Monday, December 31, 2012

Annual Report 2012: Health Department


Mission Statement
The Franklin Health Department is charged with protecting the public health and well being of the community, in accordance with federal, state and local public health laws and regulations. To fulfill this responsibility, the Franklin Health Department enforces a multitude of public health laws and regulations, and administers a comprehensive inspection program.

Inspections
The following list identifies the primary components of the department’s inspection program, and the total number of inspections and re-inspections conducted for each component.

* Food Service/Retail Food Inspection .......... 345

* Title V Septic System Plan Review and Installation/Repair,
Total Applications ......................................... 30
17 New, 13 Repairs, 12 Minor Repairs and

Approximately 125 Field Inspections Conducted.

* Chapter II Housing Code Inspection/
Re-inspections .............................................. 25

* Public Health Nuisance/Odor/Noise/Animal
Complaint Investigation................................. 55

* Semi-Public Pool/Spa Testing/Inspection
and Public Beach Testing ............................. 30

* Inspection and Licensing of Children’s
Recreational Camps ..................................... 10

* Tanning Salon Inspection ............................... 3

* Manicure/Pedicure Establishment .................. 6

Communicable Disease
As mandated by the State Department of Public Health, local health departments must report, investigate and track all communicable disease occurrences in their jurisdictions. The Franklin Health Department has had a long-term contract with the Milford Area Visiting Nurses to investigate and follow up reportable communicable diseases that occur in the community.

The following list depicts the reportable illness activity for fiscal year 2011-2012 in number of official cases:
Malaria ................................................................ 1
Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis ................... 1
Calicvirus/Norovirus ........................................... 2
Babesiosis .......................................................... 0
Campylobacter ................................................... 5
Hepatitis A .......................................................... 1
Hepatitis B .......................................................... 0
Hepatitis C ........................................................ 12
Lyme Disease, Confirmed ................................. 4
Meningitis ........................................................... 0
Streptococcus, Group A/B ................................. 2
E. Coli ................................................................ 0
Ehrlichiosis ......................................................... 0
Giardiasis ........................................................... 2
Salmonella Enteritis ......................................... 11
Bacterial Infection, Avium, Vibrio ....................... 0
Encephalitis ........................................................ 0
Cryptosporidiosis ............................................... 1
Legionellosis ...................................................... 2
Pulmonary TB .................................................... 0
Chicken Pox ....................................................... 6
Pertussis ............................................................ 4
Influenza A ......................................................... 0
Influenza B ......................................................... 0
Dog Bites ......................................................... 12
Cat Bites ............................................................ 4
Shigellosis .......................................................... 0
TB related .......................................................... 0
Streptococcus Pneumoniae ............................... 3
Yersinia .............................................................. 1
Dengue Fever .................................................... 0

Flu Clinics
In fiscal year 2011-2012, the Milford VNA held three seasonal flu clinics immunizing 117 residents. In addition, the VNA provided TB screening/ testing and case follow-up for a number of residents.

Licenses and Permits
The following is a comprehensive list of all permits/licenses issued by the Franklin Health Department during fiscal year 2011-2012. Most licensed/permitted activities require at least annual inspections as part of the permitting process.

Beaver Permits .................................................. 5
Burial Permits ................................................... 54
Bakery ................................................................ 4
Bottling ............................................................... 1
Catering ............................................................. 1
Cleaners/Laundromats ...................................... 1
Recreational Camps .......................................... 9
Demolition ........................................................ 10
Septic Installers ................................................ 47
Disposal of Offal ............................................... 33
Food Establishment ....................................... 105
Funeral Directors ............................................... 3
Infectious Waste ................................................ 1
Keeping of Animals .......................................... 15
Frozen Desserts/Ice Cream ............................... 7
Milk and Cream ................................................ 39
Milk and Cream Vehicles ................................... 5
Mobile Food ....................................................... 4
137
Pasteurization .................................................... 1
Private Wells (potable) ...................................... 3
Irrigation Wells ................................................... 2
Recycling ............................................................ 1
Retail Food ....................................................... 33
Stables ............................................................. 19
Manicure Establishment ................................... 16
Tanning Establishment ....................................... 4
Temporary Food ............................................... 15
Trench Permits ................................................. 23
Semi-Public Pools/Spas ................................... 27

Staff
The current Health Department staff is as follows:
David E. McKearney, R.S. Public Health Director
Virginia M. McNeil, Health Agent.

The Franklin Health Department wishes to thank all department heads and staff for their efforts in supporting and assisting the Health Department throughout the year.

Board of Health
The three-member elected Board of Health is the policy making arm for the Health Department. The board members assist in the drafting of public health bylaws, and review all site plans for compliance with local and state public health regulations. The board presides over administrative hearings in all matters concerning Health Department licensed and permitted activities. Board members are available for consultation on issues relative to the public health as well.

Bruce Hunchard, Board of Health Chairman
Donald Ranieri, Jr. Vice Chairman
Philip Brunelli, Board Clerk.

Hours of Operation
The Franklin Health Department office is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 8:00am to 4:00pm, Wednesday from 8:00am to 6:00pm and Friday from 8:00 to 1:00pm. Health Department personnel are available to meet with customers from 8-9:15AM and again from 3:15-4PM each day, or by appointment as
necessary.

Respectfully submitted,

David E. McKearney, R.S.
Public Health Director
Franklin Health Department


from the Town Clerk Annual Report page, this comes from the 2012 Annual Report
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/annual/


"The $10.5 million effort will begin in 2016"

I find it interesting that the Milford Daily News has an article on road work for the i495 section in Franklin. The work planned will include the bridges, road surfaces as well as the on/off ramps. The interesting part is that the work is not scheduled to begin until 2016! It is good that MassDOT is planning ahead. What the road conditions will be like when they finally get started remains to be seen.
Any work done to I-495 benefits the town, said Department of Public Works Director Robert Cantoreggi. 
Cantoreggi believes that the state rarely does this level of work, saying it’s high time the town's section of I-495 — going from the Wrentham town line to Beaver Street — received improvements. 
"A lot of times, we get calls about the conditions of the ramps because people think they’re under the control of the town," he said. "The ramps have been in awful condition and I’ve called the state about it many times."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1783189586/Big-changes-to-be-made-on-I-495-in-Franklin#ixzz2GdR14fjr

Meeting notes archive for 2012



2012



Election results - 11/06/12

Master Plan Public Meeting - May 19, 2012

Finance Committee - Budget hearings FY 2013

High School Building Project collection


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Sunday, December 30, 2012

Snow places to go

The family has been to Oak St School to sled. I have heard of Dacey Field on Lincoln St. Are there other good sledding spots in Franklin?

Please email or add your suggestion in the comments.


"reimagining their senior centers"

The MetroWest Daily News has an article on the growing senior population and the attempts of the local senior centers to serve this community.
Directors have found that to reach new seniors, they’ll need new marketing techniques, ones incorporating social media and the Internet. 
Inside their senior centers, they are taking pains to stay fresh and appealing, setting up cafés and computer classrooms. 
"We expect that they (baby boomers) want much more high-tech resources than we currently offer," said Karen Alves, director of the Franklin Senior Center. 
Outside, they’re offering trips beyond doctor’s visits, to cultural or educational hot spots.

Read more: A senior dilemma - Franklin, MA - Wicked Local Franklin http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/features/x1631898497/A-senior-dilemma#ixzz2GXVbupmG


Information about the Franklin Senior Center can be found here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Senior/index

You can find their current Newsletter here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Senior/Jan13connection.pdf

Annual Report 2012: Building Inspection


The Building Inspection Department is a multi-function office responsible for the construction, demolition, alteration, repair and occupancy of all residential, commercial, business and industrial uses for both existing and new construction in accordance with the Massachusetts Building Code. The department is responsible for the administration, interpretation and enforcement of the following codes:
Massachusetts State Building Code - 780CMR
Town of Franklin Code - Zoning – CH 185
Mass. Electrical Code – 527 CMR
Mass. Plumbing & Gas Code – 248 CMR
National Fuel Gas Code – NFPA 54-2002
Sealer of Weights and Measure – G.L. CH 98
Architectural Access Board – 521 CMR

Hours of Operation
The Building Inspection Department’s hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 8:00a.m.-4:00p.m., Wednesday 8:00a.m.-6:00p.m. and Friday 8:00a.m.- 1:00p.m. For your convenience, you may visit our website: at www.franklin.ma.us/inspections. This site contains a series of forms easily accessible and available to download. The website provides permit applications, sample plot plans, sign regulations, swimming pool instruction manuals. Shed/barn instruction manuals, complaint forms, zoning criteria and other information necessary to process a permit or to simply provide information to the public.

Building Department Staff
Building Commissioner/Zoning Officer: Lloyd Brown
Inspectors:
Inspector of Wires: Bernard Mullaney
Asst Wiring Inspector: James Laughlin
Plumbing/Gas Inspector: Richard Cornetta
Asst Plumb/Gas Inspector: Richard McCormick
Sealer of Weights & Measurers: Comm. of Mass. /Div. of Standards

Staff Assistants
Barbara J. Curran/Zoning
Eileen A. DiGiacomo
Judy Demers

Lloyd Brown, Commissioner of Buildings, is responsible for all construction trade inspectors, municipal maintenance and supervision of all construction, zoning interpretation and determination, pre-planning and review of all subdivisions and proposed construction and improvements and general input for all other municipal departments and construction-related inquiries. Inspectors and staff continue to be trained on the changes with the new codes. David Roche has left the Department and is now working for the Town of Needham. We thanked David for his 14 years of service and all that he did for the town. The remainder of the staff continues to take on additional work load and responsibilities while still maintaining normal business hours open to the public. I also thank all of them for the continued excellent work they perform every day for the Department and the Town of Franklin.

Building Permits
Remodeling construction remained steady for the year with new home starts closer to normal, and subdivisions continue to be constructed. Commercial construction and tenant fit-up of existing buildings remain strong. This year the Building Department issued a total of 1185 building permits and the revenues
collected were $471,395.96

The following is a breakdown of the past years building permit activity:
Single Family Residence(s) 25
Attached Town House(s) 9
Apts. Or Stacked Condo(s) 2
New Building Commercial 6
Building Misc. 6
Accessory Dwelling Unit(s) 5
Addition(s) 42
Alteration(s) 463
Amended Permit(s) 1
Deck 48
Swimming Pool(s) 35
Garage(s) 3
Shed(s) 7
Foundation(s) Only 9
Demolition(s) 17
Tent(s) 13
Sign(s) 31
Woodstove(s) 24
Carnival(s) 1
Fence 0
Earth Removal 2
Repair(s) Rehab 384

Certificates of Inspection
Inspection and certification of specified use groups shall be inspected annually in accordance with Table 106 of the Massachusetts State Building Code. This year the staff issued 82 certificates of inspection and the fees collected for the certifications amounted to $18,240.00. Certificates are issued for all public and private schools, churches, day care centers, nursing homes, funeral homes, bleachers, restaurants, alcoholic beverage establishments, multi-family dwellings (3or more units), movie theaters and other places of
assembly. The Fire Department has assisted our department in assuring compliance with the Fire Prevention Code. The purpose of these inspections is to ensure the public safety and well being of the general public.

Certificates of Occupancy 
The Building Inspection Department issues a certificate of occupancy in accordance with the Massachusetts State Building Code. All buildings/structures shall not be used or occupied in whole or part until a certificate of occupancy is issued. This department has issued a total of 76 certificates of occupancy and the total fees collected amounted to $5,500.00.

Electrical Permits
The total number of electrical permits issued was 998 and the total fees collected and deposited amounted to $94,224.00

Plumbing Permits
The total number of plumbing permits issued was 589 and the total fees collected and deposited Amounted to $61,529.00

Gas Permits
The total number of gas permits issued was 600 and the total fees collected and deposited amounted to
$28,004.00

Division of Weights and Standards
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations, Division of Standards provides this service on behalf of the Town of Franklin. The Department of Weights and Measures is responsible for providing the services of testing, adjusting, sealing and handling all complaints regarding commercial weighing and measuring devices within the Town of Franklin. The department investigates consumer complaints regarding unit pricing laws; spot-checking prepackaged items for compliance with all weights and measures laws. Inspections were conducted by the State and the total fees collected and deposited amounted to $12,023.50

Total Revenues Collected: $655,152.96

The Building Commissioner would like to thank his staff, the various town departments, boards
and officials for their support and assistance throughout the year.

Respectfully,

Lloyd Brown
Commissioner of Buildings


From the Town clerk page on annual reports. This comes from the 2012 report
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/annual/

Franklin Art Center: January 2013 updates

We hope everyone is enjoying the holidays

We have new classes and workshops coming in January.
Franklin Art Center

Preschool art classes and After school art classes have some openings ..check the website and give us a call if you are interested.

NEW  Watercolor for teens- Adults   begins Jan 7
          Mondays 7-9  6 weeks   $180  supply list will be distributed

New Saturday morning painting for teens- adults
          11-12:30   6 weeks        $180  starts Jan 5

Drawing for teens -adults  
          Wednesdays 6:30-8      $180 begins Jan 9

DSLR workshop Saturday Jan 26  1:30-5   $45

Kids cupcake workshops  Jan 12 & 19       $60
        2-4 pm   for both days includes matted painting and clay cupcake to be displayed at the cake bar

We look forward to a new year and new classes and workshops
If you are interested in a new class ...let us know!

Have a Happy New Year!
Ian and Linda Kabat

Franklin Art Center