Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Live reporting: Police Chief on the drug problem
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
» Police Chief Stephan Semerjian
introduced his three technical specialists, detectives
(photo to be added)
there are any number of us who know someone with some addiction problem
heroin is a cheaper option to get the hit, high they are looking for
we have a syringe disposal
we have a drug take back
we focus our efforts on abusers, no one is happy in that condition
I am appreciative of the help we can get from the Legislation and the local District Attorney
we are not immune, our problem is not any more severe than any community around us
we have a hold different class of individuals today
kids, a different demographic
Franklin PD takes a very agressive posture on this
two others specifically do drug work, building cases, make sure it will pass the judicial test
District Attorney, Michael W. Morrissey
numbers are misleading and but going up everyday
largest killer of young people
the heroin today is twice as strong as it used to be
Oxycontin is nothing but heroin in pill form
5% of the population use 90% of the painkillers
our meeting is changing frequently, used to be quarterly, now it is monthly
we arrested 5 people last week, a collaborative effort
we do a lot of arrests, but we are not going to get out of this with arrests
we are after the bigger fish, we need to get the little folks into rehab
we don't want people dumping it down the toilet
we take it back and get rid of it
alcohol or substance abuse, everyone here is touched by it in some way
our problem is the medical community
120 pharmacies; prescription monitoring program
my office is referring over 30 doctors to board of medicine for investigation on their practices; I don't know the outcome but I'll keep referring them
doing a lot of things on a lot of fronts
there were community coalition to meet regularly
how can we get treatment out to people
and can help with some funds (taken from the drug dealers)
every community in Norfolk County has been trained
over 400 people have been saved in Quincy with this training
Rep Jeff Roy
learned early on in his days that the opiate problem was going to be a big problem; thanks to DA Morrissey for his guidance
thanks for the commitment on this issue
Denis, representing Sen Karen Spilka
listing of items currently in the budget to provide programs to fight the drug problem
she is committed to work with the local leaders to address this issue
Kelly - thanks for your meeting with us last week to go over this and help prepare. Even with my background, I was still shocked last week at the epidemic we have. The drug take back box did 2400 pounds in our community last year. The average user is 19-42 years old. It really covers all age groups. What do I do to help this anti-drug cause? the people want to partner with us.
Semerjian - we would like everyone to report, we have to leverage this information. we need everybody's information. We have a tip line. We have an email address on the website. We have anonymous ways to report. Unfortunately, no one wants to be a tattle tale. People can get hurt. It is a very complicated situation.
Morrissey - you can call State police, or any body, they all work together. There is a whole range of services to go to the house with. Getting education out there. We are at the high school. Maybe we need to get to the middle schools. You may start to see "after a long struggle with opiate abuse", or maybe via the donation 'in memory of' see who it goes to.
Semerjian - we are adding things to our website. The audio visual students at the High School will do some public service announcements for us
Padula - no longer an issue to have under an ounce of marijuana and it becomes a gateway drug. You have no idea how lucky we are to have all the good people working the issue for us.
Roy - There are bills currently to legalize marijuana. You ask what can you do? educate yourself on that issue. If we don't do something, it might be a ballot question in Nov of 2016.
Dellorco - thanks for taking my calls, I have had to call to put some folks away. The people that come to me, coaching kids, the parents have nowhere to turn. We need to start to do something with the coalition to give some people to turn. You guys are doing the best you can. "this is war I dont think I can win". But we as a community we have to do something.
Bissanti - thanks to the Chief and Police Dept. This isn't a knee jerk reaction to recent headlines. This has been discussed before. We have utmost confidence in the police. The big fish arent what you see in the movies. It is a bigger problem than we think.
We have the arest factor, education is the number one priority. The coalition is a huge step to get the word out to the families, to get them to come forward and get them the help.
treat it on a tree prong level, education (1) check the website
(2) support groups, hotlines, treatment centers, who do they go
involuntary commitment, involve the schools, look at how much SADD has done over the years
no such thing as a casual heroine user
(3) enforcement component, utilize Ryan Jette and others who can see kids in different areas. We have to follow up after the arest to get treatment and not just leave them along after the arrest
meeting to help families meet so that the families who have addictions can have a support group, did not know how to get help; need a support group for parents and family members to get help
Vallee - education is the one way to stop this
Live reporting: Franklin TV
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
» Cable TV
Ken Norman, Dr Ann Bergen, Peter Fasciano, Executive Director
Dr Bergen
talking about the scope of the drug issue here in Franklin
has gathered multiple resources to put together a show
Jeff Nutting
talked of the video being put together by Cable TV to advertise the Town
Peter
5 short videos, 90 - 2 mins each
(hopefully will be able to share the videos sometime sooner than later)
Vallee - why don't you consider hiring a part-time reporter to cover the news
Norman - we have tried but not given up on, we have things we want to get done. We have three channels and we want you to watch them. The school channel covers all the schools. The Community channel provides Ann's program. The government channel broadcasts the town meetings
We have made investment into the studio, now we are investing in the equipment to operate the studio. It will take several years to get what we want done.
Kelly - I think the videos really hit home on what we wanted. The big thing is to get the word on the street to get folks to watch them. Maybe use the sign in the center of town to help spread the word. Light years from where we were several years ago.
Bissanti - if someone would like to see those videos, how do they do that?
Norman - those are meant to market the town
Nutting - hook up with a trade show next month to put them on a CD and hand out. They are separate so they can cover multiple points
Norman - we have been awarded a 100-watt license to run a radio station. We have not yet done construction on the antenna, hopefully will be up in about 18 months. It will be used to broadcast these meetings and other original radio shows.
Frasciano - there are changes coming with the FCC that may allow us to get to a 250 watt broadcast. We do have plans over time to get to a radio broadcast. One of my highest priorities to get our programs listed on the TV guide. We are willing to do what we need to do so it won't just say "local access". There is no reason why a local broadcaster can't comply if we provide the details. My hopes are high.
Norman - we have had preliminary talks with the Milford Radio station. We are a non-profit and they are a commercial operation. There are some technical issues to work through but we are continuing the discussion. They are active with the Senior Center program.
Live reporting: Town Council - May 20, 2015
Present: Feldman, Padula, Mercer, Kelly, Pfeffer, Bissanti, Williams, Dellorco
Absent: none
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
none
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
– This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
» Tri-County School
Councilor Pfeffer talked of the presentation made to the Tri-County students yesterday and posted here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/05/franklin-town-council-honored-students.html
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
Gail Cherdon
commenting on the gas pipeline proposed
safety issue and health concern
nurse of 47 years, worked with patients of black lung disease and other lung diseases
the safety issue is most acute and dramatic
pipeline would transport fracked gas through MA to the coast for export
the export will increase the cost of gas for US consumers
Gov Baker has approved of the payment for the pipeline through fees passed on to the consumers
with another winter like this year, we could be in trouble
it was supposed to be going under the Charles River multiple times, now apparently it is going once, that is once too often
there are currently 10 natural gas pipeline explosions in the US
the pipelines currently there are old and need of repair
getting the feel that this is a 'done deal'
if that was so, I wouldn't be here nor would I be a nurse
I am saying this to further educate ourselves and those who are not here
Henry Maddox, 90 Elm St, Franklin, MA
built here 40 years ago using Franklin contractors
currently abutters to the powerlines and gas line
they have an obligation to maintain the lines
we insist that they don't use herbicides on the property
what would they do to our wells and water?
Spectra wants to put in a 30" line
would go right through the driveway and take down all the trees we have grown over the years to block out the power lines
the story is changing constantly, we don't know what to believe
we would like to sit on our back porch and listen to the birds and trees and not construction equipment
we are concerned about the fracking they are doing
methane in the atmosphere is a lot worse than CO2
There is a hearing on May 28th
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
» British Beer Company – Change of Manager- 7:10 pm
E. APPOINTMENTS
3. Resolution 15-28: Creation of a Horace Mann Statue Committee
motion to approve committee, seconded, passed 9-0
there is a signed P/S with a proposed closing date of Nov 30th
» Horace Mann Statue Committee
motion to approve committee membership, seconded, passed 9-0
see names in the agenda
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/05/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-may-20.html
F. HEARINGS
none
Absent: none
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
none
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
– This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
» Tri-County School
Councilor Pfeffer talked of the presentation made to the Tri-County students yesterday and posted here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/05/franklin-town-council-honored-students.html
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
Gail Cherdon
commenting on the gas pipeline proposed
safety issue and health concern
nurse of 47 years, worked with patients of black lung disease and other lung diseases
the safety issue is most acute and dramatic
pipeline would transport fracked gas through MA to the coast for export
the export will increase the cost of gas for US consumers
Gov Baker has approved of the payment for the pipeline through fees passed on to the consumers
with another winter like this year, we could be in trouble
it was supposed to be going under the Charles River multiple times, now apparently it is going once, that is once too often
there are currently 10 natural gas pipeline explosions in the US
the pipelines currently there are old and need of repair
getting the feel that this is a 'done deal'
if that was so, I wouldn't be here nor would I be a nurse
I am saying this to further educate ourselves and those who are not here
Henry Maddox, 90 Elm St, Franklin, MA
built here 40 years ago using Franklin contractors
currently abutters to the powerlines and gas line
they have an obligation to maintain the lines
we insist that they don't use herbicides on the property
what would they do to our wells and water?
Spectra wants to put in a 30" line
would go right through the driveway and take down all the trees we have grown over the years to block out the power lines
the story is changing constantly, we don't know what to believe
we would like to sit on our back porch and listen to the birds and trees and not construction equipment
we are concerned about the fracking they are doing
methane in the atmosphere is a lot worse than CO2
There is a hearing on May 28th
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
» British Beer Company – Change of Manager- 7:10 pm
motion to approve transfer as outlined, seconded, passed 9-0
(return to citizens comments)
Christine Mann, Dover Circle
went to the meeting at Hawthorne Suites about the pipeline
lots of incredible speakers but no answers to any questions
they took a lot of notes but no answers to any questions
they'll get back to our engineers
something about Jun 11th on the website, they are writing feverishly
one man from Western MA was quite explicit about references to laws being broken and they have no answers to the questions
3. Resolution 15-28: Creation of a Horace Mann Statue Committee
motion to approve committee, seconded, passed 9-0
there is a signed P/S with a proposed closing date of Nov 30th
» Horace Mann Statue Committee
motion to approve committee membership, seconded, passed 9-0
see names in the agenda
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/05/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-may-20.html
F. HEARINGS
none
Franklin Town Council honored students at Tri-County Regional
The Town Council of the Town of Franklin honored students at Tri-County Regional for their construction of a home on Beaver Court.
Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting visited Tri-County on Tuesday, May 19, to present an Award of Excellence to the school's Carpentry, Electrical Wiring Technology, and Plumbing and Hydronic Heating programs.
The award, which is signed by Franklin Town Council Chairman Robert R. Vallee, recognizes the students for exhibiting the skillful application of their trade in building a three-bedroom, two-bathroom Ranch home on Beaver Court.
Tri-County, in partnership with the Franklin Municipal Housing Trust Fund, began the project in April 2014. The town paid for the materials in exchange for a home that meets affordable housing qualifications.
While the finishing touches must still be added to the home, Franklin officials wanted to honor the seniors who contributed to the project prior to graduation.
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| Franklin officials honored Carpentry students and instructor Jeremy Barstow for their construction of a three-bedroom, two-bathroom Ranch on Beaver Court. |
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
Memory Café Offered For Caregivers & Their Loved Ones
Thursday, May 21
3:00—4:30 pm at the Franklin Senior Center
Memory Cafés are places where people with Alzheimer’s or a related disease can go with their caregivers to socialize and have fun with others in a similar situation.
Please call Elaine at 508 520-4945 for more info.
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| Franklin Senior Center |
Fundraiser for the Horace Mann Middle School today from 3:00 - 9:00 PM
Pizza or ice cream?
If either is desired tonight, then you can help a good cause!
Spruce Pond Creamery/Franklin Flatbreads are doing a fundraiser for the Horace Mann Middle School today from 3:00 - 9:00 PM.
Print out the flyer (JPG) shown here and show when you pay for your purchase today.
If either is desired tonight, then you can help a good cause!
Spruce Pond Creamery/Franklin Flatbreads are doing a fundraiser for the Horace Mann Middle School today from 3:00 - 9:00 PM.
Print out the flyer (JPG) shown here and show when you pay for your purchase today.
Infographic: Every Kid Needs a Family
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