov 3, 2021. The meeting was conducted in person at the Municipal Building.

Chair Bridget Sweet opened the meeting and jumped into approval of the minutes to get to the 27 Winter issue with the property owner present.

The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda, the Board of Health page, and my notes from the meeting. 

During the citizens comment, I advocate for adding a virtual option to their meeting. They agreed to do so.

The meeting runs about 45 minutes, so let’s listen to the Board of Health meeting.

Audio file -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/b9f610ff-ffb2-4d0f-8a13-bb4867b49eef

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Meeting agenda

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/boh_agenda_11032021.pdf 

My meeting notes

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/11/recap-board-of-health-hears-of-vaccine.html

Board of Health page  https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department 

--------------

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"

Board of Health Meeting - 11/03/21 (audio)