Showing posts with label vehicles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vehicles. Show all posts

Monday, November 7, 2022

The Vicious Cycle of Automobile Dependency

Daniel Moser (@_dmoser) tweeted on Sat, Nov 05, 2022:
The Vicious Cycle of Automobile Dependency 

Unsustainable planning practices reinforce a cycle of increased automobile use, more automobile-oriented community redevelopment, and reduced mobility options.
 

Shared from Twitter ->  https://t.co/vTpFy1UlTc


The Vicious Cycle of Automobile Dependency
The Vicious Cycle of Automobile Dependency

Wednesday, November 2, 2022

Franklin Police: Update on the Nov 1, 2022 West Central/Union Auto Crash

Yesterday (Tuesday, Nov 1, 2022) at approximately 3:23 PM, the Franklin Police and Fire Department responded to a three-car motor vehicle crash at the intersection of West Central Street and Union Street. After an investigation it is determined the first vehicle involved, a Toyota Highlander was stopped at the intersection at a red light. The second vehicle, a Chevy Equinox was stopped behind the first vehicle. The third, a KIA SUV rear-ended the second vehicle which caused a chain reaction crash into the first vehicle. 

Upon arrival, first responders found the operator of the KIA SUV, a 58-year-old female resident of Wrentham unresponsive in her vehicle. First responders quickly began life-saving measures including CPR. She was transported to Milford Hospital where she was later pronounced deceased. The operator of the second vehicle was transported to UMASS Memorial with what are believed to be serious injuries. It was determined the operator of the KIA SUV suffered a serious medical episode while driving which resulted in the crash. Given the medical nature of this call, no further information will be provided. 
 
Our thoughts are with the victim, their friends, and their family following this tragic incident. 

Visit the Franklin Police Dept -> https://www.franklinma.gov/police-department

Franklin Police: Update on the Nov 1, 2022 West Central/Union Auto Crash
Franklin Police: Update on the Nov 1, 2022 West Central/Union Auto Crash 

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Veterans' Council Planning Trip to American Heritage Museum in Hudson

The Franklin Veterans' Council has planned a bus (school bus) trip to the American Heritage Museum in Hudson on Saturday, October 15.The museum features one of the largest collections of WWII military vehicles in North America as well as tanks, aircraft and other military artifacts, chronologically arranged dioramas and exhibits from the Revolutionary War to today. 

There are also classic cars, trucks, farm vehicles and race cars on display

Here are the details:
American Heritage Museum Bus Trip 
Where: Hudson, MA
When: Saturday, October 15, 2022
Time: Bus (school bus) will leave the Franklin Senior Center parking lot at 8:30 AM and will return to the Senior Center by 1:45 PM

Cost: $15/per person. Must be 18 or older to attend. 

Fee includes bus, museum admission and a box lunch. Tickets for this trip are only available through the Veterans' Services Office.

Veterans' Council Planning Trip to American Heritage Museum in Hudson
Veterans' Council Planning Trip to American Heritage Museum in Hudson


Photo album from a trip to the museum in 2021

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Wirecutter: DIY emergency kit for the auto

Don't buy a prepackaged emergency kit. The ones we've looked at either leave out important items, include things you may never use, seem poorly made, or cost too much.

You're much better off creating your own emergency kit. Here's how: https://t.co/GCYaUETEYT
Wirecutter: DIY emergency kit for the auto
Wirecutter: DIY emergency kit for the auto


Wednesday, April 14, 2021

MA Vehicle inspection extended again

"Massachusetts drivers with expired inspection stickers from March and April will now have until the end of May to get a new one, as the state’s inspection system remains down due to a malware attack on its software contractor.

The Tuesday announcement marks both an expansion and an extension of the grace period that officials instituted due to the ongoing technical issues, which previously allowed motorists whose annual inspections expired in March an extra month to renew. Now, drivers with expired March or April stickers will get until May 31.

The state has said it expects the system, provided by Wisconsin-based Applus Technologies, to be back online by this weekend. But the extension would still likely be a help to motorists, as there is sure to be huge backlog of vehicles in need of new stickers. Thousands of inspections happen across the state on a typical day, and the system has now been down for more than two weeks."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

Thursday, April 8, 2021

MA State News: vehicle inspection outage continues; vaccine certificates; school funding by Legislature

"After a more than weeklong outage in the state’s vehicle inspection system, service stations on Wednesday finally started receiving a software fix that is expected to solve the malware attack that hamstrung the testing program in Massachusetts and seven other states.

The contractor targeted by the attack, Applus Technologies, sent the software updates on flash drives to more than 1,700 shops in Massachusetts and walked operators through a reboot intended to protect the machines.

The inspection system has been offline since the attack on Applus on March 30, and is unlikely to be back online this week, according to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

"Baker unwilling to talk vaccine passports"

"GOV. CHARLIE BAKER is uninterested in talking about vaccination passports.

Asked whether Massachusetts might consider creating vaccine passports – which would impose restrictions on unvaccinated individuals – Baker did not explicitly say no, but said his focus is on getting people vaccinated. “Having a conversation about creating a barrier before people had an opportunity to be eligible to be vaccinated, let’s focus on getting people vaccinated,” Baker said, speaking after visiting a vaccination site in Revere."

"Legislature will increase school funding next year"

THE LEGISLATURE HAS agreed to take a more generous approach to funding public schools next year than Gov. Charlie Baker did, responding to concerns from education advocates that Baker’s proposal was inadequate.  

The legislative approach reflects a different time frame for phasing in an updated school funding formula, and the creation of a new fund to help districts that saw pandemic-related enrollment drops. But some advocates are still unhappy with lawmakers’ compromise approach, saying it does not fully address districts’ needs.

The chairs of the House and Senate ways and means committees announced in a joint statement Tuesday that they plan to put $5.503 billion into Chapter 70, the K-12 school funding formula, in their fiscal 2022 budget, which represents an increase of $219.6 million over the current year. That is $21.9 million more than what Baker had proposed. 


Wednesday, April 7, 2021

MA State News: vehicle inspections next week; Gov Bakers gets first vaccine shot

 

"Vehicle inspections will not be performed until at least next week because of an ongoing problem with Applus Technologies, a vendor with the Registry of Motor Vehicles, officials said Tuesday.

The RMV is granting a grace period for some motor vehicle inspections, the RMV said. Vehicles with expired inspection stickers from March and vehicles bought or registered after March 23 should be given until April 30 to get an inspection, the RMV said.

Customers who recently had an inspection and are in the 60-day free retest window will be afforded an extra day for each day Applus’s system remains unavailable, but should plan to get an inspection as soon as possible once the system is restored."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
 
"GOV. CHARLIE BAKER appeared to have no problem on Tuesday with Northeastern University requiring students to be vaccinated by the first day of the fall semester, even though he has balked at mandating vaccinations for other populations.

The governor said many colleges and universities are considering vaccine requirements for students similar to what Northeastern announced. “It’s going to be an issue they’re all going to talk about,” he said, adding that students should get vaccinated."
Continue reading the article online
 
Gov Baker's press conference after he got his first vaccine shot =>  https://youtu.be/fauTJj4XCvE
 

Tuesday, April 6, 2021

RMV may resume inspections Wednesday, Apr 7

"Businesses that provide vehicle inspections in Massachusetts are “anxious” to resume offering the service, amid an ongoing problem with a Registry vendor that has shut down inspections for the past week in the Commonwealth and several other states, a trade group leader said Monday.

“Well, I think everybody is anxious to get it back online, so we’re all waiting,” said John Howell, co-executive director of the New England Service Station & Automotive Repair Association, in a phone interview.

He said service stations often see a spike in revenue toward the end of every month from drivers who need new inspection stickers. "

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

According to  Twitter, operations should resume 4/7/21 ... given the nature of the issue (per the vendor), we'll wait and see.   https://twitter.com/MassRMV/status/1379026141411999750

RMV may resume inspections Tuesday, Apr 6
RMV may resume inspections Tuesday, Apr 6


Friday, April 2, 2021

RMV announces no vehicle Inspections for Apr 2 - Apr 4, 2021

Due to a production issue with our vendor Applus Technologies, inspection stations will be unable to inspect vehicles Friday 4/2 through Sunday 4/4. Please visit http://mavehiclecheck.com for more information.

RMV announces no vehicle Inspections for Apr 2 - Apr 4, 2021
RMV announces no vehicle Inspections for Apr 2 - Apr 4, 2021

Recap of Capital Budget Subcommittee meeting - Mar 31, 2021

Quick Recap:
  • A question on a technology item requested could not be answered as the Technology Director was not present. It was put aside with all the other school items until it could be. Later in the meeting the other school items were approved holding off on the one item in question.
  • Dean College will be asked for a "pilot" payment in lie of taxes to purchase a vehicle for the Fire Dept. 
  • Some items previously approved for borrowing (municipal building windows for example) are now being proposed to pay from 'free cash' as a may to further save money on financing
  • Neighborhood meeting set for the Machintosh Road section where water main work is underway. The contractor has caused two water main breaks so far as there are limited marking for where the line is, and the line in concrete and can't be located via technology
  • Capital budget items approved (aside from the one Tech item). There will be a follow up meeting on the remaining available free cash for capital requests.The listing of items not funded from each department is long. Concern about how to address this "unless the money gods come in"

----
 
As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter during the meeting reporting in real-time via the virtual session.

Photos captured during the meeting and shared via Twitter can be found in one album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/wbbHDDkEgRGhrskS9
 
The Twitter hashtag can be found online  #cbsc0331


  • Real time reporting underway for the Town Council Capital Budget Subcommittee meeting now starting #cbsc0331
  • The agenda and docs released for the meeting can be found on the Town page https://franklinma.gov/capital-budget-subcommittee/agenda/capital-budget-subcommittee-agenda-2 #cbsc0331
  • OPEB report in April at the Town Council meeting on Apr 14, what is the outstanding requirements will be answered at that time. #cbsc0331
  • Town Administrator reviewing the memo outlining the current requests. An update that the school vans bid came in at $90K (vs $120k) in the doc #cbsc0331 Q on the technology items they are being held until Tech director can participate and explain
  • Apparently the Tech director had missed the meeting last year hence the hold on the tech item. Q follow questions on the school vans and plans for overall replacement. #cbsc0331 M D'Angelo explaining the curtain for HMMS
  • Moving to the facility dept section on the municipal bldg window replacements due to poor or non-existent flashing when building was installed. #cbsc0331
  • The municipal bldg had been approved last year for financing and this year with costs lower determining to use capital and save additional $s. #cbsc0331 BTW, Chair Pellegri leads meeting, Dellorco, Chandler, and Kelly present in Chambers so no roll call votes needed
  • Entire set of school items were put aside pending the Tech Director appearance. #cbsc0331 the building was approved by a 4-0 vote. Now to Fire Dept. Chandler asking if Dean would be willing to buy a vehicle as a 'pilot' payment in lieu of taxes.
  • Motion on fire dept requests, second, passes 4-0. #cbsc0331 Moving to Police dept Top of page 6 in the doc shared earlier.
  • #cbsc0331 surplus vehicles usually auctioned off with funds going to general fund. Vests are reimbursed after submitting purchase proof. State and Federal have grants for these, both haven't been available each year. Need to front the money first
  • Police Station would be a timing issue as to when would we go to the community for a ballot question to replace it. Council would need to discuss further so everyone understands what the options are. A study would answer most questions or at least provide the #s for #cbsc0331
  • Police replacement vehicles are all SUVs. Spare radios are reused when appropriate, i.e. within schools No body cameras in use, police reform commission will provide guidance. The storage for the cameras is really the cost, and then the system manager to view, etc. #cbsc0331
  • Motion on the police dept capital request, second, passes 4-0 #cbsc0331 Going back to schools, TA realized they didn't vote, did vote to approve those School items except the tech items. Passes 4-0
  • Moving to DPW section, beginning bottom of page 6 in doc shared earlier. #cbsc0331 T 5 truck just died and wont pass inspection, just happened last week. This had been prepared for FinComm meeting a couple of weeks ago. Could set up more stabilization accounts 4 a purpose
  • Moving to water enterprise funds, from retained earnings within the fund all funded from the user based fees for water. #cbsc0331 Lincoln Street was done last year during the pandemic, early and under budget. To avoid using bonding to pay for some of these, using the cash
  • Contractor hitting the water main as it is an old pipe, not well marked, can't be found with tech; neighborhood meeting scheduled for next week to help with Communications with the residents. #cbsc0331 did get all funds from Garelic due from the bankruptcy, except 4 penalties
  • Motion on the water fund capital request, approved 4-0. Sewer line items up next, something of a catch up year. Includes a peer review of the Beaver St interceptor project. #cbsc0331 these funds do maintain the $1m balance within the funds
  • Sewer fund request passes 4-0. Motion to adjourn, passes 4-0 That's all for tonight catch you next time!

 

Note: according to my notes the Capital Budget meeting held in June 2020 had no departmental representation for the discussion. The Budget SubCommittee meeting in Sep 2020 was likely the one referred to as lacking the Technology/Schools representation. Oddly this time (Mar 31, 2021 -School Dept personnel were present to answer question on the school vans purchase request. The item left as an unanswered question was a technology piece covering both School and Town side of the network.)  The meeting archive has all the links for the meeting notes and audio where available  https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/meeting-notes.html

Chair Pellegri opens meeting
Chair Pellegri opens meeting


Saturday, July 25, 2020

“A cyberattack on one or more motor vehicles has enormous potential safety consequences"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"For months, an automobile manufacturer-backed opposition campaign has argued that a proposal to increase access to vehicle telematic data would expose drivers and the public to both safety and privacy risks. Now, they have a new ally in their effort to get a Massachusetts ballot question shot down: the federal government. 
At the request of state lawmakers, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) waded into debate on a potential update to Massachusetts law this week, writing that the initiative petition as written would require remote access to vehicle functions “that may potentially pose an unreasonable risk to safety.” 
“Two of the most important (cybersecurity) techniques -- logical and physical isolation of vehicle control systems from external connections, and controlling access to firmware that executes vehicle functions -- may be rendered impossible by the provisions of this ballot initiative,” NHTSA Deputy Administrator James Owens wrote to state legislators. “The ballot initiative requires vehicle manufacturers to redesign their vehicles in a manner that necessarily introduces cybersecurity risks, and to do so in a timeframe that makes design, proof, and implementation of any meaningful countermeasure effectively impossible.” 
The chairs of the Legislature’s Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee, Rep. Tackey Chan and Sen. Paul Feeney, asked the NHTSA to weigh in on the impacts of the ballot question. The question is headed to the Nov. 3 ballot in part because lawmakers opted against stepping in and passing an alternative bill."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200724/vehicle-repair-proposal-carries-safety-risks-fed-agency-says?rssfeed=true


Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Franklin's 1949 American Lafrance Fire Truck Returns - June 30, 2020 (YouTube)


"The Franklin Fire Department has received an exceptionally generous donation from Edward Guzowski. He has donated a 1949 American LaFrance Model 7-75-AJO 75’ Service aerial truck.
We would like to thank Edward Guzowski for his generous donation. The Fire Truck has been kept in impeccable condition and remains a functional driving vehicle.
The truck he is donating is the first ladder truck the Town of Franklin ever bought."
The brief ceremony acknowledging the donation was held at Station 1 today

Video link = https://youtu.be/0L17vwcxvKc




Rep Jeff Roy tries out the 'air conditioned' front seat
Rep Jeff Roy tries out the 'air conditioned' front seat

side view of the vehicle
side view of the vehicle

 end view of the 75' aerial ladder
 end view of the 75' aerial ladder
The Town Council legislation for action to accept the donation on June 3, 2020
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/10b._resolution_20-30_gift_acceptance_-_fire_dept._-_truck.pdf


View the set of photos taken on June 30, 2020 at Station 1

FFD-1949-American Lafrance Ladder

Friday, February 7, 2020

In the News: homeless shelters up for Franklin discussion; autonomous vehicle safety standards evolving

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"When Town Councilor Andrew Bissanti heard that two men in Franklin were sleeping outside after a house fire back in October, he was “shocked.” 
Upon a deeper look, he discovered that at least 30 others are sleeping in similar conditions in town. 
“I suspected it, and I’ve seen it in other cities, but I really never knew it to be the extent that I recently found out,” said Bissanti, who is seeking to increase resources for those without places to stay in Franklin with other town officials. 
The Town Council is set to take the issue up at its meeting on Wednesday."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200206/franklin-officials-to-discuss-increasing-homeless-resources-in-town



"For the first time, the U.S. government’s highway safety agency has approved a company’s request to deploy a self-driving vehicle that doesn’t meet federal safety standards that apply to cars and trucks driven by humans. 
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration granted temporary approval for Silicon Valley robotics company Nuro to run low-speed autonomous delivery vehicles that were designed so they can’t carry humans. 
Nuro’s vehicles won’t be required to have side and rear-view mirrors and other safety provisions. Also not on the safety feature list; windshield wipers, steering wheels or brake pedals. 
The vehicles previously were subject to federal standards for low-speed vehicles that travel under 25 miles per hour. Those didn’t need steering wheels or brake pedals and didn’t have to have human backup drivers. Nuro’s battery-powered vehicles can be monitored and controlled remotely by a human operator, if needed."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20200206/us-lets-autonomous-vehicle-bypass-human-driver-safety-rules

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Representative Jeffrey Roy Secures Funding for New Tri-County Handicap Van

Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School is pleased to announce it has a new handicap accessible van available to transport students with disabilities. It’s the first handicap accessible van for the school. The van will be used to transport students both to and from the school and to field trips and special events. Prior to receiving the van, the school had to contract school bus transportation services.

State Representative Jeffrey Roy of Franklin was able to secure the funding last year from the states’ FY19 budget. The school was granted $50,000 to purchase the van. The total cost of the van was $60,470. The van seats 12 passengers and is fitted with a ramp, lift, and bench seats with seat belts. It is designed to provide safe, reliable and convenient transportation.

“I am happy that the state was able to provide funds to equip Tri-County with a state-of-the-art van to transport students with disabilities,” said Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D-Franklin). “The van will help the school further its mission of providing for all of its students and will also help save money by eliminating the need to rent out other equipment. I appreciate the school’s continued dedication to students and appreciate the opportunity to step in with my colleagues in the legislature to assist with funding needs.”

“Dealing with the hassles of transportation and finding safe and sufficient transportation for students with disabilities can be a challenge,” said Stephen Dockray, Superintendent. “We are happy to now have a handicap accessible van available to our students. It’s a pleasure to be able to offer transportation to all of our students regardless of their individual needs. We thank Representative Roy and the state of Massachusetts who have made this possible for our students with disabilities.”

Tri-County RVTHS, located at 147 Pond Street in Franklin, is a recipient of the High Schools That Work Gold Achievement Award and serves the communities of Franklin, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleborough, Plainville, Seekonk, Sherborn, Walpole, and Wrentham.

left to right:  Stephen Dockray, Superintendent of Tri-County, Representative Jeffrey Roy and John Roy, School Business Administrator of Tri-County
left to right:  Stephen Dockray, Superintendent of Tri-County, Representative Jeffrey Roy and
John Roy, School Business Administrator of Tri-County

Monday, March 28, 2011

Franklin, MA: Town official vehicle listing

The listing of vehicles used by Franklin employees to conduct town business has been updated for 2011. Thanks to Jeff Nutting for providing the information.

Franklin 2011 Vehicles Miles


Related posts
Milford Daily News article during Sunshine Week
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/03/most-can-be-reimbursed-by-mile-when.html

The 2010 vehicle listing
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/06/franklin-ma-town-official-vehicle.html

Franklin, MA

Sunday, March 13, 2011

"most can be reimbursed by the mile when driving for town business"

Some towns reuse retired police cruisers and other vehicles as take-home cars, but others, such as Ashland and Franklin, said repair bills and the cost of converting cars for civilian use can be high. 
"They're just not cost-efficient," Franklin Town Administrator Jeff Nutting said.
Towns otherwise often buy vehicles through a state bidding process or at auction, including at Adesa in Framingham.
 
In Franklin, Nutting said he has phased out several take-home vehicles as employees with that benefit retired or otherwise left the town payroll. 
"Some of those jobs we never filled, or as (new) people come in, they have to bring their own vehicle back and forth for work," Nutting said. 
The town plans to cut two more next fiscal year, when the town engineer and deputy public works director are expected to retire. 
But there are few cases left where take-home vehicles could be eliminated, Nutting said, echoing many managers who saw most arrangements as necessary. 
"I'm running out of folks to scale back on at this point," he said.
Read more: How many public employees take their work car home?

More about Sunshine Week - a national initiative to highlight open government, freedom of information, and transparency can be found here.

Franklin's vehicle listing as of June 2010 can be found here. (I'll get an update this week.)



Franklin, MA

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Franklin, MA: Town official vehicle listing

Due to a comment that was making the rounds before the override that "everyone in DPW got a new vehicle", I asked for and received the following listing of vehicles from Jeff Nutting, Town Administrator.

The listing excludes the police fleet and the most of the DPW vehicles as those don't have a single user.

The Town positions which have a car, for overnight use or day use are listed with age and mileage.
Town positions without a vehicle but who do use their personal vehicle for Franklin business and thereby get an expense reimbursement are also listed.

Only one vehicle has a model year of 2010.

You can view the listing here:

Franklin MA Vehicles 100614


Or you can view the spreadsheet here:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AkwjbnXDBhczdEpYMU5ES0Zlb0tsWkg1bWt1TUl6Snc&hl=en

Updated:
If a municipal vehicle is taken home the employee is charged income at the IRS rate of $3 per day and must pay income tax on the benefit. Public Safety vehicles are exempt under the IRS code. There is no charge from the town to take the vehicle home. However employees are expected to responded in a timely manner to emergencies unless they are on vacation, etc. Accordingly each public safety department (except the building commission) has at least two employees that can respond asap. So if one is not available there is a backup. The DPW has more since they have more exposure - water, sewer breaks, failed pumps, alarms at stations, snow, storms, heavy rain, trees down, structural failure of things like culverts, roads, etc.

As far as personal use, the following quote is from a portion of the policy ' the vehicle is not to be used for personal purposes, other than commuting and de minimis personal use' An example of de minimis use would be stopping to buy a coffee, lunch etc.

Updated 6/16/10
Jeff Nutting has an annual vehicle allowance of $6,000 as part of his employment contract. He does not have a Franklin vehicle.


Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin MAtters to view the document