FM #1124 - Franklin (MA) Board Of Health Mtg - 01/03/24

This session of the radio show shares the Town of Franklin Board of Health Meeting held on Wednesday, Jan 3, 2024. All three board members participated; Harris, Sweet and Mu-Chow. Health Dept staff present were in the 3rd floor Conference room (not training room). 

Quick Recap:

• Adjusted meeting schedule for 2024 to remove July, August and schedule as needed for those months
• Humanitarian housing crisis update shared; 80 individuals with work visas at the hotel; job fair being scheduled, working to set up rides via GATRAGo (funded via grant); state to do a mobile clinic for vaccinations likely coordinated by this local group
• Discussion around plan for reduced oxygen packages used by some facilities in Town, additional requirement to be added to get a formal plan and process for them by the individual operations (use of consultant if necessary)
• Info packet produced on “Eat Safe Foods after a Power Outage” - Timely, open to additional health related ideas
• Round of reports from inspections, nurse and epidemiologist (detailed reports in meeting packet)

My notes captured via Twitter:

• Board of Health Mtg underway, recording to be available later. Motion to accept minutes as edited (remove prior member as in attendance) voted 3-0
• Proposed meeting schedule adjusted for July (remove) August (maybe)
• C Liberty provides a humanitarian crisis update. 80 with work visas at hotel, working to schedule a job fair, working also to set up process for rides via GATRAGo with funding through grant by ToF
• SAFE Coalition working on narcan training and first aid kits. All is going well, meeting regularly to address needs. State will do mobile clinic for vaccines but likely organized by local Board of Health.
• Plan to be required for reduced oxygen packages, i.e. extending life of cooked product, consultant to set up and do it properly (it can be done regularly) chiefs shouldn't be responsible for developing the process, just executing it. Food code requirement.
• 2 establishments were found to need this, they were cooperative and stopped pending this discussion and they'll be able to proceed. Board agrees to revision to policy, also to include on the application for next year.
• Packet for eat safe foods after a power outage. Timely. Other ideas for health open for a monthly theme
• Report on inspections, 9 inspections, 12 reinspections for Dec. FDA conference call for recall issue. Training completed.
• Nurse update for Dec, COVID 108 cases (vs 61 in Nov). Getting a ride in cases like last year. Flu season, 47 confirmed, 42 in Dec
• Central Park Terrace visit, stop the bleed training held Dec 13. Attended webinars on health related issues. Assisting with medical appointments etc for the migrants at the hotel. Safe sleeping strategy session conducted, approx 20 new mothers with 1yr and under
• Epidemiologist update, updates through weekly texts (shared via ) dashboard updates for migrants, etc.
• Citizen Comment: I shared the info on the Regroup messaging setup, and offered to get flier for job fair to share via Franklin.news
• Motion to adjourn, second, passes 3-0

That's all for the Board of Health, next up SchCmte subcmte meeting in process, down the hall.

The meeting runs about 30 minutes. Let’s listen to the Board of Health meeting Jan 3, 2024.

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The Board of Health agenda can be found ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/boh_agenda_1.3.24_-_google_docs.pdf 

Meeting packet (including individual reports) ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/boh_agenda_and_packet_01.03.24.pdf 

My notes collected in a Twitter thread PDF ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZmPuxOB9_T8KzzMJv9_R96Y86voQ5vyp/view?usp=drive_link

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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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