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Welcome to Raynham Community Access & Media (RAYCAM), where we engage, learn, and create community access media. We are dedicated to providing a platform for all voices to be heard and shared. Join us in creating a vibrant and inclusive media community.

  1. 3D AGO

    Parks and Recreation 01/06/2026

    (Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy) Want to know what really keeps a town’s sports season running? We open the playbook on field access, safety, and budgets, then make the tough calls that let more kids play without wrecking the turf. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at how shared spaces stay fair and functional when demand spikes. We start with good news on the rental property—tenants are steady and quick fixes kept costs low—before turning to a long-awaited expansion of the Liberty daycare site. The state’s slow approval grind sits in tension with real family needs, and we walk through how those added slots could ease waitlists and help parents work. From there, the conversation zeroes in on Bettencourt Field: youth football wants limited use to protect the surface, while girls’ lacrosse asks for continued access. We take the middle path—no exclusive shutdowns—paired with clear permit conditions requiring lacrosse to repair high-wear spots like the goal mouths and midfield. We also set firm safety rules: no pop-up tents on the playing surface to prevent collisions at the sideline. With principles set, we approve spring permits across baseball, softball, and soccer, factoring in longstanding users, early Easter events, and the Over the Hill league’s Sunday routine. We talk candidly about what wears fields down, how to prevent avoidable damage, and why accountability on repairs matters more than one-off bans. Facilities planning keeps rolling: girls’ lacrosse proposes a 12-by-9 shed, and we guide them toward Cell School for space and compliance, with proper footings to protect the grounds. Indoors, winter basketball returns at full strength and the February Vacation Club fills fast, a sign that families are eager for reliable programs. Finally, we look ahead to capital needs. Resurfacing the tennis courts and carving out two dedicated pickleball courts alongside one tennis court could serve both communities without confusion from overlapping lines. We also keep an eye on regional lessons about pickleball noise near homes, shaping decisions on siting and hours. Along the way we navigate a broken playground slide, split costs with the schools, and prepare budget packets that match real use with smart spending. If you care about youth sports, public spaces, and practical solutions that outlast a single season, you’ll find plenty to dig into here. Subscribe, share with a neighbor who loves the sidelines, and leave a review with your take: how should a town balance field protection with fair access for every team? Support the show https://www.raynhaminfo.com/ Copyright RAYCAM INC. 2025

    18 min

  2. 3D AGO

    Board of Appeals 12/17/2025

    (Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy) A quiet room at Town Hall became a front-row seat to how housing policy meets real life. We opened with a detailed request to divide a 1.31-acre lot on Forest Street into two smaller parcels, keeping the main house on one and converting an existing garage into a small ranch on the other. The engineer walked us through square footage, frontage, and the 125-foot building envelope, noting town water and sewer that shift the old calculus on minimum lot size. The family’s goal was simple and human: create an affordable path for adult children to stay in the community they love. Neighbors arrived prepared and thoughtful. They spoke about privacy, headlights, and windows facing living spaces, and they flagged stormwater history that already required French drains and a sump pump. They also challenged the legal threshold for a variance, arguing that financial need alone doesn’t meet the standard for hardship. We worked through whether an accessory dwelling unit would produce similar impacts by right—same driveway use, similar massing—yet leave title and responsibilities blurred. That “cleaner” ownership line became a key factor, along with commitments to limit clearing and add evergreen screening to protect sightlines. After careful deliberation, we approved the variance with the expectation of privacy buffers and strict respect for setbacks. The decision acknowledged existing undersized lots nearby, practical ADU alternatives, and broader state housing pressure trending toward smaller lots. We then heard a second petition seeking a special permit for a 1,400-square-foot private garage. The applicant emphasized personal storage and no business activity. We approved with clear conditions: no commercial use and any future move toward habitable space must return for review. This episode captures the real mechanics of land use: navigating bylaws, listening to lived experience, and placing targeted conditions that balance neighborhood character with pressing housing needs. If you value grounded, transparent decision-making on zoning, subscribe, share this with a neighbor, and leave a review with your take on the variance vs. ADU question. How would you have voted? Support the show https://www.raynhaminfo.com/ Copyright RAYCAM INC. 2025

    56 min

  3. 3D AGO

    Council On Aging 01/06/2026

    (Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy) A packed meeting with a clear mission: make senior services easier to reach and easier to use. We open with candid budget talk and move straight into what matters at home—fuel assistance letters finally going out after delays, with awards running lower than last year. We explain how to apply through April 30, why calling us first can save hours on hold, and what to do if your approval hasn’t landed yet. From there, we spotlight practical help you can act on today. Our monthly lunches are adapting to winter logistics, trivia keeps the room lively, and a new partnership with South Coast Legal Services brings a free estate planning clinic for low-income adults 60+. That clinic covers durable power of attorney, health care proxy, and a simple will, with intake required ahead of time to confirm eligibility. We also set a firm date and time for AARP Tax-Aide calls as volunteer capacity tightens across nearby towns, then break down the SAVE tax work-off program: 67 hours of service for a $1,000 property tax credit, open to residents 60+ without income limits. Departments from the library to the board of health offer projects that make those hours attainable. We’re thinking beyond immediate needs, too. A new, one-page community resource brochure will live at the police and fire stations, town hall, and the library, pointing people to fuel aid, medical equipment loan closets like St. Vincent de Paul, and the right offices for tax relief. To cut through confusion, we plan to host the assessors for a clear walkthrough of exemptions—Clause 41 (income and assets), Clause 17 (assets), and Clause 22 (veterans)—with deadlines, documents, and realistic savings. On governance, we thank a longtime board member for his service and reorganize leadership for continuity. Then we turn to a crucial goal: reviving our Friends group. By easing meeting rules, learning the basics of grants, and focusing on small, high-joy wins—trips, bands, reduced activity costs—we can build momentum and community pride. Join us to learn how to secure fuel help, lock in a tax appointment, explore SAVE, and get your essential documents in order. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a neighbor, and leave a quick review so more residents can find these resources. Your support helps someone warm their home, lower a bill, and feel less alone. Support the show https://www.raynhaminfo.com/ Copyright RAYCAM INC. 2025

    41 min

  4. 3D AGO

    Sewer Commission 12/11/2025

    (Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy) Ever wonder how a small town funds big, mandated sewer upgrades without blindsiding residents? We walk you through our playbook—clear numbers, careful maintenance, and a modest rate tweak that keeps us stable while a regional treatment plant completes roughly $100 million in improvements. Our share is 15.48%, and we explain exactly how different debt structures could shape annual costs and long-term interest, including why a fixed-principal schedule might save nearly $2 million over time. On the operations side, we unpack a puzzling drop in reported pump output that turned out to be a faulty flow meter, not a failing force main. Cross-checking gauges, runtimes, and instrumentation saved us from unnecessary excavation and downtime. We also detail ongoing sewer main cleaning on Elm Street East, wet well cleanouts, fleet rustproofing, and fencing repairs to deter illegal dumping near a pump station—each a small move that prevents bigger bills later. We round out with development updates—restaurant shifts, a new tractor supply, and auto facility renovations—that influence connections, inspections, and system load. Then we get into the FY27 budget: past increases that set the path, stabilization funds that soften shocks, and a planned user fee change of about $2 per month to align revenue with fiscal needs. No fluff, just the math, the maintenance, and the milestones that keep the system safe, compliant, and affordable. If this kind of transparent infrastructure talk helps you plan your own budgets—or simply understand where your bill goes—follow the show, share it with a neighbor, and leave a review telling us which debt approach you’d choose and why. Support the show https://www.raynhaminfo.com/ Copyright RAYCAM INC. 2025

    25 min

  5. FEB 19

    Conservation Commission 02/18/2026

    (Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy) Lines on a map decide what happens on the ground. We open the meeting with a straightforward goal: keep construction away from wetlands, make the rules visible, and document every step so builders and neighbors know where the limits are. A continued request for 90 Spruce Street sets the tone—a corner that once slipped toward the 50-foot buffer gets pulled back, and we lock in the boundary with 25-foot no-disturb signage to prevent creep over time. The motions move quickly, but the principles behind them are deliberate: precision in plans, clarity in field markings, and a paper trail that holds up when weather or memory blurs the details. Warren Street brings a similar rhythm with a few critical checks. A missing DEP file number delayed action earlier; with it now secured and the plan updated, we walk through an Order of Conditions anchored by the same 25-foot no-touch rule. We don’t just talk policy—we make it legible in the field with signs that say exactly what must and must not happen. That kind of simplicity is a feature, not a flaw. Contractors rotate, seasons change, and a clear stake line is what keeps sensitive ground from turning into a casual laydown area or a shortcut for equipment. We also push back where speed risks outcomes. A request for a Certificate of Compliance on the Mill Street project sounds tidy, but restoration needs a growing season to prove itself, especially after winter. Rather than rubber-stamping, we question readiness and commit to follow up. That’s the balance we aim for: approving what meets the standard, conditioning what needs boundaries, and pausing what hasn’t yet shown it will endure. If you care about how towns thread the needle between development and conservation—how a Negative 3 determination differs from an Order of Conditions, why 25 feet matters, and how signage translates law into practice—you’ll find a clear view of the process here. If this kind of practical conservation work matters to you, subscribe, share the show, and leave a review. Your feedback helps more residents understand how local decisions protect wetlands while keeping good projects on track. Support the show https://www.raynhaminfo.com/ Copyright RAYCAM INC. 2025

    10 min

  6. FEB 18

    Raynham Select Board 02/17/2026

    (Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy) A hard New England winter has a way of revealing what a town is made of. We kick off with clear-eyed updates from our fire chief—4,030 total emergency responses last year, a 38% jump since 2019—along with the training and outreach that keep response times strong and neighbors better prepared. Then the highway superintendent puts numbers to the grind: 41.4 inches of snow to date, about 1,700 tons of salt used, constant equipment maintenance, and a staffing pinch that forces smart route consolidation and cross-department teamwork. If you’ve ever wondered how plows show up when the forecast turns, here’s the blueprint. We move from the streets to the ledger. With regional school assessments, vocational education, retirement, and health insurance pushing well above revenue growth, the budget gets tighter and trade-offs sharper. Licenses progress, minutes are approved, and we set a deadline for annual town meeting articles to give time for careful review. The board accepts resignations from Council on Aging members and opens recruitment across several committees. Volunteers matter more than ever; these roles shape decisions that touch daily life—senior services, local media, culture, and a new senior tax credit program. Community spirit cuts through the cold. Scouts, church members, students, and local donors deliver Valentine bags to seniors and veterans, sending a quiet message of care. A new Wingstop opens on Route 44, adding energy and jobs. We also read a letter from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission clarifying the current, incomplete status of Raynham Park’s sports wagering license application and the path forward if it advances. The night’s sharpest moment arrives during citizen input: a veteran public servant calls for a new formula for state local aid—a fixed percentage of the state revenue generated by each city and town. The argument is direct and timely: predictable funding would stabilize schools, protect core services, and end the yearly scramble that forces towns to choose between layoffs and levy limits. Agree or not, the case is clear, and the stakes are local. If this conversation helps you see town governance with fresh eyes, subscribe, share this episode with a neighbor, and leave a review. Your feedback helps us reach more residents and fill open seats with people ready to serve. Support the show https://www.raynhaminfo.com/ Copyright RAYCAM INC. 2025

    24 min

  7. FEB 17

    Sewer Commission 02/12/2026

    (Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy) Want to know how a small commission keeps a whole town’s sewer system reliable, affordable, and ready for growth? We walk through the practical wins that matter: new variable frequency drive cabinets for the Route 44 pump station, a smart plan for a brief overnight shutdown, and full spare cabinets on hand to slash downtime. You’ll also hear why user billing stays on track for March despite winter delays and how a long-awaited truck is finally nearing delivery after months in upfit. We step into the field to talk problem-solving: tracing an odor complaint that turned out to be offsite trailers, rebuilding pumps that see daily duty, and installing a redesigned unit that ended chronic ragging at White Street. ARPA funds play a big role this year—seven new generators and transfer switches at critical pump stations, plus three spare pumps for the million-gallon-a-day Route 44 site. Add in fresh carbon media to neutralize odors, bar rack repairs, and ongoing I&I reduction through manhole lining, and you’ve got a clear picture of proactive asset management that saves money and prevents emergencies. Growth is here, too. Subdivisions on Pine Street are moving fast, and Liberty Way heads to pre-submission. We explain how we coordinate with state roadwork, gas main relocations, and water main replacements to protect sewer laterals and keep projects on schedule. On governance, we post the superintendent role with a minimum starting salary of $95,000, negotiable based on qualifications, and favor a three-year contract with a first-year probationary period. The FY27 budget of $3,184,044 is approved, with standard adjustments pending from town hall. We adopt a modest 4.88% rate change—residential from $492 to $516 annually and commercial from $9.30 to $9.75 per thousand gallons—which still keeps Raynham near the bottom regionally for total sewer costs. The only open question is Taunton’s capital fee exposure; outreach is underway to bring clarity and lock in multi-year stability. If you care about infrastructure you never want to think about, this is the blueprint: strategic spares, careful timing, fair rates, and steady leadership. Subscribe, share with a neighbor who asks “why did my bill change,” and leave a review with the one improvement you’d prioritize next. Support the show https://www.raynhaminfo.com/ Copyright RAYCAM INC. 2025

    49 min

  8. FEB 12

    Board of Appeals 02/11/2026

    (Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy) A porch that clips the setback, a business you can’t read from the road, and an estate lot waiting on a street the town hasn’t accepted yet—this meeting brings zoning out of the abstract and into everyday trade-offs. We walk you through three variance requests and show how we test each one against the letter and spirit of the bylaw, neighbor feedback, and what actually works on the ground. First, we unpack an estate lot that meets area and frontage but sits on a subdivision road still pending town acceptance. You’ll hear why timing and layout can create genuine hardship, how variances let sensible projects proceed without undermining the code, and what conditions keep things accountable. Then we turn to signage, starting with a service business set hundreds of feet back from the street. The ask: slightly larger letters for real-world legibility. We dig into illumination, materials, scale, and the abutter’s take on sight-lines and impact, and we explain why measured relief can serve both business needs and neighborhood character. The most delicate moment comes with a fully built home whose front porch nudged into the setback because porch footings were missed on the plan. We talk through responsibility, documentation, and proportional response: when does a small dimensional error merit flexibility, and how do we safeguard precedent while avoiding wasteful tear-backs? Rounding out the night, Walmart presents a rebrand-driven sign package with clearer entrance labels for Grocery, Pharmacy, Vision, and more. We explore how intermittent visibility and customer way finding factor into total sign area decisions, why most auxiliary signs remain non-illuminated, and how refacing a pylon preserves scale. If you’ve ever wondered how zoning boards decide what counts as “reasonable relief,” this conversation opens the black box. You’ll leave with a sharper sense of how bylaws, site conditions, and public input come together—case by case, vote by vote. Enjoy the breakdown, and if this helped demystify local land-use decisions, follow the show, share it with a neighbor, and leave us a review so more listeners can find it. Support the show https://www.raynhaminfo.com/ Copyright RAYCAM INC. 2025

    30 min
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About

Welcome to Raynham Community Access & Media (RAYCAM), where we engage, learn, and create community access media. We are dedicated to providing a platform for all voices to be heard and shared. Join us in creating a vibrant and inclusive media community.

Information

  • Creator
    Raynham
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    157
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Raynham Channel
  • Show Website
    The Raynham Channel