FM #285 Board of Health Meeting - 6/03/20 (audio)

FM #285 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 285 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares the Franklin (MA) Board of Health meeting of Wednesday, June 4, 2020. The meeting was conducted via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

Board Chair Bridget Sweet opens the meeting, everyone who speaks is introduced.

The recording runs about 35 minutes, so let’s listen to Board of Health
https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HVdg7Tb7



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My meeting notes: https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/06/board-of-health-june-3-2020-recap.html

Meeting agenda: https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/06/franklin-board-of-health-agenda-june-3.html

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

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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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FM #285 Board of Health Meeting - 6/03/20 (audio)

Finance Committee -Budget Hearing #3 - Recap of June 2, 2020

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.

The Twitter hashtag can be found online #fincom0602
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23fincom0602&src=typed_query

• Real time reporting for Finance Committee June 2 underway, tagged here after as #fincom0602
• All #fincom0602 members present for this session, tonight discussion is all things DPW. Meeting protocol and ground rules reviewed. Folks will be acknowledged to talk and identify themselves
• #fincom0602 agenda can be found and followed in this link https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/2020-06-02_finance_committee_agenda.pdf
• first item = DPW Stormwater MS4 Permit Presentation #fincom0602 doc can be found https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/_stormwater_council_outreach_2019_2.pdf
• 2 similar presentations on storm water were conducted in Feb/Mar and available for replay via Franklin TV and Franklin Matters Radio/podcast #fincom0602
• Key to water approach as the three are integrated, they can help each other, or hurt each other. We get all our drinking water from ground, the largest producer of such per the State #fincom0602
• Projections in storm water utility fee #fincom0602
• Currently spending over $1M just for storm water mitigation #fincom0602
• Inclusion of the storm water fee on the quarterly bill along with water/sewer and trash/recycling in process. The others fees will show the applicable charge, initially the storm water would be $0. Should help to generate interest and conversation #fincom0602
• Over time the storm water fee would free up about $1.1m of currently operational expenses covered by tax base; in future the fee would support the mitigations required #fincom0602
• Would take time multiple years, to move the finances from the operating budget to the new storm water fee as an enterprise fund and be self sustaining #fincom0602
• As part of the storm water fee we would get the mitigation and leaf pick up #fincom0602 
• Tree warden session as mentioned was Sep 18, 2019 - view Franklin TV replay here https://view.earthchannel.com/PlayerController.aspx?&PGD=franknma&eID=683 #fincom0602
• Small additions to DPW budget in anticipation of fee but needing to move forward with mitigation anyway even in these challenging times #fincom0602
• On to water/sewer enterprise funds #fincom0602 Beaver St interceptor will be the largest build project for Franklin. TBD
• Potential water and sewer fee increases coming down the pike, did go ahead with trash as it needed to support the contract renewal. Stay tuned for when the water sewer comes up later #fincom0602
• Meters check water volume coming out of the ground and going into each facility (home or business) had been losing up to 20% of the water as unaccounted for, now down to about 7% very efficient #fincom0602
• Garelick is 20% of our water and sewer usage, the bankruptcy is close to settled but the new buyer also needs to divest Garelick so the future is still unsettled. #fincom0602
• Another full year of construction for water treatment plant on Grove St to cover the wells #3 #6 #fincom0602 before it comes online
• Part of the ISO rating that the fire department received was partially due to the water pressure and system available from the water department #fincom0602
• Motion to adjourn, vote via roll call 9-0; that's all for tonight, catch you Thursday #fincom0602

 

meeting opening - screen view captured

triadic approach to water

MS4 permit explained

storm water mitigation expenses

storm water utility fee described

preliminary rate on storm water utility fee

leaf pick up added as a service as part of storm water utility fee

DPW Director Robert "Brutus" Cantoreggi speaking

Board of Health - June 3, 2020 - Recap

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.

The Twitter hashtag can be found online #boh0603 (one exception for #boh0602)
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23boh0603&src=typed_query

• Board of Health underway, real time reporting in process. Meeting tweets tagged as #boh0603 Bridget Sweet board chair opens meeting and runs through the protocol and process for remote session
• Appreciation of work being done by Cathleen and Ginny recognized, tough conversation in some cases with Franklin business and residents #boh0602
• Mention of CDC webinars to post to web page, steps on re-opening after period of closure, Legionaries disease; next up recreation camp guidance, 30+ pages released this week, need time to work through #boh0603 requirements seem to be quite challenging
• First discussion on beach under pandemic process; beach gate guards only there to check for Residency. Also asked to cut those from the budget this year. There are challenges with guidance provided (12' to towel off). What are the community needs? #boh0603
• More discussion before decision needed, #boh0603 tabling for further discussion, could test for water quality and let residents take own risk.
• Recreation looking to re-open July 13 need time to process the guidance, training, steps, etc. #boh0603. Next up restaurant and dining establishments, requirements issued by http://MA.gov . Working on frequently asked questions, i.e. temp outdoor dining
• Good question on rest room any guidance issued on those? Can they be opened? Already being cleaned weekly, some of them are used by sports and with the cancellations would not be opened at some fields. #boh0603 look in the frameworks
• Mandatory training, did for food pantry and municipal staff, Uxbridge health prepared great slide deck, being Franklinized to share broadly. Recording in process to be developed. #boh0603

The Board of Health agenda doc can be found
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/06/franklin-board-of-health-agenda-june-3.html
 
 

Board of Health - June 3, 2020 - Recap

 

Melanie Hamblen: Remarks for "Kneel for Nine" - June 2

My thanks to Melanie for sharing her remarks that she prepared and delivered on the Town Common on Tuesday, June 2, 2020.
 

"Good evening, My name is Melanie Hamblen and I am one of your 9 Town Councilors, as well as a small business owner, here in Franklin.

Thank you all for being here, I would like to thank Joni and Justin for asking me to speak.

I have lived a privileged life, luckily I was raised by people who taught me and my siblings that Everyone, no matter what the circumstance they are born into, have the right to thrive. And that we should help people as best as we can.

When I was in grade school, growing up in Lexington, my parents signed us up to be a host family in the METCO program. I am not sure if they knew what a difference it would make in the life of our family at the time. And I am not sure how well it went over with some of the other folks in our family.

While I slept, safe in my bed in my white suburb, A young student would get up hours ahead of the start of school to get on the bus from Roxbury.
The amount of travel and sacrifice of time lost with his family, that he endured to get the education that I took for granted, is staggering.

I can only imagine what agony and anxiety his mother must have felt to see his small beautiful face disappear in the dark of the morning. Not sure if he would come back, not being able to protect him or know what his day was like. He got on that bus day after day through the busing riots in South Boston and so many more troubles. But her belief in the promise of a better education must have let him get on that bus.

And for that I am grateful, for this young student became my brother George. From whom I have learned a great deal. And this relationship has allowed me to look at life with a different lens than most of my counterparts. He told me recently that we did teach him something too. That not all people of one race are bad, there are just bad apples.

George has grown children of his own whose safety we cannot stop worrying about.

My son Tommy has a METCO brother as well, whom he met in School in Westwood. I think of Steven as one of my two sons.

Both Geoge and Steven are a part of us and we fear for them and weep with them. When their hearts are broken so are ours.

The past four months have not been an easy time for me. I have been afraid to take my dog for a walk,
Afraid to go for a run, I have been sworn at,

Had things thrown at me, Had my property spit on.
And now I have a better understanding of what my brother and son and all people of color must feel like and go through everyday of their lives. When will the next rude gesture come? Will it be in front on my WW2 veteran father? My friend’s children? Who will be the next person to attack me?

It could be anyone, even someone I have known for years.

How can generations of people survive this everyday without feeling unheard, unloved, disposable, less than human?

I thought I knew, oh but now I know.

But this is really what I want to say to you all:

That being nice and doing good deeds is not enough.
It is up to white people to realize that we have a lot of serious work to do.
We must accept the fact that we are perpetuating social injustice by doing nothing.
We must take the time to understand our part in the systemic racism of our culture and society. 
Please let tonight be the BEGINING of our journey together to understand and change the status quo.

We need to demand that the officers involved in the murder of innocent people are arrested and we must insist that all people of color are protected.

I will leave you with two quotes from our historical Franklin figures.

“Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are”  Benjamin Franklin

“Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity” Horace Mann

Thank you."

Melanie Hamblen: Remarks for Kneel for Nine - June 2

COVID-19 UPdate by Gov Baker on Phase 2 preparations

"Today (6/3/20), Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito joined Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders, Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy, and Early Education & Care Commissioner Samantha Aigner-Treworgy to provide an update on COVID-19 reopening, testing, and restrictions on long-term care facilities.

Video link = https://youtu.be/W0UOs7YYvjE


Business listing with schedule of re-opening per phases
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/reopening-when-can-my-business-reopen

Outdoor and recreation guidelines
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/executive-office-of-energy-and-environmental-affairs-eea-covid-19-guidance-documents

Child care and summer camps guidelines
https://eeclead.force.com/apex/EEC_ChildCareEmergencyReopenInfo

Franklin Farmers Market re-opens for the season on Friday, June 5

"The market is on schedule for opening day this Friday, June 5th!

While the farmers' market has been a great social gathering space for many years, we have to adjust to the current world climate and make it a shopping only experience for 2020.

Due to that, there are going to some changes. Please review the new shopper guidelines so that you can be prepared for shopping local this season.

When you arrive at the market on Friday, proceed to the market entrance and please be patient as we adjust to our new setup. We all look forward to bringing you the best foods and goods from our local farms and producers."

Some of the vendors will require pre-order, check out to confirm the vendor requirements to not be disappointed on Friday  https://www.facebook.com/FranklinFarmersMarketMA/

Franklin Farmers Market re-opens for the season on Friday, June 5

“Being nice and doing good deeds are not enough"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Ndoumbe Ndoye, 17, was in middle school when she ordered a tub of skin bleaching cream off the internet.

She bought it with a $10 Amazon gift card she was given for her birthday.

“When it came to my house, I threw that away,” she told a sea of more than 1,000 people kneeling and sitting Tuesday night on the Franklin Town Common. “On that day forward, I began to love myself again.”

The “Kneel for Nine” gathering was organized by the newly-formed Franklin Residents Confronting Racism. Spearheaded by Justin Bates, attendees knelt in memory of George Floyd, the black man who was killed on Memorial Day while in police custody in Minneapolis. The nine minutes is a response to the amount of time a Minneapolis police officer knelt on Floyd’s neck."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200603/more-than-1000-kneel-for-george-floyd-at-franklin-town-common

image courtesy of twitter account of Paul O'Donoghue  https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EZjFmiDXgAA9nKd?format=jpg&name=large