Franklin plans to distribute swine flu vaccine
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Thursday, September 3, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Live reporting - Administrators Report, and close
Nutting - the contract for the downtown project have been received here, signed and returned to the state. We are waiting now for the authorization to proceed. It will take a lot of input from a number of folks to do this project.
We did get the million dollar PWAT (sic) grant to aid in the downtown effort.
The work at King St/RT 140 was completed to help the turn across the from the new Walgreens
Jeff read a letter of thanks for the TIF from a business that did receive one for his relocation to Forge Park.
Initial meeting with Bellingham, Milford on storm water management to ensure that the regulations have a similar standard. We are concerned about the financial implications for local businesses. We have asked to meet with our state representatives. All Town property would be subject to this. Huge cost and implications that we will work for over the next many years.
We were approved for our third Economic Development site.
Q - How much does a plan cost, not even the work itself?
A - This is being developed from the EPA, etc. to reduce the amount of phosphorous input to the Charles River. If your business is sitting on ledge that is one thing as opposed to another sitting on sand. It will be expensive. It is a difficult take to take 50% of the phosphorous out.
Q - What can we learn from Milford's water problem.
A - It can happen anywhere. We can prevent it but try to mitigate it. We get all of our water from wells not surface water. We can isolate water or sections within the town. We have experience. We do have fencing and locks around all of our water points. We have major improvements to our infrastructure with pipe replacement. we do perform inspections everyday of the year. We have a computerize monitoring system, 24 hours a day an alarm will go off if something is not right in the system. We treat all ground water as it comes in. At the end of the day, you're 24-36 hours. We can use the reverse 911 to communicate to all 10,000 households within 30 minutes.
Tom Doak arrived during Jeff's update.
Counselors comments:
Bartlett is not running again for Town Council. She struggled with decision but her schedule won't allow her to commit to deliver 100% of what she thinks she would need. If you think you can contribute to a town position, please consider doing so.
Motion to executive session, not to return to open session
motion passed 7-0
We did get the million dollar PWAT (sic) grant to aid in the downtown effort.
The work at King St/RT 140 was completed to help the turn across the from the new Walgreens
Jeff read a letter of thanks for the TIF from a business that did receive one for his relocation to Forge Park.
Initial meeting with Bellingham, Milford on storm water management to ensure that the regulations have a similar standard. We are concerned about the financial implications for local businesses. We have asked to meet with our state representatives. All Town property would be subject to this. Huge cost and implications that we will work for over the next many years.
We were approved for our third Economic Development site.
Q - How much does a plan cost, not even the work itself?
A - This is being developed from the EPA, etc. to reduce the amount of phosphorous input to the Charles River. If your business is sitting on ledge that is one thing as opposed to another sitting on sand. It will be expensive. It is a difficult take to take 50% of the phosphorous out.
Q - What can we learn from Milford's water problem.
A - It can happen anywhere. We can prevent it but try to mitigate it. We get all of our water from wells not surface water. We can isolate water or sections within the town. We have experience. We do have fencing and locks around all of our water points. We have major improvements to our infrastructure with pipe replacement. we do perform inspections everyday of the year. We have a computerize monitoring system, 24 hours a day an alarm will go off if something is not right in the system. We treat all ground water as it comes in. At the end of the day, you're 24-36 hours. We can use the reverse 911 to communicate to all 10,000 households within 30 minutes.
Tom Doak arrived during Jeff's update.
Counselors comments:
Bartlett is not running again for Town Council. She struggled with decision but her schedule won't allow her to commit to deliver 100% of what she thinks she would need. If you think you can contribute to a town position, please consider doing so.
Motion to executive session, not to return to open session
motion passed 7-0
Live reporting - Action items
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
- Resolution 09-57: Dissolution of Franklin Housing Partnership motion to pass, approved 6-0
- Resolution 09-58: Change of Name, Franklin Commission for Persons with Disabilities motion to pass, approved 6-0
Live reporting - H1N1 Update
Board of Health - David E. McKearney, R.S.
over 1100 confirmed cases, with 11 fatalities in MA
shows an affinity for younger population, those 18 and younger
Have 2 viruses to worry about, (1) the regular seasonal flu and (2) the H1N1 virus
The seasonal flu vaccine will be made available earlier this year
Projecting to have initial does of the H1N1 vaccine here in MA in later October/early November
There will be designated distribution sites for the vaccine
The information available is fluid and changing, as soon as it is updated, it will be spread.
Some of the models for combating the virus are to vacinate the target population, the target population is itself changing. It usually includes the young, pregnant mothers, EMT's etc.
It currently does not include the Police Dept and that has raised some concerns.
Franklin has compiled a listing of medical professionals (over 40 thus far).
If we qualify, we could become a designated distribution site at no cost to the community.
Need to formulate the plan in detail (fire dept, school nurses, medical volunteers, etc.)
To hit the targeted school population (over 8000 including Tri-County and the Charter school). We could have a capacity of doing about 400 per hour. The one item we may not be able to control is the actual amount of vaccine we will receive.
Q - Since there have been very few deaths with this versus others, is there something they are not telling us?
A - I share your concern. The numbers don't tell much. However, mixing this virus into a larger population, along with the seasonal flu could mutate in ways we have not seen. There is a great deal of preparation on this. There is a lot of literature on this. We have been preparing for a pandemic for some time.
Q - Is there some place that medical professionals that they should register with.
A - We got a listing from the State a while ago, we sent out a mailing to all the known professionals. We did it a second time a couple of months ago. We yielded more in the second pass. They can reach out to us at the Board of Health. The information is available on the web site.
Q - Are you reaching out to the other Town departments to coordinate the effort.
A - Yes, we have been reaching out to all the departments with regular meetings. The Superintendent of Schools has been participating regularly. All the standard procedures (covering your cough, basic hand hygine, etc.)
Nutting - We have an emergency management team meeting regularly. We had discussed different items, hurricanes, other storms,and recently have been dealing with the H1N1. Maureen and her folks are all over this.
Q - Where do we actually get the vaccine?
A - The State gets it from the Federal level, then the State will distribute it locally. We are supposed to get plenty but if the distribution supply is interrupted, then things could change. We take direction from the Department of Public Health. It is a bit daunting but when you break it into bits, it becomes more manageable.
The vaccine is strictly voluntary. We are not mandating anything.
Q - How much testing is there being done? Is it safe?
A - I cdon't have a definite answer to that. It has been fast tracked. It is getting pilot studies with humans.
Q - If MA gets 2 million by November, will they use the one million and save the other one for the second round.
A - No, at this point they have been told to utilize the vaccine and not to hold it for the second pass.
over 1100 confirmed cases, with 11 fatalities in MA
shows an affinity for younger population, those 18 and younger
Have 2 viruses to worry about, (1) the regular seasonal flu and (2) the H1N1 virus
The seasonal flu vaccine will be made available earlier this year
Projecting to have initial does of the H1N1 vaccine here in MA in later October/early November
There will be designated distribution sites for the vaccine
The information available is fluid and changing, as soon as it is updated, it will be spread.
Some of the models for combating the virus are to vacinate the target population, the target population is itself changing. It usually includes the young, pregnant mothers, EMT's etc.
It currently does not include the Police Dept and that has raised some concerns.
Franklin has compiled a listing of medical professionals (over 40 thus far).
If we qualify, we could become a designated distribution site at no cost to the community.
Need to formulate the plan in detail (fire dept, school nurses, medical volunteers, etc.)
To hit the targeted school population (over 8000 including Tri-County and the Charter school). We could have a capacity of doing about 400 per hour. The one item we may not be able to control is the actual amount of vaccine we will receive.
Q - Since there have been very few deaths with this versus others, is there something they are not telling us?
A - I share your concern. The numbers don't tell much. However, mixing this virus into a larger population, along with the seasonal flu could mutate in ways we have not seen. There is a great deal of preparation on this. There is a lot of literature on this. We have been preparing for a pandemic for some time.
Q - Is there some place that medical professionals that they should register with.
A - We got a listing from the State a while ago, we sent out a mailing to all the known professionals. We did it a second time a couple of months ago. We yielded more in the second pass. They can reach out to us at the Board of Health. The information is available on the web site.
Q - Are you reaching out to the other Town departments to coordinate the effort.
A - Yes, we have been reaching out to all the departments with regular meetings. The Superintendent of Schools has been participating regularly. All the standard procedures (covering your cough, basic hand hygine, etc.)
Nutting - We have an emergency management team meeting regularly. We had discussed different items, hurricanes, other storms,and recently have been dealing with the H1N1. Maureen and her folks are all over this.
Q - Where do we actually get the vaccine?
A - The State gets it from the Federal level, then the State will distribute it locally. We are supposed to get plenty but if the distribution supply is interrupted, then things could change. We take direction from the Department of Public Health. It is a bit daunting but when you break it into bits, it becomes more manageable.
The vaccine is strictly voluntary. We are not mandating anything.
Q - How much testing is there being done? Is it safe?
A - I cdon't have a definite answer to that. It has been fast tracked. It is getting pilot studies with humans.
Q - If MA gets 2 million by November, will they use the one million and save the other one for the second round.
A - No, at this point they have been told to utilize the vaccine and not to hold it for the second pass.
Live reporting - License transactions
F. HEARINGS none
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
- Change of Manager – Joe’s American Bar & Grill - motion to approve, passed 6-0
Live reporting - Appointments
E. APPOINTMENTS
- Election Workers 2009-2010 motion to approve, passed 6-0
- Finance Committee (Linda Poole Huempfner) motion to approve, passed 6-0
Live reporting - Town Council Mtg
Attending: Whalen, Mason, Vallee, Bartlett, Feeley, Pfeffer, Doak (Doak arrived just before executive session)
Missing: McGann, Zollo
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - none
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS - none
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS - none
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS - none
Missing: McGann, Zollo
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - none
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS - none
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS - none
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS - none
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